Top 10 Job Interview Tips for Restaurant Managers
By Hcareers.com
Individuals, who are interested in becoming restaurant managers, must be willing to show potential employers that they are capable of getting the job done. They must demonstrate they have the required knowledge and skills necessary to be successful as restaurant managers. Some of the key tips for an interview that will enable any candidate to have the best possible shot at a job as a restaurant manager are:
1. Dress the Part
Successful candidates will often look the part. Anyone can have experience, education, and knowledge. However, if they look like a bum, they will be treated as if they are. Unfortunately, looks are important.
When reporting to a restaurant for an interview, it’s best to wear dark colored pants and a white top. Many restaurants require a similar dress code. A manager will be more likely to assume that any candidate who appears in professional attire is ready and capable to perform excellent work.
2. Do Your Homework
Before going on an interview, a candidate should have some knowledge of the company they hope to serve. Any candidate who cannot demonstrate they have done some level of fact finding will most likely be shown the door.
Candidates should be ready to share what they know about a restaurant and why they would love working there. If a candidate has been a patron, they can share any positive experiences they had while dining.
3. Cell Phones Should be Off
Interviewees should switch off cell phones and remove earpieces before the job interview. Anyone who can't remember to do so doesn’t even deserve an interview. Many restaurant manager interview questions are stopped short if a cell phone rings or an individual answers a call.
In the restaurant industry, excellent customer service is very important. As such, turning off the cell phone during the job interview shows that you demonstrate respect for the hiring manager.
4. Sell Yourself
One of the most important restaurant job interview tips of all time may be to remember to sell yourself. Bragging isn’t necessary, but it’s important to remember that interviewees should be selling themselves during their interviews. Don’t be afraid to share skills and abilities, but don’t be egotistical either.
Candidates should show managers that they know how to wait tables, wash dishes, or seat patrons. If a candidate doesn’t have prior experience they should demonstrate they are willing to learn.
5. Be Professional
Job offers don’t always hinge on the restaurant interview questions and answers. In some cases, behavior and actions can inspire or deter an employer from making a job offer. Be polite to anyone you encounter from the car to the interviewer’s door. You never know who you might run into.
Restaurant managers hire polite and friendly staff. A candidate who can demonstrate they have manners in a restaurant setting will have a much better chance at being hired.
6. Listen More
If you’re talking more than 20 seconds in a stretch, you’ve probably talked yourself out of a job. Listen carefully, and talk less. This leads to a lessened risk of saying the wrong things.
7. Come Prepared
Bring any relevant paperwork and identification to the job interview. Having the proper identification ready can streamline the hiring process considerably. It will also make candidates appear more professional if they come prepared when the employer wants to speed the hiring process.
8. Be Thorough
Sometimes employers may require interviewees to fill out applications in addition to turning in resumes. Always fill out applications completely; if an interviewee doesn’t, it could adversely affect the outcome of the job interview.
A thorough candidate is more likely to be a thorough employee. The restaurant manager won’t have to worry about regular mistakes with orders and unhappy customers.
9. Be Aware
The restaurant interview questions may not be the only issues to worry about during an interview. Nonverbal factors come into play as well. Pay attention to the body language of recruiters and hiring managers and any vibes you may be getting. Sometimes it helps to rephrase answers if they aren’t positively received by an interviewer.
Attentiveness is a wonderful practice for waitstaff and restaurant personnel. Restaurant managers need employees who can read and understand the body language of patrons. This makes anticipating their needs much easier.
10. Answer All Questions
While some questions that are asked during interviews may not always make sense, chances are that the interviewer has a reason for asking them. As long as they don’t pertain to an interviewee’s gender or religious affiliation, they are probably fair. If clarification is needed, it’s okay to request it, but answer all questions completely and honestly after careful consideration.
Candidates should seem ready and willing to answer any questions. Patrons will be asking far more questions than interviewers. Management must ensure potential hires are up to chatting patrons to keep them happy.
Read more restaurant career tips. Find more restaurant jobs by visiting the career center.
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