If you are applying for a position as a customer service rep at a restaurant, there are specific interview questions you should anticipate. The restaurant industry is very strict when recruiting staff to work in their customer service unit. Therefore, to ensure you live up to the interviewer’s expectations, the following are common customer service questions and answers you should beware of.
1. Tell Me About Yourself
The interviewee wants to ensure they get the right person for the job during the interview process. Here the interviewer wants to know about your professional self.
The aim of these common customer service interview questions for the restaurant industry is to determine your skills and background. Also, it enlightens the interviewer on what you think is relevant to the customer service position and your customer service skills. Therefore, make sure you show the interviewer you know the job description and how you are fit for it.
Example Answer
I’ve always enjoyed dealing with people and helping them solve their needs. I am currently working at a busy restaurant. My position in the customer service desk is to take customer reservations and answer any customer queries regarding the products and services we offer.
I also completed school with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. This course taught me the basics of customer support and how to deal with a difficult customer. Although I enjoy my current job, I am interested in trying something different with your company to develop my customer satisfaction skills.
2. Define Good Customer Service?
Another common customer service question and answer is what good customer service means to you. This question aims to determine what you think quality customer service is and how you would offer it to your customers. Moreover, it tells your employer what you believe is a customer service role. In your answer, make sure you provide examples of good customer service either emanating from your personal experience as a customer or work experience as a customer service representative.
Example Answer
Good customer service is having a deep knowledge of your inventory, having experience with the products you are selling, and the ability to help customers make the right choices. At my current position, I’m supposed to be familiar with all the dishes offered and all our restaurant’s services. Great customer service also involves reviewing their internal digital signage applications used by customer service departments to showcase important company KPIs.
3. Are You a Team Player?
The question of whether you are a team player is also very common. While a customer service job seems like an individual task, it involves consultation. However, the answer to these behavioral interview questions is yes. Many times, you won’t know how to help a customer and need to consult your team member.
Actually, when asking this customer service interview question, the hiring manager wants to determine how well you perform in a team. Also, the employer wants to know how well you respond to customer needs and whether you can commit to improving a client’s customer service experience. Additionally, they want to know whether you are good at follow-up when it comes to customer queries.
Example Answer
I enjoy being part of a team and cooperating with others to solve a problem. However, I am self-reliant and strive to solve customer issues to the best of my ability. Nevertheless, I am willing to admit when a problem is beyond my problem-solving skills, and I need the help of my coworkers. In my current job at the restaurant’s customer care desk, I discovered the value of teamwork when dealing with stressful situations.
4. What Are Your Biggest Strengths and Weaknesses?
This is among the most common job interview questions. The employer wants to determine what you are good at and what you should improve. Thus, be open about your struggles, and mention you are working on improving them.
Example Answer
My biggest strengths are great interpersonal and communication skills. I’m also very empathetic. I believe these are qualities of excellent customer service. I actively listen to customers and talk them through how to resolve problems.
When a restaurant customer approaches me, I try to put myself in their shoes to understand what they are going through. This makes me capable of handling different types of customers, including angry customers.
In fact, my weakness is that I tend to get too attached to a customer’s problem. Sometimes I take longer than my coworkers to resolve their problems. Also, I strive to improve by ensuring I know all our products and know who to consult in extreme cases to solve the customer’s problem faster.
