- Why do you want to work in a cafeteria?
- What motivates you to do a good job in this role?
- How do you balance working alone with operating within a team?
- Between preparing and serving food, which do you prefer the most and why?
- What is your favorite part of the job?
In this article, we explore some of the most common interview questions asked during a school cafeteria worker interview along with some great answers to help you win the job.
Top 20 School Cafeteria Worker Interview Questions and Answers for 2022
Interviews for Top Jobs at New York City Department of Education
School Food Service Manager Interview
I applied online. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at New York City Department of Education (New York, NY) in Feb 2014
Interview
Basic Skills test and resume upload was required to be considered as a candidate for interviewing. Because there were so many applicants who had to wait to be considered, It was about a month or two before I found out that I was selected an someone they’d like to interview.
- What experience do you have in food service?You have completed an internship with School Food while attending college, what did you learn during your time with us?What do you feel are the qualities of a good school food service manager?
Example: “I would start by making sure that all of the food is organized in a way that makes sense. For example, I would put cold foods on one side of the cafeteria and hot foods on another so that students know where they need to go to find what they’re looking for. I would also add some colorful decorations to brighten up the space and make it more visually appealing.”
Example: “I would first inform the cafeteria worker about the issue I noticed. If it was something like a dirty cutting board, I would offer to help them wash it. If it was something more serious, such as an employee who didn’t know how to properly handle raw meat, I would alert my manager or another supervisor right away. They could then address the situation with the employee.”
School cafeteria workers often have to handle challenging situations with students. Employers ask this question to make sure you know how to diffuse a situation and keep it from escalating. In your answer, explain that you would first try to calm the student down by speaking to them in a soft voice. If they continue to be disruptive, you would remove them from the cafeteria for a short time until they can calm down.
School cafeteria workers must follow strict food safety regulations to ensure the health and safety of students. Interviewers ask this question to make sure you understand these regulations and can apply them in your work. In your answer, explain how you would handle a situation where students might not be following proper hygiene or sanitation practices while eating.
This question is a test of your problem-solving skills. It’s important to show that you can think on your feet and make decisions quickly. In your answer, explain how you would handle the situation and what steps you would take to ensure students had access to food until they got home.
What are the Roles of a School Cafeteria Worker?
The interviewer is interested in knowing whether you are aware of what roles a school cafeteria worker does. Go ahead and list the duties and responsibilities you expect to handle.
Sample Answer
“A worker in this role is responsible for arranging and serving meals, cleaning utensils and equipment. They also assist the students and staff in making meal choices. They also collect payments for the food served to complete the transactions. They work in close collaboration with other team members to deliver a great customer experience.”
Tell me about your ability to work under pressure?
Answer tips:
Here’s where the ability to perform under fire comes into play. And, if possible, give an example that is relatable to the type of position that you are applying for.
The ideal way to respond to this question is to provide examples and situations of how you have handled stress in your previous jobs. In this way, the interviewer can establish a clear picture of how well you are likely to react when the going gets tough.
Pro tip: make sure you are not referencing a time when your lack of organization or communication put you in a “self induced” stressful scenario. This is to say, don’t share a story about how your procrastiation created a situation where you had to finish a project quickly.
Answer samples
FAQ
How do I prepare for a food service interview?
- Be able to describe how your experience and skills would benefit the company.
- Anticipate possible questions you might be asked and have answers prepared.
- Plan transportation to arrive a few minutes early.
- Choose appropriate, business-like clothing and accessories to wear.
What are the 10 common interview questions and answers?
- Tell me about yourself. …
- What are your strengths? …
- What are your weaknesses? …
- What do you like to do for fun or in your free time? …
- What extracurricular activities interest you? …
- What is your favorite subject? …
- What subject do you find the most difficult?
