Having chosen the location of your restaurant, and equipped the kitchen with all of the restaurant equipment that you will need, you’re almost ready to get started. The final thing that you need before you can open your restaurant is waitstaff. These are the people who will be your brand ambassadors to each and every customer that you have. It is very important that you hire the right people for this reason alone.
The big question is, how do you ensure that you get the right people for the job? We’ve gathered some great tips for help you with the hiring process so that you can look forward to your new restaurant being a great success.
1. Personality is key
As your wait staff will be customer facing, you need them to be very personable. This is something that you should make very clear in the job description. When it comes to the interview you should be judging them on not only what they say but how they say it. Is the applicant happy, engaging and polite? If not, then you may want to look for another candidate.
2. You’re going to need someone reliable
Having the right kind of experience is very important but with wait staff, there is one attribute that is important above all others, reliability. You need your team to be at full strength at all times. If when you contact their references they indicate that the applicant is always on time and never misses a shift then you should move quickly to secure them as a member of your team. There is nothing more disruptive to a restaurant then being shorthanded.
3. First impressions count
As you work through the interview process you need to pay close attention to first impressions. After all, the applicants will be meeting your customers constantly throughout their shifts and will not only be making the first impression for themselves, but also for the whole restaurant. Do they look clean and professional? Are they well spoken and polite? These are just some of the questions you need to ask when looking at a new hire.
4. Get to know them a little
You should not be shy about asking a little bit about their life and interests. This will give you an idea about their personality. You will be working with them in a high-pressure environment so you will need to form some basic rapport with them. If you feel a connection during this first meeting it is a good sign that you will be able to build a good working relationship with them soon.
5. Are they a leader?
There are times that a server will need to think for themselves in order to give the best possible service. It’s a good idea to ask questions about times that they have had to take control of a situation and how that has led to a positive outcome. Finding creative ways to resolve customer complaints or any dissatisfaction with their dining experience is what makes a huge difference to your clientele.
6. Do they make eye contact with you?
You should make sure that they are not only good verbal communicators but also can create a connection with those that the meet. If they look you in the eye and have open body language then you are on the right track with this applicant.
7. Are they in this for the long haul
You will need to spend some time training your wait staff. This is an investment in them and will take time and energy to get them up to speed with what you need from them. Because of this, you need to ensure that the people you hire are going to be with you for some time so that you do not need to constantly train new people.
