Crew Member Interview Questions [Updated 2025]

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Crew Member interview questions and answers.

What types of restaurants do you have experience working in? See answer
Please describe a time when you made a mistake at work and discuss how you responded. See answer
Which crew positions have you succeeded in at previous jobs? See answer
How would you respond to an unsatisfied customer? See answer
Do you know or speak any other languages? See answer
Please describe your favourite item on the menu as if you were recommending it to a customer. See answer
What are some of your greatest strengths? See answer
Please describe a situation where you showed excellent customer service skills. See answer
Do you prefer working in the front-of-house or back-of-house?
How would you describe your ideal restaurant crew?
Have you eaten at our restaurant before?
What do you enjoy about working in a restaurant?
Please describe an example of a time when you put extra time into making a customer’s experience positive.
Do you have experience operating a cash register and using a computer system to process orders?
You notice a coworker is spending time hanging out with their friends during their shift. How would you react?

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Hire your next Crew Member today.

Hire your next Crew Member today.

Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Crew Member Interview Questions and Answers

What types of restaurants do you have experience working in?

There are many different types of restaurants someone can work in, such as fast food or fine dining restaurants, so this question can highlight a candidate's specific experience and level of expertise in the restaurant industry.

What to look for in an answer:

Experience in either casual or formal dining locations
Customer service and communication skills
Knowledge of the restaurant industry

Example:

"Most of my previous experience as a crew member is in fine dining at restaurants that serve international cuisine. However, I have also worked in a few casual dining establishments that offered takeout and dine-in options."

Please describe a time when you made a mistake at work and discuss how you responded.

Working in the restaurant industry can involve fast-paced situations that require patience and critical thinking in order to respond appropriately. This question can highlight a candidate's proficiency in these skills and their ability to respond to unforeseen circumstances.

What to look for in an answer:

Problem-solving skills
Ability to remain calm
Creativity in finding solutions

Example:

"Once I tripped and dropped a tray full of drinks on my way out of the kitchen. While I was frustrated internally, I stayed calm and immediately notified one of our managers, picked up all the pieces of broken glass, and returned to the kitchen to refill the drinks as quickly as possible so that I could get them to my customers."

Which crew positions have you succeeded in at previous jobs?

There can be several positions on a crew that each play a crucial role in making sure a restaurant runs efficiently. Therefore, a candidate's answer to this question can indicate which roles they're prepared to succeed in and whether they have experience in more than one position.

What to look for in an answer:

Experience working in related roles
Customer service skills
Knowledge of what it takes to help restaurants run

Example:

"Most of the jobs I've held as a crew member involved customer-facing responsibilities, such as being a host and a server. However, I also have experience in the back-of-house as a dishwasher and would be happy to learn more about working in the kitchen, perhaps as a line cook."

Do you prefer working in the front-of-house or the back-of-house?

Front-of-house and back-of-house are common terms in the restaurant industry, so asking this can verify that a candidate knows these and other industry terms. This question can also help reveal which crew positions they might perform best in and prefer.

What to look for in an answer:

Familiarity with both types of roles
Ability to work in front-of-house and back-of-house
Enthusiasm

Example:

"Because I love interacting with customers, I typically prefer to work in positions that operate in the front-of-house, like as a host or server. However, I also have experience in the back-of-house and am prepared to work there as well."

How would you describe your ideal crew to work with?

As working as a crew member typically means being a part of a team, this question can show what qualities a candidate values in the workplace and in their coworkers and how effectively they might be able to collabourate.

What to look for in an answer:

Accountability
Strong communication skills
Teamwork and collabouration skills

Example:

"My ideal crew would contain people who value hard work and who enjoy working together. One of my favourite aspects of being a crew member is the teamwork that it involves, so I always hope for my fellow crew members to enjoy helping and supporting each other as much as I do."

Have you eaten at our restaurant before? If so, what did you order?

This question can reveal how familiar a candidate is with the restaurant they're applying to, which can indicate their level of passion for food and for the job. It can also show how equipped they might be to provide recommendations to customers.

What to look for in an answer:

Mention of a specific dish
Ability to describe food in detail
Familiarity with the restaurant

Example:

"I've eaten here many times with my family and friends, and I always order the same penne pasta dish. I love the cream sauce your chef uses and that I can choose any meat to add to the dish."

How would you respond to an unsatisfied customer?

Interacting with unsatisfied customers can be commonplace in the restaurant industry, so it can be helpful to know that a crew member is prepared to respond to customers who might be unhappy with their service, order, or dining experience.

