Wait Staff

Wait Staff qualifications to look for

The wait staff are the most customer-facing people in your restaurant. They take charge of educating customers about your menu, make sure their orders are well-handled, and give them everything they need from start to finish. 

Though experience isn’t required for this position, it’s important to keep a critical eye out for candidates who are high on customer service and experience. Higher-end establishments may want a wait staff member with ample experience in the food and beverage industry, while other restaurants focus more on how quickly a candidate can learn and how personable they are with customers. 

Keep an eye out for candidates who are:

• Fast learners
• Cool under pressure 
• Customer-forward thinkers
• Team-players
• Detail-oriented
• Friendly
• Able to follow safety procedures
• Trustworthy
  

Top tip: Hire candidates willing to grow by making sure their personal career goals align with your company's mission.

Wait Staff interview questions

• Tell me about one dining experience you really enjoyed. What made it enjoyable and what did you learn from it going into this line of work? 
• What do you know about our establishment? 
• What is your experience with customer service? How can your experience help you in this position? 
• What are the considerations you make if someone has special dietary requirements? 
• What experience do you have serving wine? 
• Recall a time you handled a customer complaint. What happened and how was it resolved?
• What are some key steps you take to make sure your customers are satisfied? 
• How do you handle big rushes? What do you do to stay busy when it’s slow?
• How do you stay organized while taking orders, especially when the restaurant is busy?
• How would you rate your upselling skills? Walk me through some ways to upsell during dinner. 
• What would you do if a customer gave you a bad tip and then sat at your table for a long time? 
• How do you ensure you follow food safety guidelines? 
• Recall a time a team member wasn’t doing their share of the work. How did you help them step up to the plate? 
• What are your feelings on tip sharing with other staff members?