Waiter Interview Questions

Waiters often need to help each other, especially during busy times at the restaurant. You want to hire someone who is willing to provide their co-workers with support whenever needed, just as they would hope to get help from other team members if they needed it. Look for a candidate who has the restaurant’s best interests at heart rather than one who is solely working for their own agenda. What to look for in an answer:

• Experience working as part of a successful team
• Willingness to help others
• Ability to see the bigger picture beyond their own needs

The answer to this question will reveal if the candidate will strive to increase sales rather than be complacent with every customer’s order. A waiter needs to be comfortable upselling and therefore must be aware of everything the restaurant offers so they can present their tables with options. You want your waitstaff to be friendly and social but also effective salespeople to help drive up your bottom line. What to look for in an answer:

• Willingness to promote additional menu options
• Knowledge of upselling techniques
• Ability to educate customers on higher-priced menu items

You want your applicant to look beyond individual goals and consider organizational growth. A candidate should mention they give their diners great respect along with outstanding service. Waiters should aim to spread a positive reputation for the restaurant, leading their patrons to encourage others to dine there as well as keep their customers returning in the future. This will help drive business and help in the success of the establishment. What to look for in an answer:

• Acknowledge the importance of friendly service in addition to great food
• Ability to build good rapport
• Knowledge of business practices

A waiter should be able to maintain their calm composure while facing adversity with a potentially angry customer regardless of whether they made a mistake or not. You want your candidate to display that they are willing to help all people, even if they are unfriendly. This requires a waiter to be able to not take things personally and put their emotions aside when they are serving their customers. What to look for in an answer:

• Ability to interact with angry customers
• Calmness while handling adversity
• Capacity to not take things personally when faced with conflict

You are looking for a candidate who can be flexible with their hours in order to help the restaurant during times of need. When the establishment is full but there is a limited staff, you want to have a waiter who can step in to contribute to the success of the place. This question will help you see if the candidate is willing to take on extra responsibilities to help others. What to look for in an answer:

• Willingness to be flexible
• Inclination to assume additional responsibilities
• Availability to be called in at the last minute

Waiting often requires working long hours while standing and a good waiter must be able to deliver quality service without feeling fatigued. You can use this question to identify candidates who understand the job requirements and have the stamina and temperament for the role. A skilled waiter candidate should demonstrate an understanding of the role and flexibility with their time and schedule. A candidate's answer should emphasize:

• An understanding of the work hours of waiters
• Superior physical stamina
• Ability to work long shifts