What to look for in an answer:

Ability to listen to the customers' needs
Polite, professional tone
Problem-solving skills

Example:

"Whenever a customer brings a concern to my attention, I do my best to understand what their issue is and find the best way to make the situation better. For example, if a customer is unhappy with their entree, I like to replace their dish and also kindly offer them a free dessert, even if they don't ask for one."

What do you enjoy about working in the restaurant industry?

Knowing what a candidate enjoys doing can help you place them in the correct position on a crew, especially if they have particular interests or specialised skills in a certain area of the restaurant industry. For example, someone who loves serving might also thrive in a host position.

What to look for in an answer:

Mention of specific crew roles
Reference to certain job duties
Positive attitude

Example:

"I love most aspects of working in the restaurant industry, but my favourite part of my job is typically introducing customers to new food and watching them enjoy a dish. As a server, I really enjoy recommending dishes I know our kitchen prepares well and hearing their feedback after they try them."

Do you know or speak any other languages?

Some restaurants serve international cuisine or foods with cultural names. In these cases, it can be helpful to hire candidates who are familiar with the language a restaurant's menu uses to ensure they can pronounce each dish.

What to look for in an answer:

Ability to speak another language
Familiarity with international dishes
Accurate pronunciation

Example:

"While I'm only fluent in English, I have experience working in French, Italian, and Spanish restaurants where I learned how to accurately pronounce the name of each dish on the menu. Because of this, I'm very proficient in learning international dishes and pronouncing their names for customers when they ask."

Please describe a time when you put extra care into making a customer's experience positive.

One important aspect of working in a restaurant is offering excellent customer service, so this question can show how a candidate engages in customer service and whether they're prepared to put in extra work to make a customer's experience great.

What to look for in an answer:

Ability to put forth extra effort
Creativity and adaptability
Excellent customer service

Example:

"On one occasion, I was serving a family with three children, and the youngest child seemed unhappy. When her parents explained she had lost one of her toys earlier in the day, I collected some crayons and colouring pages from our back-of-house that we usually reserve for children's birthday parties. I then gave the colouring pages to the table, which made all the children excited and happy for the rest of the meal."

Please describe your favourite item on the menu as if you were recommending it to a customer.

It is essential for crew members to know the menu items at the restaurant where they work so that they can provide recommendations to customers and answer questions about ingredients, tastes, and portion sizes.

What to look for in an answer:

Ability to describe dishes in detail
Specific example of a dish
Strong speaking skills

Example:

"My favourite choice on our menu is the customizable penne pasta, which is served with a lovely white cream sauce and your choice of chicken, beef tenderloin, or lamb. The portion is also very generous, and I almost always have leftovers when I order it myself."

Do you have experience operating a cash register or using a computer system to process orders?

Most restaurants use cash registers to process transactions, and many restaurants use computer systems for taking orders and communicating them to the kitchen staff. This question can show a candidate's level of expertise with these pieces of equipment.

What to look for in an answer:

Experience using a cash register or digital ordering system
Strong technical skills
Ability to learn how to use new equipment

Example:

"All my previous restaurant jobs required me to learn how to use a cash register, as I frequently process payments for customer orders and prepare their bills. I also know how to use two different types of ordering systems, including a POS system, and am a quick learner with electronic equipment."

You notice a coworker is hanging out with their friends during their shift. How do you react?

A candidate can use their answer to this question to highlight their level of responsibility and accountability at work. It can also show their abilities to navigate challenging situations while maintaining a positive, friendly attitude.

What to look for in an answer:

Leadership skills
Accountability
Interpersonal skills

Example:

"My first response would be to politely approach my coworker and ask them for help with a task in order to redirect their attention simply and without any conflict. If this were unsuccessful, I would contact my supervisor to ask about how I should proceed."

What are some of your greatest strengths?

As being a crew member can require strong skills, like interpersonal skills, communication, and customer service, asking this question can identify whether a candidate has strengths that match the job you're looking to fill.

What to look for in an answer:

Communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Technical skills related to the role

Example:

"Some of my strongest skills are in customer service and communication, which help me to be very successful in customer interactions and while organizing orders with the kitchen staff. I also am very skilled in restaurant-specific tasks, like carrying trays of orders and memorizing table layouts."

Please describe a situation where you showed excellent customer service skills.

Because many crew members work in positions that require them to interact with customers, it can be important to make sure a candidate has strong customer service skills so that they can take care of each customer who visits the restaurant.

What to look for in an answer:

Interpersonal skills
Proven ability to put the customer first
Positive attitude

Example:

"One restaurant I worked at consistently got very busy every evening around the same time, and on one night, the wait for a table was over an hour. That night, I made sure to remain positive with each party that arrived while communicating the wait time and organised a waitlist, notifying each customer personally when their table was ready and thanking them for their patience."

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

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