Preparing for your Olive Garden interview can seem nerve-wracking at first. Fortunately, the Olive Garden interview process is fairly simple and most people get through it without any problems. Our article is meant to serve as a guide to help you through this process by offering answers to common questions and several helpful tips. If you are interested in the first part of the Olive Garden hiring process, read our Olive Garden job application guide.
About Olive Garden
Classified as a casual dining establishment that primarily serves Italian-style food, Olive Garden was originally founded almost 35 years ago. The company regularly employs both full-time and part-time workers in a wide range of positions at their stores.
The working hours tend to vary considerably with most locations being open from 11 am to 10 pm. Some positions may be eligible for benefits like paid time off and health insurance. For others, special employee discounts and a flexible schedule are the main benefits.
Olive Garden Interview Tips
Your interview at Olive Garden will likely be with the store manager. In most cases, the interviews are completed on a one on one basis. To prepare, keep these simple tips in mind.
Dress For Success
Although Olive Garden is considered a casual dining establishment, it prides itself on presentation for both its food and its employees. For men, this means you should invest in a button down dress shirt, dress slacks, and dress shoes for your Olive Garden interview. Although not mandatory, a tie is strongly recommended to complete your professional attire.
For women, a sensible dress or slacks and an appropriate blouse are appropriate choices. The most important thing to keep in mind is that makeup and jewelry should be kept at a minimum to help maintain your professional appearance. Moderate heels and dress shoes are the final touches needed to complete your look.
Arrive Early
Tardiness is frowned upon by all employers and Olive Garden is no different. It’s important to make sure that you understand when your interview time is and allow yourself ample time to arrive. A good rule of thumb is to plan to arrive 15 to 30 minutes prior to your appointment time.
To help ensure this, consider making a practice run to your interview location around the time of your interview. This will help you gauge traffic patterns for the area and avoid any unnecessary surprises. It has the added benefit of helping you familiarize yourself with the building’s parking lot and location.
Practice Makes Perfect
The last tip to keep in mind is that practice makes perfect. While interviewers expect applicants to be nervous, you want to avoid unnecessary mumbling and other embarrassing behaviors. Consider practicing with your friends and loved ones to help you prepare for your interview.
Olive Garden Job Interview Questions and Answers
Olive Garden Server Interview Questions & Answers
Q 1: What interest you the most about the server position?
A: I like that the position will enable me to connect with a wide range of different people. For me, the ability to connect with others is one of the most important parts of my day.
Q 2: How would you rate your ability to multitask effectively on a scale of one to ten and why?
A: I would give myself a solid seven. From my previous job, I had to regularly handle a wide range of different tasks and prioritize my workload to finish up by closing each shift.
Q 3: What is most attractive to you about a career at Olive Garden?
A: I like that Olive Garden encourages a team atmosphere and works with its employees to help motivate them to deliver a positive guest experience.
Olive Garden Cook Interview Questions & Answers
Q 1: Are you comfortable working in a hot environment?
A:Yes. I have experience working in small kitchens where the temperatures tended to rise really quickly.
Q 2: Do you have a basic understanding of safe food handling practices?
A: My previous job taught me a wide range of safe food handling practices. Some examples I can name off the top of my head included cross-contamination prevention and first in first out.
Q 3: How do you feel about a rotating schedule?
A:My schedule is completely open and flexible. I understand that as a restaurant, Olive Garden will have varying degrees of business around key holidays and special events.
Olive Garden Busser Interview Questions & Answers
Q 1: Would you describe yourself as an effective communicator?
A:Overall, I feel that I am great with communication. When in doubt, I’m not afraid to ask questions.
Q 2: What would you say is your biggest weakness?
A: I think that my biggest area of opportunity is learning to say no effectively. Sometimes, you have to realize that you cannot do it all alone. In times like that, you have to know how to ask for help. That’s something that I have had to work on over the years.
Q 3: Will you be comfortable working on your feet for an extended period of time?
A:I believe that I will. My last job regularly required me to work shifts as long as six hours without a break. We also regularly walked to other departments as part of our daily functions. I also already own a pair of comfortable shoes that are designed for restaurant use.
Conclusion
The most important thing to realize about your Olive Garden interview is that you’ve already accomplished the hardest part. For them to send you an invite, it means that they are already interested in what you have to offer the company. Just remember to be yourself and to do mock interviews beforehand with a friend or loved one. With just a bit of practice and preparation, you are sure to ace your upcoming Olive Garden interview.