How to prepare for an interview for a restaurant job

It doesn’t matter if you’ve got years of experience behind you or you’re new to the hospitality world, putting some time into prepping for your interview is always a good idea. If you're invited to an interview, your application must have impressed the employer. Now it's your chance to dazzle them and show them that you're up for the job.

With over 1,600 M&B pubs, bars and restaurants scattered around the UK, you could say that we've conducted an interview or two. To help you make your next career step, we've put together our top tips for preparing for an interview for a restaurant job

Lay your outfit out the day before

Getting to know a company will not only help you when it comes to answering the questions, but it’ll also give you some pointers about what to wear on the day. And let’s be honest, knowing what to wear for an interview can be tricky. Think about your outfit well in advance, and you’ll save yourself rushing around last minute and being late.

If there’s one bit of advice we have, it’s to always dress professionally. Some restaurants will clearly have a stricter dress code. But even if the company is fun and playful, you want to look smart. If you can show the interviewer that you’ve taken care when choosing your outfit, they’ll consider that you’d put as much care into your work.

Be ready for the common interview questions

Restaurants are known for being fast-paced and high-energy. Get ready to answer any questions about how you thrive in busy environments, multi-task and think quickly.

Say that you were looking to work in an M&B kitchen. You could expect to be asked about how you work as a team, maintaining a friendly and positive manner, and upholding quality when things get busy. In your answer, the interviewer will want to hear that you’re diligent, hard-working and passionate about cooking.

So how about an assistant manager interview you ask? Hospitality hiring managers will be trying to figure out if you remain calm under pressure and be the person that a general manager can rely on. Think back to shifts when you’ve displayed these traits and make sure to talk about them in the interview.

Now say that you're interested in a front-of-house role. The interviewer is interested in your communication skills and customer service - a few of the essential waiting staff skills - as well as your food safety knowledge.

Take a look at more common restaurant interview questions to prepare you for the day.

Prepare some questions of your own

If you’re interviewing for a kitchen assistant job, you might ask, 'What does a typical day or week look like in this role?' This shows that you understand that there's a structure in a kitchen job, and it will give you a flavour for the role.

Now let's say you’re applying for an assistant manager role. Asking 'What are the team's strengths, and how could they perform better?' would shed some light on the team you'd be managing. It'll also show that you're keen to get stuck into the role and improve performance.

Lastly, let's consider that you're eyeing up waiting staff jobs, but you want to know if there's a chance of stepping up to a Team Leader role. 'Are there opportunities to progress beyond this role?' is a good question to uncover whether you can develop within the company.

Tips for interview day

Be confident. Remember that the people interviewing you have been in your very position. They’re not trying to catch you out with their questions. They just want to figure out whether you're the right fit for the role.

Be polite. Before you leave, let the interviewer know that you appreciate their time and look forward to hearing from them. This isn’t going to be the difference between getting the job or not, but manners go a long way.

Be yourself. Don't forget that the interviewer wants to get to know you. It's a great idea to talk about what you do outside of work and give them a better idea of your character. Just make sure to keep it professional.

Come and join a company that puts its people first

At M&B, we make people the priority, and everything else falls into place. We'll support you through every stage of your personal life, so you can bring your a-game to work.

Working in hospitality is like no other job. You're surrounded by people who know how to put in a good shift and have some fun along the way. So what are you waiting for? Check out our kitchen jobs, bar and waiting roles or see if there's a management position with your name on it.