| When it comes to hiring wait staff, you have to | | | | applicant's flexibility: |
| be very careful in not only who you hire, but | | | | •If there are eight wait staff scheduled for a |
| being able to screen them well. Being one of the | | | | busy time, but only five make their shift, what |
| highest areas where turn over is a problem, you | | | | would you do to make sure that the shift went |
| can save yourself a great deal of time and | | | | smoothly? |
| headache by simply being more careful in your | | | | •Throughout your shift, what ways can you |
| selection of wait staff as you do hiring in the first | | | | ensure that you are able to meet, greet and |
| place. One of the areas where may restaurant | | | | serve each table in a timely way? |
| managers fall short is in the questions they ask | | | | •You're about to go off of shift, and the |
| during the all too important interview process. | | | | restaurant is suddenly extremely busy and your |
| Often, just happy to fill the space, they set | | | | replacement is late. How would you handle this |
| themselves up on a cycle of hiring where they | | | | situation? |
| end up having to repeat the process many more | | | | •In the past, when called on an off day to |
| times over than they would have, had they just | | | | cover someone else's shift, would your previous |
| been a bit more selective as they hired. Here are | | | | employer say that you've been dependable? |
| a few important questions to be asking a potential | | | | •Another server is really having a problem |
| new hire as you select your own wait staff | | | | with a busy section, and several of your tables |
| employees. | | | | have just left, what do you do? |
| These first questions have to do with general | | | | These last five will help you to assess how |
| reliability, and are pretty key: | | | | honest the applicant is: |
| •Everyone misses work at times. In the past, | | | | •If you found out that another employee was |
| what reasons have you had for missing a day of | | | | stealing, how would you handle that situation? |
| work? | | | | •If the restaurant was not busy at all, and |
| •In your previous position, how many days | | | | you were on a break, would you take a few |
| total did you miss and why? | | | | minutes extra? |
| •Are there any situations that might impact | | | | •Have you ever had another coworker cover |
| your ability to either get to work, or be at work | | | | for you because you were going to either be late |
| on time? | | | | or miss a shift, but not for the reason you called |
| •When I contact your previous employer, | | | | in? |
| how do you think they are going to describe your | | | | •When it comes to your tips, do you usually |
| dependability? | | | | report all of the tips that you make, or just the |
| •If you are scheduled for a break, but you | | | | amount you need to to make minimum wage? |
| have a table that needs your attention, how | | | | •Would you say that every one tells white lies |
| would you handle this situation? | | | | in the work place from time to time, or do you |
| The next five questions will help you to see the | | | | feel on the whole, most people are honest? |