Practice Your Interview Skills
Job hunting is hard and can be quite frustrating, but we all have to do it from time to time. In today's job market, many of us tend not to stay in one job for very long, compared to the past, and this is especially true in the restaurant industry.
The industry can be quite unstable, especially in an urban environment where rent is pricey and there's a lot of competition. Even great restaurants fail and close up all the time, so even if you're happy with your current job you might find yourself all of a sudden unemployed!
If you are currently unemployed and looking for a restaurant job, or if you have a job and want to find a new one, there's no way out of facing the dreaded job interview. You might be the most personable and confident person on the planet, but if you're not used to job interviews or haven't done an interview for a long time you might need a little rehearsal. This is where conducting a "mock interview" can come in handy.
To conduct a mock interview, ask a good friend or family member to help you and be your interview partner. Choose somebody who you feel at ease around, and who you know will be completely honest with you. You don't want a "yes man" type of person who, because they like you, will want to downplay your deficiencies.
Also, it helps if your interview partner has a degree of experience in interviews him or herself. Perhaps you know someone who works in a human resources department of a company? They know all the angles!
Ask your interview partner to prepare some sensible questions that an employer would ask an interviewee. Make sure you don't know the questions in advance, so you can practice thinking on your feet! As in a real interview, you should prepare yourself as well by thinking up answers to common interview questions. You can search online for typical interview questions if you need some examples.
Ask your "buddy" to honestly evaluate how you "come across"--ask him or her to make note of moments in your responses when you seem too cocky, hesitant, or unsure of yourself. If you want another perspective on how you come across to others, try practicing your answers by yourself in the mirror.
While it's important to be prepared, obviously, don't over-think it. Being too self-conscious during a real interview can paralyze you and make you look like you don't know what you're talking about.
Remember, interviews for restaurant jobs can often be more informal than corporate interviews, depending, of course, on the size and service level of the establishment. Your interview process for a fine dining establishment or the restaurant of a major expensive hotel might be a bit more involved or intense than that for a local pub or watering hole.
One more piece of advice: don't underestimate the power of smiling! It goes without saying that you'll be nervous during your real interview. Because of this, smiling might not come naturally. So practice your smile, making it an active component of your presentation, when doing your mock interview.
Studies have shown that facial expressions can actually shape mood. So smiling, as well as making a positive impression on your potential employer, can genuinely help generate a positive confident mood that will help you breeze through your interview.
The key is to be yourself, be prepared, and be confident in your abilities and assets as a potential employee. If you haven't done interviews in a while, or are new to job hunting, you might be a bit rusty. So performing a mock interview with a helpful partner is a great way to ready yourself for the real thing!
