Whether it’s your first time interviewing for a server job or you’re a seasoned veteran in the industry, you have to be ready for whatever they may throw at you. From how to present yourself to demonstrating your skills, here are some tips to help you dominate the interview.
Think of it as just another table
For me, approaching the interview like you’d approach your tables is the best way to express your qualities and personality.
Your interviewer is looking to see who you are when you’re at a table and what better way to show this than by treating them as you would treat a guest.
Confidence is key
Serving is all about confidence. Guests can tell from a mile away if you’re comfortable with what you’re doing or if you’re nervous as hell, and so can your interviewer.
It’s crucial to exude confidence, even if you’re faking it!
So, whether you know everything there is to know about serving or you’re in over your head, it’s crucial to exude confidence, even if you’re faking it! From dominant body language to assertiveness, showing your interviewer that you can keep your cool while being grilled will show them that, if you’re hired, you’ll do the same with your tables.
Stay positive
Positivity is contagious and attractive to a manager as well as a guest. Conveying that you’re happy with what you do and can keep a positive attitude despite the mayhem around you is a crucial element of both serving and interviewing.
So, do your best to keep on smiling even if you’re not totally feeling it.
All about the attentiveness
I try to incorporate this word in every serving interview as a fancier way of saying “guest/customer service”. In the industry, putting the guest first is elemental.
In the industry, putting the guest first is elemental.
Proving that this is important to you will delight your interviewer and reflect well on your priorities as a server. Use this buzzword and give an example of how attentive you can, and will, be.
Trust goes a long way
Establishing trust with customers is goal #1. If you can establish trust right off the bat, guests are more likely to be comfortable asking you questions and following your suggestions. This is good business for the restaurant and, not to mention, you’ll probably get a better tip!
So, it goes without saying, getting your interviewer to trust you goes a long way in demonstrating that you can do the same with customers.
Pro-tip: A great way to gain trust quickly is through your drink recommendation. If you have a suggestion for a drink that you know is universally enjoyed, the guest will likely feed off of your interest and try it. If you describe it correctly and they like it, you’re in. Expressing something like this to your interviewer will show off your know-how and get some extra points!
Make organization and efficiency a priority
When interviewing, be sure to articulate how important being both organized and efficient while serving is to you.
While most people believe that serving is a brainless, simple occupation, the amount of multi-tasking involved is far from easy. From drink and food orders to maintaining tables and helping out co-workers, there is a lot on your plate.
Describe your go-to strategy for staying organized and on-task while on the job.
Establishing that you can handle the multitudes of responsibilities and can manage your time efficiently is a sure-fire way to impress a manager and interviewer. To do so, describe your go-to strategy for staying organized and on-task while on the job.
Keep your head in the game
In the industry, we call it being in the weeds. You’re dealing with a fussy customer, trying to find a manager to comp a bill, thinking about the fight you’re having with your roommates; what do you do?
Freak out and cry in the corner or keep your head and breathe? The latter, obviously.
A simple way to impress your interviewer is to be aware of this and express how you would deal with the stress. Servers are ubiquitously known as prima donnas and have trouble keeping their emotions in check. If you show that you can keep your cool, you are on your way to getting a job.
The interview is half the battle to becoming a great server. Use these tips to nail it every time and the rest of our serving hacks for when you get hired!
Coordinating kitchen and service staff while ensuring orders are accurately recorded and served is an expeditor’s job. Find out why and how to become one!
Starting a new job is nerve-wracking whether you have experience or not, but we all have to go through it at one point or another. Here are a few first-day tips to follow that will boost your confidence from the get-go and impress your new boss, managers, and coworkers.
1) Come Prepared
Before starting your shift, make sure you’re both mentally and physically prepared to work. Don’t go out or stay up late the night before and be ready to do a lot of listening and learning. Get your clothes/uniform and anything else you’ll need (like a notebook) for work organized the day before you start. This will decrease pre-shift stress, plus it will save you time. This is key because, more than anything else, be on time, or even better, 10-15 minutes early. Showing up late to your first day of work doesn’t exactly send a great message to either your boss or new co-workers.
2) Make the first move
Whether it’s when you first walk in the door or in the middle of your shift during a slow period, ask what you can do to help. Being proactive will not only impress the higher ups, but it will also speed up the learning process, so you can go from training to tips that much faster.
3) Pay close attention
Even if you’re experienced and highly qualified for the position, there will be differences between past and present employers. From operations to expectations, you’ll have a whole new set of rules to play by, so listen to your trainer to get a lay of the land. Also, to help you remember the important details and also give you a resource to reference, take a lot of notes. Bonus: this will also show your trainer that you’re dedicated to learning the work-flow and getting in the swing of things.
4) Get your hustle on
Whether your new job is slower or faster paced than what you’re used to, make sure to work quickly and efficiently. Strolling around the establishment won’t help you excel at your job, nor will it do anything for your bank account. Commission and tips don’t grow on trees. Even if your paycheck isn’t directly tied to how many customers you have, hustling at work, during and post training, will impress your boss and make your coworkers happy that you joined the team.
