Interview Questions for Restaurant staff: A Recruiter's Guide

This comprehensive guide compiles insights from professional recruiters, hiring managers, and industry experts on interviewing Restaurant staff candidates. We've analyzed hundreds of real interviews and consulted with HR professionals to bring you the most effective questions and evaluation criteria.

Restaurant staff are crucial to providing an excellent dining experience to customers. They assist in various roles including waitstaff, hosts, and kitchen staff, managing everything from food service to customer relations and overall restaurant operations. Based on current job market analysis and industry standards, successful Restaurant staffs typically demonstrate:

• Customer Service, Communication, Teamwork, Time Management, Problem-Solving
• Prior experience in a food service or hospitality role is preferred but not always necessary. On-the-job training is often provided.
• Friendly, Adaptable, Detail-Oriented, Multitasker, Resilient under pressure

According to recent market data, the typical salary range for this position is $25,000 - $50,000 per year (varies by location and role), with High demand in the market.

Industry-standard screening questions used by hiring teams:

• What attracted you to the Restaurant staff role?
• Walk me through your relevant experience in Hospitality/Food Service.
• What's your current notice period?
• What are your salary expectations?
• Are you actively interviewing elsewhere?

These questions are compiled from technical interviews and hiring manager feedback:

• What safety and hygiene standards do you follow?
• How do you handle multiple tasks simultaneously during a busy shift?
• Can you explain the steps involved in serving food and drinks?
• What procedures do you follow for cash handling and payment processing?

• Knowledge of food safety practices
• Ability to take and manage orders efficiently
• Understanding of restaurant menu and specials
• Proficiency in using point-of-sale systems

• Not demonstrating basic food safety knowledge
• Failing to show understanding of the menu or special items
• Inability to follow simple instructions or multitasking during role-play
• Lack of familiarity with POS systems if applicable

Based on research and expert interviews, these behavioral questions are most effective:

• Describe a time when you handled a difficult customer situation. What was the outcome?
• How do you prioritize tasks during a busy shift?
• Give an example of how you worked as part of a team in a previous job.
• How do you stay motivated during slow periods in service?

This comprehensive guide to Restaurant staff interview questions reflects current industry standards and hiring practices. While every organization has its unique hiring process, these questions and evaluation criteria serve as a robust framework for both hiring teams and candidates.