10 Job Interview Questions and Answers for a Restaurant Manager
Restaurant managers ensure that restaurants operate efficiently and profitably while maintaining their reputation and ethos – this should be the basis of your interview.
Job Interview Question 1:
“Tell me about yourself?”
This question asked at the interview start, gives you the opportunity to deliver a short statement about your restaurant management experiences and skills relevant to the job position you are applying for. Keep this statement positive and relevant and when you can discuss your unique selling point.
- Start with a “selling” line that will highlight your main management strength and your restaurant achievements – this could be turning a failed restaurant into a highly profitable business or you could have helped the restaurant become a chain.
- Discuss your unique selling point as this creates intrigue
- You want to interest the interviewer and get them to want to know more about you
- End this answer with a reason why you’re looking for a new job
Potential Interview Answer
“I’ve been working as a restaurant manager for 8 years. I have a great understanding of how to market a restaurant to the public, with me being responsible for turning a failed restaurant into a highly profitable business with a 12 month period. My innovative marketing techniques have increased profits by 25% year on year for the past 3 years. I am now ready for a new challenge and with your company having a great reputation, I believe this is the opportunity I have been waiting to apply for”
Job Interview Question 2:
“Why did you leave your restaurant?”
Be positive with this answer and smile – employers like to hear that you left for a good opportunity or reason, a chance to do something special or for a good career move.
- Start the answer with a look back at your management experience
- Explain what you enjoyed about your previous role as a restaurant manger
- Give a Positive reason for leaving
Potential Interview Answer
“I enjoyed working at Company Name and really enjoyed the interaction of working for a company that was committed to the customer experience. It was a hard choice to leave but I felt that this great opportunity is the next obvious step for me”
Job Interview Question 3:
“What is your approach to strategic planning and day-to-day management?”
Here the employer is looking for your management style and often they are checking if you are organised and can manage the pressure of the job. Simply explain how you approach task, how you plan your time and how you achieve results.
Potential Interview Answer
“In all my roles I have been involved in the strategic planning of the restaurant. I first look at the restaurants objectives and brain storm how I can achieve these desired results with the available resources. Once I have formulated a plan I break this plan down into segments, creating milestones, time-frames and delegating responsibilities.”
Job Interview Question 4:
“What is your approach to analysing and planning restaurant sales levels and profitability?”
If you are highly successful in this area you need to discuss your secrets and a new employer will be blown away with your answer and will be more likely to hire you. Every restaurant owner needs a manager who can increase profit. To boost your answer quote figures and percentages.
Potential Interview Answer
“In my last restaurant I was able to double the profits within a 6 month period. The secret of my success was the co-operative approach with the head chef in the planning of menus and events. Also I would reflect on each project and ensure that we met our targets checking on what worked well and how we can improve the profits of each week, event and session”
Job Interview Question 5:
“How do you manage employees who work part time?”
Many restaurants hire part time staff. Employer asking this question will most likely have negative experience where staff don’t turn up for shifts or don’t meet the high standards of the business. You need to explain your approach to staff recruitment, retention and staff development.
Potential Interview Answer
“The secret to managing staff is in the initial recruitment stage. I use strength based interviewing to ensure I hire staff with good work ethics. As new staff start I pair them up with an experienced mentor to ensure they learn from members of staff I trust. I offer support and training to all my staff and have a “door open” policy”
Job Interview Question 6:
“How would you be an asset to us?”
Think again about the job specification and the skills needed for this role. Have a paragraph prepared highlighting how you will be able to do the job and what you can bring to the team. It goes without saying that this paragraph should be positive.
Potential Interview Answer
“I’m the type of person who likes to get a task completed; I am driven, hard working and have excellent time management. I have worked in this industry for 8 years and have made excellent contacts and built good working relationships to will be of advantage to any employer who employees me”
Job Interview Question 7:
“What are your strengths?”
This is one of the most common questions you will be asked. Give an answer relevant to the skills and qualities relevant to the position you are applying to. The interviewer is trying to find if your strengths match the job. For example, if you are applying for a job where accuracy is an important issue, one of your strengths could be that you have an eye for detail. It may useful to find different words to describe similar attributes and qualities in order to avoid repetition.
Potential Interview Answer
“I have often been told that I have an eye for detail and that I am very accurate and precise. This was very important during my last role where I was responsible for the restaurant accounts as well as the day to day management of the whole restaurant”
Job Interview Question 8:
“What are your weaknesses?”
Again, another commonly asked question. A frequent mistake to make when answering this question is to say something negative like “I can sometimes let things get on top of me”. Be positive and sell yourself with every interview question, turn a negative into a positive. For example,
Potential Interview Answer
“In the past when I first got into management, I felt I needed to improve my accounts skills. To develop myself I self funded an accounting course. This paid of as I soon learnt how I could use this knowledge to save the company money on overhead cost. This is my approach to weaknesses, I first recognize them before taking action to develop myself”
This will show that you can identify your weaknesses but at the same time, you are willing to improve. Most importantly: do not mention a weakness that is any way related to the job you are being interviewed for! This might sound obvious but it is a common mistake!
Job Interview Question 9:
“Do you know anything about this organisation?”
Often one of the first questions you will be asked during the interview, employers want employees who will stay with the company, this question and answer will show the employer that you know the company’s history and feel they will be a good employer to work for.
It also shows the employer that you think ahead and carry out research. Answer this question with:
- The length the organisation has been operating for.
- How the company started
- The restaurant style/customer base
- All this information is normally found on the internet; on the company home page or about us page.
Potential Interview Answer
“I know a great deal about your organisation, before I applied for the job position I researched the company. I really like how the company started as a partnership company 10 years ago and has grown to a company of 70 staff working throughout 18 countries.”
Job Interview Question 10:
“Do you have any questions for me?”
Good interview questions to ask interviewers at the end of the job interview include questions on the company growth or expansion, questions on personal development and training and questions on company values, staff retention and company achievements.
