Waiter Interview Preparation Guide
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Waiter related Frequently Asked Questions by expert members with experience as Waiter. These questions and answers will help you strengthen your technical skills, prepare for the new job test and quickly revise the concepts

58 Waiter Questions and Answers:

Table of Contents

Waiter Interview Questions and Answers
Waiter Interview Questions and Answers

1 :: Tell me why would you make a good addition to the team?

Where do you fit in? Serving is a team effort, so your prospective employer needs to know that can work well with others. They also need to know that you can integrate yourself quickly into your new role. Give an answer that explains how much you value teamwork, and that you can fit in quickly. Here is an answer that fulfills both criteria:

"I'm a team player and a quick learner. Each shift I will try to contribute more to help my coworkers than I ask in return. I think I can still learn a few things from the servers already here, but also hope that I can contribute a bit as well. I hope that as I improve my own skills, others will improve theirs as well."

2 :: Tell me why did you leave your last serving job?

It was my third job at the time, and i just wasnt making enough there to compensate for the long drive to the establishment.

3 :: Tell me would you say you are a people person?

Yes I would say I was a people person. I truly enjoy working with people as part or a team and meeting new people. I also really enjoy that being is the hospitality service industry that meeting new people on a daily basis is part of your job.

4 :: Tell me have you ever had difficulty with a kitchen member? How did you work out the problem?

New girl was slow on the coffee machine when there was a large queue. Quickly had to re-evaluate the situation and move the staff around to positions we were better suited to so as to keep up with the influx of customers.

5 :: Explain a Situation in which You Helped a Difficult Customer?

As with any business, restaurant patrons will sometimes have complaints and it will likely be your responsibility to resolve them. Perhaps a steak was underdone; perhaps another member of the wait staff was rude or unkind to the customer. Whether or not the example you can provide is directly related to the restaurant business is often irrelevant. For example, "When I worked in retail sales, I once assisted a woman who had purchased a defective product. Although she had to go through the manufacturer for a replacement which made the process difficult, I walked her through it each step of the way to achieve a resolution" is a perfect answer.

6 :: Explain me why did you leave your last job, or why are you looking to leave your current job?

Never say anything negative about your past or current waitress positions. You can talk about how you are looking to expand your knowledge and experience and that this job would allow for that. If you were working at more of a chain restaurant and interviewing at an independently owned restaurant you could talk about the uniqueness and how you would rather be working for an individual instead of a corporation, etc.

7 :: Explain me something about teamwork?

One will not appoint only for a specific role, they promote you for different roles where you need to work with a team, in that case how do you manage, this is what exactly the interview checks keenly while doing interview. You can answer like this I have a bit of knowledge about this field but I take help from my co-employees and develop myself in serving the customers. Also I will be there to help my team whenever they need my help. Tell them how can you integrate yourself in the team and work for the organization. Tell them how fun it is to work with team and enjoy the workplace environment.

8 :: Can you please explain what are your strengths and weaknesses?

Most commonly these strengths and weakness list of questions are asked for the sake of understanding the level of hard work that a candidate can put out . And the candidate must keep in mind that while answering such question they need to present a set of strengths and weakness which cannot be questioned in future terms. Sometimes the employers confuse the candidate by tricking them inside the answers they have already given.

9 :: Tell me are you a Multi Tasker?

There are some situations in the restaurants when a waitress need to handle more than work under certain situations. For that purpose the employer needs to hire such candidates in the restaurant who can handle more than one work when there is a crisis situation. Obtaining the qualities of a Multitasker can bring a candidate the position of waitress as it is required in the job description. Therefore, while answering such question the candidate needs to keep in mind that if they really need that job, then they are supposed to be Multi Tasker.

10 :: Explain us what is your greatest strength?

Where do you shine? What sets you apart from other people up for your position? There's no place for modesty here. Emphasize your strengths with all the gusto you can muster. But remember, while it's okay to push the envelope a little, never tell an outright lie. A good answer might sound something like this:

"I have enough experience in the restaurant business that very little can throw me off. Even when things get crazy, I'm able to stay cool and calm, hopefully setting an example for others. Not that I'm any less busy than my coworkers, but I know how to remain focused and get the job done."

11 :: Lets suppose your car breaks down on the way to work, what would you do?

I would leave the car securely parked, and take a taxi or public transportation.

12 :: Explain me about yourself?

I am a very friendly and positive person, I always work with passion and do my best also I always make sure that my customer are happy because I think people should have a great experience when they eat out and it my responsibility to make sure that they enjoy their meal.

13 :: Tell Us Do You Work Well with Others?

While a customer is dining in a restaurant, the waiter or waitress is often the only face the customer sees and is therefore the face that customer associates with the business. Your demeanor will have a huge impact on the business, and as such, employers often ask whether or not you work well with others. Rather than simply providing a yes or no reply, be descriptive in your answer. Something like, "I do work well with others and I enjoy being part of a team" followed by any examples you can provide is often the best answer to this question.

