Waitresses must be versatile when accepting payment forms. The applicant’s response to this question will allow you to gauge how much experience they have with basic math during work hours as cash transactions often require a quick exchange of money. The ideal candidate will know when to ask for payment and have a positive attitude toward customers during this experience. What to look for in an answer:

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to perform basic math
• Critical thinking skills

In the restaurant industry, there are good days and bad days. An excellent 1564977108715server73.08server restaurant18.0restaurant8.27waitress5.49restaurant server4.01630121972603177.2517.8942.80HOURLY1570515556312025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05waitress will have the skills necessary to handle tough situations and critical clients. The ideal candidate will show compassion when discussing a time they dealt with a difficult customer, and they will show how they offered ways to fix the negative experience for the individual. Focus on the applicant’s ability to pay attention to details that might have impacted the patron. What to look for in an answer:

• Empathy and compassion
• Detail-oriented attitude
• Experience serving a difficult customer

Some establishments require waitresses to make simple alcoholic beverages; however, others might only require servers to handle beers and wine. The applicant’s response to this question will allow you to gauge their knowledge of a variety of drinks and how experienced they are as a waitress. Does the individual prefer handling only non-alcoholic beverages? Focus on the candidate’s confidence in their abilities. What to look for in an answer:

• Confidence in the ability to learn new tasks when needed
• Knowledge of different beverages
• Experience serving customers and checking IDs if necessary

Waitresses are often required to deal with many tasks at once. During rush hours, one server might have four to five tables at the same time. The ideal candidate will understand the importance of time management and presenting each patron with a pleasant demeanor. Focus on the applicant’s tone when discussing how they would handle a busy shift. Are they able to stay calm under pressure? What to look for in an answer:

• Positive personality
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Time management skills

In the restaurant industry, there are many different types of allergens and special food restrictions that people follow, which makes it essential for waitresses to know how to accommodate such customers. The ideal candidate will have experience knowing what ingredients are in meals on a menu, offering substitutions, and will understand what diets limit certain items. Is the applicant aware of the differences between vegetarian and vegan or foods that meet popular diet plans like keto or paleo? What to look for in an answer:

• Willingness to always be learning
• Ability to cater to special food requests by offering substitutions
• Understanding of different diets

For a restaurant to remain efficient and productive, all employees must be collaborative and work as a team to keep orders running smoothly. It's important to have waitresses on staff who understand the value of teamwork and how it makes a restaurant successful. Look for a candidate who has experience working on a team and who seems enthusiastic and motivated to work on an inclusive, supportive and collaborative restaurant staff. The candidate's answer should emphasize:

• Dedication to teamwork
• Collaborative attitude
• Experience working on a team