5) Be friendly and polite
This applies to all parties: trainer, coworkers, and customers. With your trainer and coworkers, don’t talk back. Make sure you have your facts straight before calling someone out, which means having at least a few shifts under your belt. If nothing else, keep smiling, even if you’re not really feeling it. Not only will this keep your morale up, it will also have the same effect on those around you.
6) Ask questions
There are such things as stupid questions, but you should still ask them because it’s better than making stupid mistakes. Asking questions will only help your cause. You’ll learn more, avoid making errors in the future, and also show that you’re engaged in the experience and on point when it comes to training. So if you don’t know something or are confused, speak up so it doesn’t come back to bite you in the butt.
Pilot study published by the Center on Policy Initiatives and San Diego State University uncovers wage theft, discrimination, and break violations among restaurants in San Diego County.
“Overwhelming numbers of restaurant workers reported they had been cheated out of money they were owed in wages and tips, as well as their break time.”
Professor Jill Esbenshade, quoted above, is the principle investigator of recently published study Shorted: Wage Theft, Time Theft and Discrimination in San Diego County Restaurant Jobs, which includes results from a survey of 337 employees working in more than 160 distinct dining establishments in San Diego County, as well as 30 in-depth interviews and observational data collected at 40 top local restaurants.
The findings reveal disturbing numbers of labor laws violations and other exploitive workplace practices at restaurants of all kinds, from fast food to fine dining:
More than 75% of employees surveyed reported that their employers had illegally shorted them on wages or tips during the past year.
25% of respondents said that wage theft is a regular part of their jobs.
84% reported violations of rights to meal breaks and rest breaks, and 23% said restaurant managers made them falsely record unpaid meal breaks although having worked through the break.
Wage theft was found to most oftentarget women, Latinos, and back-of-house staff.
This study’s findings replicate what has been reported in other studies conducted throughout the country; the violation of employee rights is far too commonplace in the restaurant industry and warrant further exploration as well as the development of policy solutions.
You’ve probably seen quite a few Now Hiring signs since summer started, and whether you’re looking for a summer gig or something more permanent, here’s why you need to capitalize ASAP.
Employment on the rise. The job market isn’t as bleak as it was once was with job growth reaching a 15-year high in 2014, and projections of stable or even increased growth throughout 2015. And it’s looking like the economists are going to be right! According to the Manpower Group nearly 25% of U.S. employers expect to add to their workforces during the upcoming months, which evens out to about 16% after adjusting for seasonal variations.
Even more so when it comes to summer jobs. Looking for some extra cash this summer? If so, the time is right with 80% of employers expecting to hire the same, or more, seasonal employees as 2014. The industries expected to add the most summer positions are hospitality and retail, with eating and drinking establishments alone projected to add at least 500,000 jobs this summer season.
Competitive pay. If you’re worried about getting stiffed at your summer job when it comes to your paycheck, think again. Summer employers are expected to pay an average hourly wage of $11.52, up from last year’s $10.39. In fact, 53% of employers plan to pay summer works $15 per hour or more.
Potential for long-term. On average, employers are expected to fill at least 35% of their summer positions with previously hired workers. That means that landing a job this summer could mean you’re set for the next few if need be. Not to mention, work experience is a valuable commodity these days and goes a long way in either turning your summer gig into a full-time job or securing your next position.
Flexible work schedule. Summer means vacation for many whether it’s getting outdoors more often than not or going on trips with friends and family. Since most summer positions are part-time, averaging 27 hours per week, you can still find time for both work and play!
Need help getting the ball rolling? Sign up for Sirvo beta to find your next job.
Don’t get caught with your pants down; the top 10 oddball interview questions for 2015 plus the intention behind each according to Glassdoor and their associate director of corporate communications, Scott Dobroski.
“What would you do if you were the one survivor in a plane crash?” –This question was asked of an Airbnb trust and safety investigator job candidate.
As with all the oddball questions, interviewees should relate their answers back to the workplace. In this case, a potential response could include how to ensure the survivor’s safety, as well as checking the rest of the plane to make sure there were no other survivors. Asking about nearby resources, such as radio or cell phone towers, could also help show the interviewer that the applicant can think ahead and plan for emergencies.
“What’s your favorite ’90s jam?” — A Squarespace customer care job candidate.
While this might seem goofy, this open-ended question is a way for a candidate to show off their positive qualities. These can be very short responses, as long as you relate it back to the workplace.
“If you woke up and had 2,000 unread emails and could only answer 300 of them, how would you choose which ones to answer?” — Dropbox rotation program job candidate.
This is the type of situation that almost everyone deals with today, but it also allows the candidate to show how he or she would prioritize in a potentially stressful situation. Candidates could note that they’d search for names of people and subject line terms that would need attention first, for example.
“If you had a machine that produced $100 dollars for life, what would you be willing to pay for it today?” — Aksia research analyst job candidate.
Candidates could ask the interviewer for more information, such as whether there is only one of these machines available or if there’s a glut. Asking about whether there is risk involved — such as whether the owner could be targeted by criminals — could also help show analytic skills, Dobroski noted.
