The Components of a Good Restaurant Interview

Assessing Capacity

To assess capacity, or candidate qualifications, the interviewer should ask questions about their education, work experience, certifications, and specific skills related to the job. More specifically, restaurant jobs often require excellent customer service skills. The interviewer should ask questions to evaluate the candidate’s ability to handle customer requests, complaints, and concerns in a professional and efficient manner.

Restaurant jobs are also often fast-paced; they require quick thinking. In a good interview, the candidate should be asked situational questions to evaluate their ability to think on their feet and solve problems in a timely and effective manner. Because any restaurant job has a large team component, the interviewer should also evaluate the candidate’s ability to work collaboratively with others and communicate effectively with co-workers.

Assessing Competency

The interviewer should ask about the candidate’s relevant experience in the restaurant industry to get a sense of their competency. This can include questions about previous roles, duties, and responsibilities, as well as any notable achievements or accomplishments.

Assessing Cultural Fit

This breaks down into three sub-categories:

1. Knowledge of the Restaurant: Is the candidate knowledgeable of the restaurant’s menu, ambiance, and overall concept? Their level of research prior to their interview demonstrates their interest in the restaurant and their ability to adapt to its culture.
2. Availability: When is the candidate available to work? What is their schedule? Do they have willingness to work weekends and holidays? Do they foresee any scheduling conflicts that may arise?
3. Personality Fit: Questions here are essential to determine whether the candidate will be a good fit for the restaurant’s culture. This can include questions about their communication style, attitude, and work ethic.

Legal Pitfalls to Avoid When Interviewing

Conducting interviews requires a combination of communication skills, critical thinking, and knowledge of the subject matter being discussed. To prepare for conducting interviews, here are some types of training that can be helpful:

• Communication Skills Training: The ability to communicate effectively is essential for conducting successful interviews. Training in communication skills can help interviewers develop active listening skills, ask open-ended questions, and communicate with clarity and empathy.
• Interviewing Techniques Training: There are different interviewing techniques that can be used depending on the purpose of the interview. They will help interviewers determine the best approach for each interview and learn how to tailor their questions to the interviewee.
• Subject Matter Knowledge: Depending on the field in which the interview is being conducted, having subject matter knowledge can be helpful. It can help the interviewer ask informed and relevant questions, understand the interviewee’s responses, and follow up with additional questions that dive deeper into the topic.
• Practice: Like any skill, conducting interviews requires practice. Mock interviews can be an effective way to practice the techniques and skills required to conduct successful interviews. This can be done with a mentor, colleague, or through role-playing exercises.
• Professional Development: There are many resources available for professional development in conducting interviews. These can include workshops, online courses, and conferences that focus on best practices, new techniques, and emerging trends in the field of interviewing.