You’ve downloaded the mPloy App, filled out your Worker Profile, submitted your Video Interview, and now you’ve been invited to a face-to-face interview. You know there’s something special about you that grabbed the hiring manager’s attention, but how do you seal the deal? How can you show them that you’re the best candidate for the job? Here are seven tips to keep in mind for when the big day comes. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be sure to showcase your absolute best self.

Dress for Success

A wise man once said, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” Or maybe it wasn’t a wise man, but a happily employed restaurant staff member. Regardless, whoever said it experienced a moment of brilliance. You want your interviewer to imagine you in the role that you’ve applied for, and one of the best ways to do this is to dress the part. Do a bit of recon before you show up – if the working staff members wear black, you should wear black. Do they have their hair up off their shoulders? Do they have any visible tattoos? What shoes are they wearing? You want to make it as easy as possible for the manager to see you as a part of their team. Quick tip: don’t wear jeans, and never wear anything with any visible rips or tears.

Ooze Personality

Restaurant work isn’t always easy and sometimes working with hangry, disgruntled customers can be a bit of a challenge. Managers need to know that they can count on their staff to flash a smile even on the worst of days, and that’s what they’re looking for when they meet with you. It doesn’t matter if you work in the Front or the Back of House, staying upbeat and personable in the hairiest of situations will put you in the good books of any restaurant manager. Don’t be afraid to laugh or crack a couple of jokes when you meet face-to-face – everyone loves to laugh and showing off your amazing personality is one more convincing reason to hire you.

Review the Menu

This is one tip that can’t be stressed enough. Before you show up for your interview, do your research! What are the menu prices like? Do they serve brunch, or just dinner on weekends? Which dish appeals to you the most? Are there any ingredients that you’re not familiar with? You want to make sure you’re the most prepared you possibly can be, and ready to answer any questions the manager throws at you. Not only will this make you seem more knowledgeable, but it’ll also show the manager that you’re dedicated to working in their establishment and passionate about food and drink.

Connect

Any successful restaurant runs like a well-oiled machine. So, you want to make sure that you fit the role and can work to be a key player. Before you go for your interview, follow them on Instagram. Check out their socials – they’re there for a reason! Figure out if you’ll be able to connect with their existing team and clientele. If you’re a night owl, working in a busy breakfast place probably isn’t the best fit. Passionate about veganism? Maybe securing a position at the local steakhouse isn’t in your best interest. The best employee is a happy employee and that means taking the time to find common ground.

Turn Weakness into Strength

Nobody’s perfect, and that’s just a fact of life. Most managers will ask you to list some of your biggest strengths and your biggest weaknesses, so come prepared to answer this question. Are you a Chatty Cathy? That’s alright. Are you a little bit messy? That’s ok, too. The best way to explain your shortcomings to a hiring manager is to show them that you’re aware of what you’re doing and that you’re taking the steps to make a positive change in your work behaviour. And that’s definitely a strength. Someone who loves to chat can be a great benefit to a restaurant; you can upsell easily, introduce them to your restaurant’s loyalty program, or even just invite them back. A lack of organization can easily be managed by coming in for your shift a little bit early and making sure your station is clean, stocked, and ready to go before you begin your shift. It’s all about perspective, so take this as an opportunity to show how you’re ready to grow as a person and an employee.

Focus on Teamwork

At some point during the interview, you’re likely to be asked about a time in the past when you had to work together with a team. Prepare for this question! We encounter teamwork all the time, not just in the workplace. If you were ever part of a group project, that counts as teamwork. If you ever resolved a disagreement with a family member for the sake of a successful holiday, that’s definitely teamwork. How you behave in the face of adversity shows a lot about the type of person you are and how you’ll handle complicated or stressful situations. Tricky situations always arise, but it’s how you get out of them that counts.

Ask Questions

Finally, ask questions! Don’t let your interviewer do all the talking. Asking questions shows that you’re interested in the workings of the restaurant and want to know more about what it’s like to be employed there. Want to know about staff meals? Ask away! Don’t understand how time off works? Bring it up! Take this opportunity to show the hiring manager that you’re quick, motivated, and eager to learn. Finding the perfect employee isn’t about choosing the one with the most experience; it’s about securing that combination of personality, presence, and passion.

And there you have it, the seven pillars of restaurant interview success. Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to get into any hiring manager’s good books. I mean, after showcasing all these incredible attributes, who wouldn’t hire you?