“What did you have for breakfast?” – Banana Republic sales associate job candidate.
This sounds like small talk, but it allows the interviewer to gauge whether the candidate is an upbeat person and can relate to other people. Sales associates are asked questions all day long by customers, and keeping upbeat energy is important.
“Describe the color yellow to somebody who’s blind.” — Spirit Airlines flight attendant job candidate.
This question tests a candidate’s sensitivity and how they gather information. Before giving a final answer, he or she could ask whether the person is partially blind and when they became blind, helping to formulate the best possible explanation given the situation.
“If you were asked to unload a 747 full of jellybeans, what would you do?” – Bose IT support manager job candidate.
Unloading a plane full of jellybeans is no small task, so this allows a candidate to show off their project management skills. An interviewee could ask what the budget is, when the deadline is for unloading the plane, and whether they have machinery or staff to work with. That will help demonstrate the candidate’s ability to think through all the possible dimensions of the challenge.
“How many people flew out of Chicago last year?” — Redbox software engineer II job candidate.
This question for an entry-level engineering job is, not surprisingly, geared toward assessing a candidate’s analytic skills. The interviewee could walk through their thinking, such as how many flights go in and out of Chicago each day, how traffic surges at the holidays, and come up with an answer. The interviewer isn’t interested in the correct answer, rather the thought process used to arrive at his or her conclusion.
“What’s your favorite Disney Princess?” — Coldstone Creamery crew member job candidate.
This question is all about getting a candidate to show their personality. Companies want to hire those that will be a good fit in terms of work style, company culture, and professional values.
Interviewers know when they’re asking unexpected questions, so it’s alright to take a few seconds to consider the question, ask a few of your own, and talk through your reasoning before arriving at a conclusion. Just remember to stay calm, definitely don’t laugh or scoff, and stay away from one word or expected answers.
Deciding whether or not it’s time to find a new job can be confusing. It’s difficult cutting ties when you’re unsure how far the fall is, however if one or two of these six signs ring true for you, it may be time to take that leap of faith and start searching for new opportunities.
You Aren’t Improving. Your career should be moving forward in at least one direction. For some, that means promotions or raises. For others, that means learning new skills or sharpening old ones. No matter what keeps you motivated, you should be experiencing some kind of forward momentum. If you aren’t, it’s a sign that your career has become stagnant.
Ask yourself this critical question: If you stay with this job another year, how will you progress? If you don’t have an answer or don’t like the one you came up with, it’s that time.
Your Company’s Future Isn’t So Bright. All companies experience ups and downs, so if your company is in one of those downs, try not to worry. However, if it looks like the unpleasant situation is bound to grow worse in the coming years, getting out early is advisable.
Are there more layoffs each year than the year before it? Is your company in a dying industry and doing nothing to differentiate itself? If any of these is the case, your company won’t be around for much longer, so move on to the bigger and better.
You Don’t Respect Your Boss. Jobs involve more than just the work; they involve people as well. As such, what would be the perfect job can be ruined by bad leaders. Your boss should be someone who inspires you, motivates you, and helps you learn new things throughout your career. If your boss is unsupportive, or incompetent, or some terrible mix of the two, don’t let yourself suffer any longer. Good bosses are hard to find, but it’s worth your effort to try and find them—or start your own business and become your own boss.
You’re Severely Undervalued. Your boss and co-workers should see you as an integral part of the team and recognize you when you’ve done exceptional work, whether it is with money or a simple “nicely done”. When your accomplishments aren’t acknowledged or your ongoing work isn’t appreciated, maintaining a high level of performance is challenging not to mention feeling satisfied with your job.
If this is the case more often than not, you owe it to yourself to look for a position where you’re not only valued, but where you feel valued.
You Aren’t Passionate About the Work. You’ll never have a job where you’re excited to go to work every day. That’s a fact. However, passion isn’t always about excitement or happiness; it’s about thriving in your environment and being motivated to continue.
So ask yourself this: Even if you’re stressed or angry about a problem at work, are you invested in solving that problem?
If so, then you should still consider yourself passionate. If you have no real interest in your work and you’re just going through the motions, it’s time to find a different calling.
You Don’t Fit the Culture. Company culture can make or break your work experience. When you fit in with the tone, the dress, the attitudes, and the behaviors of your workplace, the actual work is your focus. If your own work preferences are at odds with the culture, you’ll be preoccupied with just that instead of your job and you’ll never be able to reach your potential. In this case, unless you have the influence to actively change the culture of your workplace, the best path forward is to quit and look for a job closer to your ideal environment.
Obviously, one factor may not be enough reason for you to quit your job. Honestly, no matter how much you like a job, there will always be something that makes it difficult or unpleasant at times, and even bad jobs have their good sides. So don’t use this list as the be-all and end-all.
Instead, let it guide you in understanding your current situation and how you feel about it. Think mindfully but critically, try to separate your needs from your wants, and go with the decision that makes the most sense for you.
Last but not least. Remember that there’s no harm in exploring your options, and Sirvo is here to help! Sign up now to kick-start your job search.
