Table of Contents

1. Get Prepped
2. Ace Your Interview
3. Do Follow Up

Hiring managers are not only looking at your resume in the job interview or considering the skills you have, but they are also sizing you up by the level of interest in the position and overall sense of confidence you project when they meet you face to face. After all, if you don’t feel confident in your ability to succeed in the position, why should they? To convey that confidence and make them believe in you, to convince them that you are by far the best candidate for that particular role, you have to by taking control of a job interview and sell yourself.

The number one priority in the job interview is to make sure you understand that this is your opportunity to sell yourself to the interviewer. Many people go to an interview with the mistaken notion that people are going to ask them questions and you will provide answers, but you’ll also be given the opportunity to tell interesting stories about yourself and “sell” your candidacy.

So, if you’ve got certain key things you need to tell about yourself, these are the things you have to get across in the defined period of time.

There are three main steps in managing the interview process and taking control of the narrative:

Get Prepped

The best interview is one for which you feel well prepared and self-confident. First, try to find out what type of interview you’ll be facing. The three basic types are those with a written set of questions (if yes, you can ask if there are any formal questions, much like a take-home exam); the behavioral interview (where you’re asked to describe how you’d act in different scenarios); and the panel interview (where you face more than one interviewer, in which case you should note each person’s expertise and make sure to address specific answers to your panelists)? or a combination of these.

• Do your homework on the hiring company and the position on offer. If it’s a high-end restaurant with a “dress code” for servers and other staff, for instance, take the time to visit the establishment, try the food, study the menu, and get a feel for the ambiance. A casual pub/club environment will have an entirely different feel. Dress for success takes on a whole new meaning, depending on the type of hospitality or restaurant job for which you’re applying.

• Become a “mini-expert” on your prospective new employer so you can speak with authority and enthusiasm. Use online resources to find out as much as you can about the interviewer.
• Bring full documentation – not just copies of your resume and cover letter, but any diplomas, certificates, and honors.

Ace Your Interview

These 3 great questions will position you well with any interviewer because you’re taking the initiative and being proactive about asking what they need to hire you:

• Have I answered your question completely?
• Did you get the information you needed?
• Is there any other aspect of my experience we need to review?

Sometimes the interviewer will ask a question, note the answer, and move on, so you need to check in regularly to make sure they’ve gotten the information they need. This is how you can take control of the interview and ensure you’re communicating your best points.

Also, first impressions are extremely important, and not just visual impressions. The definition of an interview is five minutes of selecting impressions and 55 minutes of selecting data to support those impressions.

• Rehearse your interview. That way you can take control from the start with well-considered answers that give the interviewer the best impression of your career. Never assume your interviewer has even read your resume since he or she might be conducting dozens of interviews that day.
• Look for opportunities to tell anecdotes reflecting your experience. Were you, as a server, called upon to take over the hostess’s job from time to time? Tell your story!
• Support your skills and credentials with tangible results of your achievements. If bar sales increased while you were bartenders at a restaurant, quantify your successes. If you were an employee of the month at your last job, this could distinguish you from your competition.

• Don’t leave without asking: “Have I answered all your questions?” “Are you the person with whom I should follow up (take a business card)?” “When do you expect to make your decision?”
• Did you make any promises during the interview requiring further action? For instance, if you were involved in developing the menus at your last restaurant job but didn’t bring them with you, don’t forget to keep your promise.

Do Follow Up

Don’t underestimate the power of a well-worded thank you note, even in today’s fast-paced, high-tech world. While email is certainly acceptable to say thank you, nothing impresses more than a handwritten note. Remember, the hospitality and restaurant industry is all about customer service. Here’s your chance to shine.