first watch interview questions

As a restaurant manager, interviewing new employees can be a stressful situation. Many of the standard restaurant interview questions can be found online so candidates can prepare ahead of time to give the best answer. There’s nothing wrong with that. But do those answers necessarily translate into real-life skills and abilities? It’s hard to say.

To help you really get to know the candidate you’re interviewing, you’ve got to go deeper. To help you make the interview process easier, we’ve created a list of the 20 most important restaurant interview questions.

These questions will help you avoid the canned answers that sound great in the interview but don’t truly reveal the candidate’s potential.

First Watch – Culture and Careers

Interviews for Top Jobs at First Watch

Server Interview

Server Interview

Server Interview

8 questions about Interviews at First Watch

What is the interview process like at First Watch?

Very thorough, they take their time to be certain there is a great fit which makes great teams!

For an interview would it be better to dress up or wear the company dress code?

It’s better to dress up

What tips or advice would you give to someone interviewing at First Watch?

Be prepared and have ypur social security card and I.D.

How should I prepare for an interview at First Watch?

Just bring in resume! Application and paperwork is all online

How long does it usually take to get back to someone after an interview?

Immediately

What questions did they ask during your interview at First Watch?

If you wanted a superpower what would it be?

My hair is currently light pink but am willing to change for the job. Should I explain at my interview or just dye it before?

Dye it before or you likely won’t get the job

How long does it take to get an interview after you apply at First Watch?

I’m about 2 to 3 days give them a call after submitting application if anyone hasn’t reach out by the. Give them a call. They should be able to get you in there in the next 3 days

“We’re filling positions much faster,” stated Godfroy. “Olivia has been critical for our new store openings, particularly in difficult locations. She shines during our hiring week events with multiple interviewers.” As a result, First Watch is 103% staffed for current management hiring needs. Additionally, all existing and new restaurants are 99% staffed for the next 90 days, and 96% staffed for management positions over the next 6 months. According to Sposato, “We have continued plans for phenomenal growth of new restaurants and hiring. Olivia is always leading the way.”

Rethinking the candidate experience started with considering personal touchpoints, the best way to market to each role, and the appropriate process. According to Sposato, “The minute I saw Olivia, I was hooked. She is everything that hourly job seekers are looking for— immediate engagement and they can walk away with an interview.” Today, candidates can submit their interest for jobs through a conversation with Olivia on the First Watch career site or through SMS. For candidates on mobile devices, applying for jobs and being scheduled for an interview is as easy as texting “Bacon.”

Prior to Olivia, First Watch directed candidates to complete the online application through their applicant tracking system (ATS). Managers would then login to the ATS to screen and then schedule in-person interviews by phone. The goal was to contact applicants within 24 hours, but regularly that didn’t happen and First Watch missed out on candidates. Now, restaurant managers simply set their interview availability based on their hiring needs and Olivia does the rest. Olivia screens and auto-schedules qualified candidates, and helps candidates through the process who might not otherwise finish applying. Today, 99% of First Watch candidates who provide their contact info to Olivia complete the screening conversation, and 96% of candidates accept their interview invitation. First Watch talent walks in the door for their pre-scheduled interviews and managers can hire on the spot.

Laura Sorenson, Chief People Officer, knew that attracting talent for the future growth would need to look different than the way First Watch previously recruited. With this in mind, the team at First Watch set out to deliver a more personalized experience to candidates. According to Sorenson, “To be competitive, we need to be thinking about what’s new. We wanted to show our candidates that we care and make the process easier for them. We didn’t know exactly what would come out of implementing Olivia, but we cannot believe the success we’ve seen. The results speak for themselves.”

With a commitment to scaling their “You First” culture, First Watch focuses on serving others. “Our ‘You First’ culture is about servant leadership and that starts with our First Watch employees and translates into the way we serve our customers,” stated Julie Godfroy, Director of Special Projects. “We want to deliver that same feeling and service experience to our candidates.”

DescriptionBusser First Watch Cafe Oak Creek, WI 53154 Join our First Watch team! Daytime hours- no night shifts ever! Restaurant is open 7am-2:30pm. We have locations in Brookfield, Mequon, Oak Creek, Greendale, and Pewaukee coming soon! The primary responsibility of a Busser is to quickly and efficiently bus all tables following Company procedures. Major Responsibilities: Understand and demonstrate our You First mission Demonstrates You First attitude with other employees and customers through teamwork Welcome and greet customers upon arrival, and thank customers as they are leaving Assist with maintaining service areas – stocking and cleanliness Assist servers in clearing tables in a quick and efficient manner (within 2 minutes) Rolling silverware as needed Sweeping and mopping floors as required Continuous monitoring of restroom cleanliness Stocking restrooms as needed Cleanliness of booster chairs and highchairs Light dusting and other housekeeping duties Assists with cleanliness and organization of the dish area Communicate any customer requests to server immediately Communicate with servers/hosts to assure efficient seating and table utilization Assist servers as needed with food delivery, especially with large parties and during peak periods Available to fill in as needed to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the restaurant as directed by management Employees enjoy: A daytime schedule with no night shifts ever Competitive pay (Commensurate with experience) Excellent training We try not to take ourselves too seriously, but there are a few things we look for in our employees: Passion for fresh food and customer satisfaction Unfailing work ethic and integrity Positive attitude and team spirit $14 Hiring Insights Job activity Posted Today First Watch – The Daytime Cafe Today original job If you require alternative methods of application or screening, you must approach the employer directly to request this as Indeed is not responsible for the employers application process. Report job Apply now Apply now Save this job Save this job

Why do you want to work in the restaurant industry?

This question can help you understand the candidate’s reasons for wanting to work in your restaurant. Responses like, “I really enjoy making people happy!” or, “My friend said you have the best pay.” can tell you a lot about their motives.

FAQ

What are the 10 most common interview questions and answers?

• Could you tell me about yourself and describe your background in brief? …
• How did you hear about this position? …
• What type of work environment do you prefer? …
• How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations? …
• Do you prefer working independently or on a team?

What questions are usually asked in a first interview?

• Tell me about yourself.
• Walk me through your resume.
• How did you hear about this position?
• Why do you want to work at this company?
• Why do you want this job?
• Why should we hire you?
• What can you bring to the company?
• What are your greatest strengths?

How do I pass my first screening interview?

1. Don’t be so available. That’s right – don’t answer your phone. …
2. Review the job description. Prior to calling back, thoroughly review the job description. …
3. Call from a quiet location. …
4. Learn about the company. …
5. Be timely with tests. …
6. Be transparent. …
7. Be enthusiastic.

How long is first watch orientation?