Interview Questions

The following are commonly asked interview questions in the restaurant and hospitality industries. We will continue to add to this list as we come across other frequently asked questions.

Remember that questions are used not only to elicit a direct response, but to also assess your thought processes, work ethic, personality, perception of your self and others, etc. Always try to answer in a positive fashion or with an answer that will indicate a positive resolution or outcome.

  1. Tell me about yourself.
  2. Why did you become a restaurant/hospitality manager, chef, etc.?
  3. What do you know about our restaurant/property/company?
  4. Have you been to any of our restaurants/properties? What did you think? What did you observe while you were there? Did you get a chance to interact with any of our managers or staff? What would you improve or change?
  5. What do you think sets us apart from our competitors?
  6. Why do you want to work for our hotel/club/restaurant/property?
  7. Who else are you interviewing with? How do we compare to them?
  8. Have you been offered any positions yet?
  9. What do you think is a chef’s/manager’s role? What qualities should they possess?
  10. How would you describe your management style? Your personality?
  11. What motivates you? How do you motivate others?
  12. What was the best company you ever worked for? The worst? The best boss you ever had? Your least favorite? Why?
  13. What are some of your greatest accomplishments?
  14. Tell me about your cost control abilities? What have you done to help or improve your financial results?
  15. How would your supervisor/fellow managers/employees describe you?
  16. Have you ever been involved in confrontation with a guest/employee/supervisor at work? How did you resolve it?
  17. How would you handle the following situation?….
  18. What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself in 3/5/10 years?
  19. What are you looking for in a job?
  20. What makes you an effective manager/chef?
  21. What are your strengths? Weakness? What are you doing to improve your weakness?
  22. What are some of you greatest achievements or successes? What are some of your worst failures?
  23. Why did you leave your last job? Why do you want to leave your current position?
  24. What do you like least about being a manager/chef?
  25. Give me an example when you…..
  26. What upsets you/tries your patience?
  27. How long do you think you will stay with our company?
  28. What makes you the best candidate for this position? What do you think you bring to the table?
  29. What questions do you have for me?