You have filled out the application and now it is show time with the restaurant manager. Restaurant managers take interviews very seriously and will not even consider a candidate who does not dazzle them during that process. Do your prep work and read on to learn how to cook up a great interview experience.
Be Prompt: This is a must. Do not be late to your interview as it shows a lack of respect for the hiring manager’s time. Being on time and even a few minutes early will only help your cause, especially since timeliness is a hot button for many restaurant managers. There is nothing worse for a manager than having hungry customers waiting and a cook who is stuck in traffic. Let the manager know that you are responsible enough to be on time and it will give you a leg up on others who are not. Keep in mind the manager is likely squeezing you in during a potentially busy time, so don’t expect that your interview will start immediately on time.
Look like Someone You Would Hire: Make sure you are dressed well and in a way that seems to fit the restaurant’s theme. If you are interviewing at a high-end restaurant, dress nicely as that shows you understand the patrons who will be dining there. If you are interviewing at a more casual place, you can dress more casually but still be sure to look neat and tidy. When in doubt, overdress than underdress for the interview. If you have long hair, most likely you will have to put it up while working to meet health and safety standards. When interviewing, you may want to pull long hair back so the manager can more easily envision you working there.
Be Prepared with Accomplishments from Previous Jobs: You never know what a hiring manager is going to ask but it is likely that he or she will ask about your previous work experience. Impress the hiring manager by talking about accomplishments you have had in those roles. If you have worked in the restaurant industry that is ideal, but accomplishments in other industries are also transferable to restaurants. As an example, let the interviewer know if you have been nominated as Employee of the Month, won any contests for sales, or landed a promotion. If you have earned any customer service awards or letters of commendation from customers, those will be impressive to the restaurant manager.
Know Restaurant Lingo:
Most managers will not expect you to know everything about restaurants, especially if you are new to the industry. If does not hurt, however, to be armed with an understanding of restaurant terms so you can speak intelligently and understand what the restaurant manager is saying. As an example know that a “station” is a set number of tables waited on by a particular server, “86” means that you are out of something (“86 baked potatoes”) and “turning” a table means that the table has revolved from being seating to getting the check and leaving.
Understand the Expectations of the Restaurant Job: If you are interviewing to be a hostess, will you also be expected to bus tables when it is slow? If you are applying to be a cook, will you also be helping to unload food off the truck? You should expect that some side work will be required and you should find out the details during the interview process. This research can also be a hidden gem to impress the interviewer if you ask the question in the right way. As an example, if you are applying for a server job, you could say, “In addition to giving my customers the very best service, I gather that there will be other responsibilities that will be accountable for. Can you tell me about the side work that I will be helping with?”
Best of luck in find the perfect restaurant job!