How to Ace a Fast Food Interview
A job in the fast food industry is a starting point in the world of work for many teenagers. While the prevalence of fast food restaurants in society may indicate that there are many jobs available, there are also many teens and adults who may be seeking these positions as well. As such, it's important to make the most of your opportunity when you obtain a job interview. By detailing any relevant experience, answering questions honestly and showing your best traits, you may soon find yourself employed.
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Instructions
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Show up to the interview roughly five minutes prior to its scheduled time. Showing up too early is an inconvenience for your interviewer, while showing up late is likely to lessen your chance of obtaining the position.
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Dress appropriately for the interview, but not over the top. Wearing a suit to a fast food interview isn't necessary. If you're male, you can wear khaki slacks and a polo or dress shirt, and if you're female, dress slacks and a sweater or blouse. Wear an outfit that makes you look professional, and remove any piercings that aren't in your ears, keeping jewelry and make up to minimal, business-like standard.
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Present your interviewer with a copy of your resume. Though she'll likely have read it prior to the interview, having another copy shows you're prepared and organized. Also, you'll be able to point out any relevant highlights on the resume. Your resume should contain relevant work experience, if possible, and outline skills important to the fast food industry, such as punctuality, attention to detail, math and comprehension skills, and a pleasant demeanor.
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Answer questions honestly to quickly portray a positive image. It may not be everyone's idea of a dream job to work in front of a deep fryer all day, so you don't have to lie and say that. Instead, you could say that you have classmates who work at the same fast food restaurant and they've said that it's a rewarding job with management that treats employees well.
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Discuss any relevant experience with the interviewer. Though you may not have held a job previously, you can explain how babysitting helped you deal with multiple situations at once, or being the eldest of five children gave you the ability to work quickly. It's not important that you have fast food restaurant experience -- what is important is that you can relate any real-life experience to the job's requirements.
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Ask questions when the interviewer has finished asking you questions. Having a couple questions to ask shows you're prepared and keen. You might wish to ask about the salary, benefits or work schedule. Make notes, if desired, so that you'll be able to remember all the elements of the interview.
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Thank the interviewer for his time, and say that you'll hope to hear from him soon. The interviewer likely has interviewed many teenagers who may just get up and leave following the interview. Shaking the person's hand and clearly saying, "I appreciate the time and consideration" will present one final positive image before you leave.
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References
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