Interview Questions

1.Are you best working in a group or by yourself? Please explain

I am best working in a team setting. For most of my time working, I have worked with at least one other person. At my job as a table busser, I always worked within a team setting. Personally, I prefer to work on a team as I think coworkers create accountability for each other, which means that nobody does disproportionately more or less work than others. Furthermore, having others to work with means that if someone needs help, they have it. I most definitely can work alone, however, I feel more comfortable within a team setting, and believe that teamwork tends to produce the best result.

2.How would you handle an irate customer (or parent, boss, coworker)?

In my experience working in a restaurant, I had to deal with irate or uncooperative customers. Many of the times, they wanted for us to bend the rules regarding covid-related regulations, which we simply could not do. In dealing with these customers, I was never confrontational with them, and was always polite. I offered an explanation to what we had to do, but did not budge on the rules. If the situation escalated, I would speak with one of our managers about it. As a result, we were able to diffuse these situations with relative ease, and I did not have any significant issues with customers.

3.If a customer asked you a question, and you didn’t know the answer, what would you do?

At my current job, there is a customer that I have a good relationship with, but he will often ask questions that I simply have no answer to, since lots of the construction is done by subcontractors. I am happy to help as a representative of the business, and never want to give a customer incorrect information, so if I am unsure of an answer, I will consult with my boss. As a result, the customer gets the correct information, and I am able to serve as a positive representative of the business.

4.Tell me about a time when you successfully led a group of people.

A time when I successfully led a group of people was vacation Bible school at Crossroads Church. Along with a group of other leaders, we led large and small groups for a week. While the kids that we led weren’t always cooperative, we stayed positive, and eventually we managed to have a very good, educational time.

5.Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.

My job as a table busser was very straightforward-clean tables, and put utensils, plates, etc. away for the dishwasher. At the restaurant in which I worked, however, there was a good deal of elderly customers. I specifically remember one time where I helped a woman with mobility issues to take her seat and get up to leave. While this wasn’t a directly mentioned job duty, I believed that it was the right thing to do. I wouldn’t want for someone to stand idly by at a restaurant while someone I knew had trouble sitting down. I helped her out, and she was very grateful, and enjoyed her meal. I believe that treating all customers with the utmost respect leads to better business in the long term, regardless of what you’re selling.

6.Describe your school attendance record.

My school attendance record has been very good. I typically miss at most one week total of school per year. My parents always taught me to take school seriously, and I did not skip school. I usually only missed days for appointments. While my attendance has not been perfect, it has been very good.