Question Overview: You want to see how your potential line cook handles stressful situations. This will give you an idea of how they will handle the pressure of working in a high-volume restaurant.
Sample Answer: I take a deep breath and focus on the task at hand. I try to keep my mind off of the stress by thinking about something else.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your line cook is not going to be a liability for you. You can ask them what they think will come up on their background check, and then follow up with your own questions. If they have a criminal record, you may want to ask them about the crime and how they have changed since then.
Sample Answer: I was arrested for possession of marijuana when I was 18. I learned my lesson and have not been in trouble since.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your potential candidate has the experience to do the job. You want to know that they have worked in a kitchen before, and you want to know what their responsibilities were.
Sample Answer: I have been working in restaurants since I was 16. I have been a line cook for the last five years.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your potential candidate is interested in working with you and your restaurant. You want to see if they have done their research into your restaurant and have a genuine interest in working with you.
Sample Answer: I love the atmosphere of your restaurant. I've eaten there several times and really enjoy the food.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your line cook is available to work at the times you need them. If you are looking for someone who can work a full-time schedule, you will want to know if they are available for all shifts. If you are looking for someone who can work part-time, you will want to know if they have any other obligations that may prevent them from working the hours you need.
Sample Answer: I am available to work full-time during the week and part-time on weekends.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your potential line cook is looking for a long-term career. You do not want to hire someone who is only looking for a job until they find something better. You want to hire someone who is dedicated to the restaurant industry and has a long-term vision of their career.
Sample Answer: I would like to be a head chef at a high-end restaurant.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your potential line cook is excited about working with you and your restaurant. If they are not excited about the prospect of working with you, then you do not want them to work with you.
Sample Answer: I think it would be a great place to work. I've always wanted to work in a restaurant like yours.
Question Overview: This question will give you a sense of your candidate's ability to learn from their mistakes. You want to work with someone who can take the time to reflect on their past and use it to improve their future.
Sample Answer: I learned that I need to be more organized and plan ahead. I also learned that I need to be more patient with my coworkers.
Question Overview: This is a great way to learn about your candidate's personality and what they expect from a job. You can also learn about their past experiences and how they have reacted to them.
Sample Answer: I liked being able to work with my coworkers and create new dishes.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your potential line cook is available to start as soon as possible. You do not want to waste time training someone who is not going to be able to start right away. If they are not available, you may want to consider other candidates who are.
Sample Answer: I can start right away.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your potential line cook is reliable. If they are late for work, it can cause a domino effect of problems. You will need to make sure that they can be counted on to be on time, and this question will give you a good idea of how reliable they are.
Sample Answer: I've never been late for work. I have always been punctual and on time.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your potential line cook understands the importance of working together. You want to see that they have a good grasp on how to work with others in a way that is productive and efficient.
Sample Answer: I like to work with others because it helps me learn new things. I also like to help others learn new things.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your potential line cook has the ability to overcome challenges in their life. You want to see how they have dealt with adversity in the past and how they can apply that to their work life.
Sample Answer: I was working two jobs and going to school at the same time. I had to learn how to manage my time and prioritize my tasks.
Question Overview: You want to know what your candidate's weaknesses are so that you can work with them on improving them. You will also want to know how they have overcome their shortcomings in the past.
Sample Answer: I'm not the best at keeping up with the cleanliness of my station. I've been working on improving this by cleaning as I go and making sure that my station is always organized.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your candidate is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. If they are willing to start off as a line cook, you can be sure that they will not be afraid to work hard and take on any task that is given to them.
Sample Answer: I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Question Overview: This is a question that you want to ask of all of your applicants. You want to see how they react to difficult situations and how they handle them. You can learn a lot about a person by seeing how they react to stress.
Sample Answer: I had to work with a new chef who was very demanding. I had to learn how to work with him and still maintain my standards.
Question Overview: This is a great question to ask someone who is applying for a line cook position. You want to make sure that they are applying for the right reasons. If they are applying because they are desperate for a job, you may not want to hire them. If they are applying because they have heard good things about your restaurant, you may want to hire them.
Sample Answer: I have heard great things about red lobster and I would like to work in the industry.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that you are paying your line cook enough to keep them happy and working hard. You also want to make sure that you are not paying them too much, as this will make it harder for you to keep them motivated.
Sample Answer: I am looking for a salary of $40,000 per year.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your potential candidate is able to manage their time well. This question will help you get a sense of how they prioritize tasks and how they handle stressful situations.
Sample Answer: I always make sure that I have enough time to complete my tasks. I also make sure that I have enough time to clean up after myself and my station.
Question Overview: You want to make sure that your potential candidate is ready to start working for you right away. If they are not, you may want to consider other applicants.
Sample Answer: I am available immediately.