Following on from the last article on creating a cover letter, this is the fourth article on tips for job hunting in the UK.
What will you be asked in an interview?
Interviews are an important part of the job hunting process.Be most anxiousIsn’t that a part?
In this article, we will introduce the content of the interview and basic questions to help ease your anxiety.
The job type isRestaurants and other eateries and shopsAlthough this article is based on interviews for the above positions, there are of course many parts that will be relevant to those in other positions as well, so please read on!
What is a UK interview like?
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After sending your CV and cover letter, you will receive an “Interview invitation” from the recruiter, and then the next step will be to attend the interview at the workplace.
Depending on the type of job, the interview style is “formal“and”Informal” Interviews for casual cafes and restaurants are divided into “Informal“
In restaurants and cafes, interviews are often conducted casually during staff free time, and are often conducted in a short time. The interview location is often a conversation-like atmosphere inside the store, so you may not feel too nervous.
*Please note that high-end restaurants may differ slightly!
Should I wear a suit or casual attire?
If there is no specific request during the interview and it is a casual restaurant,Smart CasualIt’s okay to wear casual clothes.
In interviews for restaurant and store staff,One piece with cardiganThere is no need to worry about wearing your everyday clothes, such as a jacket, a shirt, trousers (long pants), sneakers, etc. It may be a good idea to dress up your everyday clothes a little more.
What questions will I be asked in the interview?
In the UK interview,What would you do in this situation?I have the impression that there are a lot of situational questions in the form of “What is the situation like?” Depending on the store, you may be asked specific questions.
Difficulties or episodes from past jobsHave you ever completed a task under pressure?Have at least one answer readyLet’s keep it that way.
Even if you don’t make the content perfect,First of all, can you have a proper conversation in English?Also attracting attention.
So, make sure you keep it concise and clear.
SoExample questionsand,Tips on the answerHere are a few examples.
Basic Questions
Q.「Tell me about yourself ” (Tell me about yourself)
Q.「Have you previously worked in a café or coffee shop?」
Have you ever worked in a cafe or coffee shop before?
✅Don’t just answer the questions with “YES”!
Even if it’s on your CV, make sure you continue to state where you worked, for how long and in what position.
Q.「Why would you want to work at this restaurant?Why do you want to work at this restaurant?
✅WorkplaceAdvance researchThis is not something that anyone can say, but you should be able to say specifically, “I thought this place was good” after getting to know the workplace well.
Q.「What hours are you available to work?” (How many hours can you work?)
Q.「What are your strengths/weaknesses?” (What are your strengths/weaknesses)
✅The weaknesses are not really negative weaknesses,Experiences from previous jobsIt would be best to give a simple example like that and then steer the conversation in the direction of learning from it.
A slightly more in-depth question
Just to be on the safe side, it’s a good idea to prepare some stories that include anecdotes and are based on your own experiences!
Q「How do you handle a busy cafe environment during peak hours?」
How do you handle peak times at a busy store?
✅ “When I’m busy, I don’t just pile up work by myself. I proactively ask my colleagues for help and work together as a team.”Demonstrate communication skillsis very important.
Q「What are the most important skills someone in this role should have?」
What is the most important skill in this job?
Q「Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult customer or colleague. How did you deal with that situation?” (Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or colleague. How did you handle it?)
Q「Can you tell me about a mistake you’ve made on the job and how you handled it?」
Tell me about a time when you made a mistake at work and how you dealt with it.
✅If you are serving a customer, you may feel flustered, but stay calm and apologize for the mistake, try again, or ask a member of your team for help if you can’t do it yourself.ExamplesLet’s spread the word!
Prepare a counter question
At the end of the interview, the interviewer always says,Do you have any questions?” they ask.
Have at least one ready.
Let me give you an example.
Q「How many people in your team?” (How many people are there on your team?)
Q「What is the team dynamic like here?” (What is the team dynamic like?)
✅These questions will help you understand the work environment and how you would fit in.
Q「Is there staff training for brewing coffee?” (Is there training on how to make coffee?)
Q「What are your busiest times, and how does the team prepare for them?“What is your busiest time and how does your team prepare during that time?”
✅This question also shows you’ve thought ahead about how you will contribute to the workplace.
Q「How long is the probation period? ” (How long is the trial period?)
Q「What are the next steps in the hiring process?” (What is the next step in the hiring process?)
✅It also shows that you are enthusiastic and eager to move forward with the job offer.
Working hours
Working hours are often not stated in the application guidelines, so be sure to decide the following information in advance:
How many hours and days per week can you work?
・Working hours
Can I work early morning or late night shifts?
A full-time job typically means working 40 hours a week.
If you are working another job, make sure you know what times and days you can work.
What is a trial?
After the interview, in many workplaces, before a job offer is made,Trial” There is a process called “Behavioral Science and Technology,” which you may discuss during your interview.
The trial is to check whether you are a good match.A few hoursThe process is to have the applicant work for a certain period of time before deciding whether or not they will be hired. This may only be a few hours of unpaid work. If after that you decide you no longer want the job, there is no harm in telling them.
What is the difference between a trial and a probation period?Please note that during the trial period, you will be paid and it will be a longer period (starting from one month).
Useful sites for interview preparation
Indeed’s Restaurant Interview Questions page has many example questions.
It contains everything from frequently asked questions to more in-depth questions, so why not try practicing by creating your own answers for each one?Examples of natural conversations and responses from native speakersIt also introduces a lot of things, so I think it will be very useful.
lastly
So, this time, I’m going to talk about working in a restaurant in the UK.How to pass an English interviewWe explained the following.
There are variations in the way questions are asked and the atmosphere of the interview.Be flexible no matter what questions you haveMake sure you remember the key points so you can answer them all when you take the test.
Averie’s local support includes interview preparation by native speakers, and CV and cover letter checks. For those coming to Japan on a YMS (Working Holiday) visa, it’s important to make sure you prepare well in advance to ensure a smooth job hunting experience!
There is also a detailed explanation on the Averie channel about studying abroad in the UK! Please take a look!
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about studying in the UK.
For free consultation, please contact us here.
How to ace an interview questions and answers
Ace Your UK Job Interview: Tips and Sample Questions
Are you preparing for a job interview in the UK? Look no further! In this article, we will guide you through the UK interview process, provide tips on what to wear and how to prepare, and share sample questions and answers to help you ace your interview.
What to Expect in a UK Interview
After sending your CV and
