(pt1) I'm applying for a wait staff position and have an interview soon. It'll be my first experience in the food industry, however, I have had jobs in retail before. I'm dreading the "can you tell me of that time you found a situation difficult?" Do I need to talk about what I did to solve it or can I just tell them how I plan to rectify it if the same situation ever arose?
(pt2) They’ve also asked me to bring in written references from previous employers. The only thing is I don’t have their email and they live 2000km away from me (I moved to the city for uni). However, I have their work phone numbers written in my resume. Although one of them probably changed (it was a small store so I wouldn’t know). What if they ask me why I never asked for a recommendation/written reference before?
A helpful way to answer the "can you tell me of that time you found a situation difficult?“. Think about the job you’re applying for, and the specific traits that are associated with the position. You’re applying for a wait staff position, so the number one thing that your potential employer is looking for is that you’re good at customer service.
Think of a time during your previous work history when you worked with a difficult or upset client to a point where they weren’t upset anymore. Or make a story up. They have no way of checking.
In terms of the reference letter, I wouldn’t stress too much about it. I still use my first employer from over a decade ago as a reference, and they don’t mind. People are usually honored to be asked to be a reference, and a reference letter is equally honorable.
Good luck! Remember to ask your interviewer lots of questions after the interview. The more questions, the better. [from a previous post]
Asking questions after an interview does several positive things:
1. It shows your social flexibility and your ease at taking on a leadership role. You asking the questions = you steering the conversation = leadership!
2. It shows your interest in the job.
3. Depending on the questions you ask, it can single you out and make your interview more memorable.
Some Questions to Ask Your Employer (After Your Job Interview)
1. First off- ask any pressing questions you have. Before asking each question, reiterate as much information as you can regarding the question. For example, if you want to ask a question about raises and your employer mentioned that each employee is up for a raise every quarter ask: “So you mentioned that employees can qualify for raises every quarter, what specifically do you look for?”
2. Ask how your interviewer enjoys working for the company. Don’t ask this if the person who is interviewing you is the founder of the company, but do ask this for any level of employee. This gives them an opportunity to elaborate about their job and will help you get a sense of who they are as a person.
3. Similarly. If the person who is interviewing you is the founder of the company, find out some specific details about how the business came about. This gives you the upper hand with some backstory (if they haven’t already shared it with you) and shows that you have genuine interest in the company and its history.
4. Ask about your typical work day. This will allow them to outline the daily requirements of your position, which may (and probably will) unearth responsibilities not mentioned before. This shows that you’re motivated and already prepared to accept a job offer if one is made towards you.
5. Customer service. Many customer service related jobs will ask a question along the lines of “what was a difficult situation you were in and how did you resolve it”. This helps them get an idea of your problem solving skills. Flip it around! Ask the interviewer if they’ve ever encountered any difficult customer situations and how they dealt with them. If you get hired, you can use this knowledge to guide your movements.
6. Ask what people you’ll be working with. Get the inside scoop on any potential co-workers before being put in the zone with them. This also allows you to find out if the person who is interviewing you will actually be your co-worker, or if they’re a higher up you’ll only see at Christmas Parties.
7. After asking your questions ask them if they have any final questions for you. They probably won’t, but this maneuver will allow you to wrap your interview up in a sensical way. You can also verify that they have all of your contact information.