14 :: Explain me what is your greatest strength and why?

What are you good at and how does that make you a great match for this job? Multitasking is something that you will have to be able to do in order to be a waitress and is something that can be easily tied into multiple situations. Think of a time where you have had to multitask in the past and how you were able to successfully accomplish all tasks. This question will allow for you to talk about how past experiences will help you succeed in this job. Other possible examples include:

☛ Great customer service
☛ Excellent listener
☛ Reliable
☛ Incredible communication skills
☛ Team player
☛ Dependable

15 :: Explain how would you help in the success of a restaurant?

One should not only look into individual goals, but also should work for organization growth. You can answer by saying that one should able to manage the customers with a great respect and should never be rude to customers. Apart from the food taste the service also should be extraordinary. If their experience is good, they would visit again and again, which will be plus point of the restaurant also they may receive party orders because of the fame spread by the customers. We just have to take care that the customers enjoying the food at our restaurant. This is enough to improve the business and this is how I would help in the restaurant success.

16 :: Are you fluent in communication?

Working in a restaurant and being a waitress is something related to their communication skills which helps them attract customers to their restaurant with their service. Therefore, it is necessary that while selecting a candidate for the waitress position the employer need to be well aware of his / her communication skills. Excellent communication skill can provide the candidate the waitress job which can eventually benefit the restaurant business.

17 :: Tell us what is your greatest weakness?

Think of this as another opportunity to show off your strengths. With the proper wording, you can make a fault sound desirable, while at the same time still being an honest answer. This way you are still showing that you're humble, but not hurting your chances of getting the job. One answer might be along the lines of:

"It's probably true that I am hesitant to ask for help. I feel responsibility for my own work, and don't like to burden others who have their own set of responsibilities. It's something that I'm trying to work on, because I know it's okay and often a good idea to ask a coworker for help."

18 :: Tell me how can I trust you?

You can trust me because I am a responsible person. I have been in situations where I have been trusted before. I have been minding children since I was 13 and that is a job which requires people to trust me. I know it is nothing like waiting but people have trusted me with their kids which show I am responsible. Also I really want to work, I don't work for the money, money is only one benefit of working, I want to work and do a good job.

19 :: Explain what previous jobs have you held?

Earlier this year I waitressed at the seafood restaurant where I undertook tasks including setting tables up with cutlery and crockery, basic food preparation, waitressing and cleaning duties. I have also waitressed at christenings and birthday events for relatives, neighbours and family friends. During my time at school I also volunteered in a number of hospitality events including a cooking demonstration.
Most waiters and waitresses do not have any degrees or certificates that are specific to their fields. Thus, if you are able to obtain any certifications such as those in food handling or even a certificate in foodservice, you will be a much more valuable asset to your employer. "I earned the Oregon State Food Handing Certification in 2012 and I took a six-week course in proper foodservice techniques in 2010" would be a great reply. You should bring any certificates with you to the interview and present them when this question arises.

21 :: Tell me what is the toughest time you faced in your life?

This question is to find out how can one handle hard situations. This will reveal the capability of a candidate. You should not hint them that you are arrogant and impatient. Only tell them the story in which you played a good role. Put yourself with a story which gist with an excellent potential skills that will tell the interviewer how you handled the customer. Like for example, one day you had to handle many customers, which is very important for the hotel to make business on that day, tell them how quickly you took a menu and served the customers well with the help of your team.

22 :: Explain me what have you learnt from your previous job?

Most probably the employer might try to get some negative opinion from a candidate about his / her previous job experience. But the way of handling such question would be that when a candidate is approached by such question then he / she needs to project the positive side of his / her previous job. And also have to keep in mind that a candidate needs to present only positive side of the restaurant or company even if they are no longer working in that particular restaurant or company.

23 :: Tell me what are your additional skills?

In this fast and competitive world, the employer expects an additional skill that can be enclosed for the purpose of successful turnover of the restaurant business. And that's why the candidate should have some special skills like bar attending or anything, this provides a possibility that the candidate might get selected for the job offered. Therefore, obtaining additional skills in a restaurant business can be an added advantage for the candidate.

24 :: Explain what is your favorite part of serving?

Use this question to show your employer that you know your way around a restaurant. Give an answer that uses some common restaurant terminology. Also, use this question to highlight why you want to work in a restaurant. This well let your prospective employer know you're not just there to collect a paycheck. Here's an answer that accomplishes what you need:

"I enjoy the constant challenge. Every day is different. Every shift has a new surprise, and I enjoy the challenge of handling them. I also like how I improve more with each one. I always handle a new situation better than the last, and I like the progress I've made. This also keeps the job from being boring."

25 :: Tell me how often do you miss shifts?

Very rarely. If I do, there is certainly a valid reason, and I will ensure that supervisors are given enough notice, or I will work to find someone to replace me.