Practice, Practice... Interview Questions

“I look for candidates that fit our hiring profile: Passion for the restaurant
business; community involvement/awareness; solid communication skills;
bias for taking action; independent; progressive thinker; and a balanced
lifestyle.” ~ Pasta Pomodoro

During an interview, you should expect questions about your professional
background and experience. You should also expect to hear questions about your
goals and what you want to do with your career. The questions will often depend
on the type of job you are seeking. Listed below are some sample questions that you
should be able to answer.

General company questions
• How did you hear about our company?
• What interests you about working for our company?

Educational experience
• How would you describe your academic achievement?
• What courses did you enjoy most?
• What interests you about this position?
• Explain your understanding of the job’s responsibilities.
• What experiences or qualifications do you have that prepare you for this position?
• What sets you apart from others?
• What will you bring to the position?

Your personal experience
• How would you describe your ideal job?
• What kind of work interests you?
• Can you give me specific examples of how you handled a difficult situation in
your previous employment?
• What are the biggest challenges you have faced in your career?
• Tell me about a typical day in your current job.
• What are your current hours? Schedule? Workdays?
• How do you plan your day?
• What do you like best about your current job?
• What do you like least about your current job?
• What accomplishment are you most proud of?
• How would your boss describe you?
• What are your strengths?
• What areas could use improving?
• Do you need additional training?

Interpersonal skills
• How would your coworkers describe you?
• How do you relate to your coworkers?
• What do you look for in a supervisor?
• How do you relate to your supervisor?
• What makes you feel tense or nervous?
• When the pressure of work is high, where does your energy come from?
• Define a good work atmosphere.
• How do you handle criticism?

Your goals for your next position
• What do you expect out of this job?
• How will this job help you reach your long-term personal and career goals?
• What do you feel are the disadvantages of this field?
• How will you evaluate the company for which you hope to work?