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Questions to practise
Tell me a little about your work with customers.
The manager wants to know your experience and how you feel about serving people.
Name the places you worked, like a café, shop or restaurant. Say what you did each day. Add one thing you enjoy, for example making guests feel welcome. Keep it short and friendly.
What do you enjoy about serving people?
She wants staff who are kind to guests and like this kind of work.
Give one or two real reasons. For example, you like a busy room or you like to see guests happy. Add a short example of a guest who thanked you.
Tell me about the busiest shift you have worked.
She needs to know you can stay calm and organised under pressure.
Tell a short story. Say where it was, how busy it was, and what you did. Talk about writing orders down, checking tables often and doing the most important tasks first. End with how the shift went.
How do you handle six tables at once?
Busy nights can be hard. She wants to hear a clear plan, not a general answer.
Explain your system. For example: greet new tables fast, write every order down, check each table often, and put tasks in order. Say you ask a colleague for help if needed.
A guest says their order is wrong. What do you do?
Mistakes happen. She wants to see you stay calm, say sorry and fix it quickly.
Use simple steps. Say sorry first. Take the plate back. Tell the kitchen quickly and ask them to make it first. Check on the guest again later. Do not blame the kitchen or the guest.
A table waited a long time and now they are angry with you. What do you say first?
She wants to hear your first words, and whether you stay polite and calm.
Give the exact words you would say, like: 'I'm really sorry for the wait.' Then say what you will do next, for example check on their food now. Stay calm. Listen and do not argue.
Tell me about a mistake you made at work.
She wants honest staff who own their mistakes and learn from them.
Choose a small, real mistake. Say what happened and what you did to fix it. Then say what you do differently now. Talk about your own part. Do not blame other people.
Give me an example of helping a colleague during a shift.
Restaurants need teamwork. She wants a real example, not just 'I am a team player'.
Tell one real moment. For example, you carried drinks when the bar was busy, or you cleared a colleague's table. Say why it helped, like guests did not wait.
A guest asks if a dish has nuts and you are not sure. What do you do?
She wants servers who are honest and careful, and who check instead of guessing.
Say you would not guess. Tell the guest you will check. Ask the kitchen or the manager, then come back with a clear answer. Write the guest's request on the order so everyone knows.
Why do you want to work here?
She wants to know you are interested in this restaurant and this kind of work.
Say one or two real things you like, for example the busy, friendly feel or the team working together. Link it to your experience. Keep it honest and short. Say you want to learn and help the team.
On busy nights, I write every order down and check each table often.
Clara
AI coach
Leo
AI coach
Lines to try
On busy nights, I write every order down and check each table often.
First I would say sorry, then I would fix it quickly.
I'm really sorry for the wait. Let me check on your food right now.
I asked a colleague to cover my tables for a minute.
I learned to check the order before I leave the table.
Could you say that again, please?
Common questions
What if I have never worked in a restaurant?
That is okay. Work in a café, shop, hotel or other customer job counts. You can also talk about work in another country. Show how you stayed calm, helped customers and worked with others. If you have no example, give a clear plan for what you would do.
Can I ask the manager to repeat a question?
Yes. This is normal and polite. You can say, 'Could you say that again, please?' or 'Sorry, do you mean a busy night or a quiet one?' It is better to ask than to guess. Take a short breath before you answer.
How long should my answers be?
Most answers can be three to five sentences. Say what happened, what you did, and how it ended. A short, real example is better than a long, general answer. If the manager wants more, she will ask.