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| Servers who are willing to go the extra mile for you are worth a million dollars! |
When hiring servers for a restaurant you are hiring character traits, professional demeanor, and a winning attitude. Skills can be taught, but if the candidate does not have the base to build the skills on, then why spend the dollars training? First, character traits can be found on the application or resume to some degree. A person who has attention to detail, and makes sure their application is complete and tidy is starting out on the right foot. Next look for length of employment through their work history. Did they change jobs many times without changing the area they lived in? What was their reasons for leaving? A person can pick up clues to character traits just by reviewing a resume or application carefully. Professional demeanor is the way they conduct themselves over the phone or in a face to face interview. Do they speak clearly and listen to the questions before answering? Are they a rambler? Do they make eye contact? Are they neat and clean? Do they fidget and look around the room but never at you? When interviewing a server they should be outgoing and friendly. Ideal candidates carry themselves with pride and engage in conversation. All these things make up a professional demeanor. A winning attitude is someone who answers your questions with positive up beat manor. They practice active listening skills, so you know (or hope) they will do the same when listening to your customers. A server with a winning attitude will make money for your company. They will not be intimidated to describe menu items and make suggestions to customers as needed.
How do you figure out during the hiring process if a server candidate has what you are looking for? Lets say server candidates have been chosen for interviews. When setting the appointment for the interview, ask that they bring a copy of their OLCC card and Oregon Food Handlers Card with them to the interview. If they come without these items or a receipt showing they are in the process of getting them, then that is a deal breaker. It is a part of being a professional to come to an interview with items requested by the company interviewing you. It is a little test that helps weed out the candidates that are not responsible or have poor listening skills. Next, the first fifteen seconds of the interview is a second make or break, the first impression. Servers approach the table and have about fifteen seconds to wow your guests and make them feel welcome. If they cannot wow you with the initial introduction during the interview, how will they do with guests? During the interview process watch body language and communication skills, does this person come across as friendly and inviting? Are they robotic? Are they lacking the confidence it takes to provide excellent customer service? Make the interviewee’s feel welcome and unintimidated, they will open up and tell you things that you might not hear otherwise.
