Powerful Interview Questions to Identify Powerful Players
By Chris Kauffman
1.) To a General Manager and Above: What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you?
Reason: How a person answers this question reveals key insight to their personality and whether they are good off the cuff or devoid of any creativity. The worst answer would be, “I dunno…nothing funny ever happened to me.” Upon hearing that bummer of an answer, employ my favorite 4 Letter Word: NEXT!!
2.) If you were the CEO of your current company, what changes would you make and why?
Reason: This question reveals if they have a broad based understanding of their current company’s business model by giving thoughtful, business-centric answers or just wishful thinking.
3.) Tell me about your most successful achievement over the past 12 months
Reason: The goal here is for the candidate to open up and show us some personality. Also the best three words to get a person to open up are “Tell me about.”
If they can’t open up by expressing some degree of confidence, take their driver’s license, call an uber for them, shake their hands and wave good-bye. These people should not only not be running a restaurant, but they should also not be driving.
4.) For Culinary Professionals, I love to ask, “Who inspired
you to get into cooking?”
Reason: Can give insight into their upbringing. In my experience, 95% credit a family member – virtually always their mother – reveal genuine passion for their craft. The other 5% credit a chef they saw on TV.
5.) Professionally, what do you hope to accomplish in the next 12 months?
Reason: The answer reveals what, if any, professional development goals they have for themselves; and if there is a plan in place to achieve those goals.
6.) Is it more of a challenge for you to take an existing operating restaurant where cost of goods and labor percentages are all over the map or is it tougher to take a brand new restaurant and create the proper culture you desire for the business from Day One? Please tell me about the time you did either or both.
Reason: The toughest road is definitely the turn around scenario because as the new Head Coach you are inheriting a staff that was either poorly trained or allowed to do whatever they chose to do. Therefore, the answer will tell you about the candidate’s ability to see the larger picture and make the appropriate priorities.
7.) The Restaurant Industry can create disruptions for a great family life because of the hours of operation. Plus, we are working when the rest of the world is off. How do you handle the challenge of having a great work / life balance?
Reason: This question does not bring to the surface the usual questions relating to inside the four walls, i.e. tackling cost of goods out of line, poor scheduling leading to labor cost out of control, etc. This question brings out the human side of candidate’s life. It gives the candidate a chance to voice their priorities and how they look to achieve success in their personal and professional pursuits.
8.) What do you know about our company?
Reason: With as many avenues open and available to virtually anyone with a Smart Phone and/or access to the internet, there should be immediate 
answers to A.) When your company started and by whom; B.} Your target market; C.) Your top competitors; D.) If you are a public company, a ball park knowledge of Revenue trend lines for the past 5 years shows the candidate has done some homework.
9.) Let’s talk about your work history. Your resume indicates 3 jobs in the past 5 years. What would it take for you to stay at your next position for 5 years?
Reason: Listening to the candidate explain the highs and lows of each of those 3 employers, it is wise to hone in on these key issues: Can the candidate take criticism? Was he constantly searching for approval? Are all 3 companies still in business or were they acquired or did they cease operations? Any of those answers easily explains a job change. Conversely, if all 3 are thriving and growing, then maybe the candidate has some underlying issues that require deeper questioning. Kind of like that Country & Western lyric by the late Tim Wilson, “If you’ve been married 9 times, heck, maybe it’s you!!”
10.} What is your approach when a subordinate gives you totally unacceptable results?
Reason: The candidate’s answer here will define the candidate’s philosophy of working with his staff. He’s either bringing a coaching mentality to the business or he is more black and white in his approach. Today’s workforce wants and appreciates the coaching mentality because there is more listening taking place with coaching. In addition, when you think of coaches who influenced you, there was a clear understanding that we are all on the same team. The black and white approach can be a turn off because there is no room for the hows and whys the unacceptable results happened.
Chris Kauffman, who has been involved in over 1,000 hiring events in his 45 year recruiting career, is the Founder and President of CHRIS Kauffman & Co, a national Management recruiting firm for professionals in:
Clubs, Hotels, Restaurants, Institutions & Sales.www.Kauffco.com
Originally from Atlanta, currently based in Vidalia, GA. Chris@Kauffco.com 912-245-4540
“Recruiting Aces for Great Places since 1981”®
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