Top 40 Fast-Food Worker Interview Questions (& Expert Answers)
As many as 61% of job seekers find the interview process to be crucial in shaping their opinion of an employer. To make a great first impression (and properly evaluate candidates), you want to go through the most important questions to ask in a Fast-Food Worker interview.
[Source: Robert Walters Group]
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Popular Fast-Food Worker Interview Questions
Below you’ll find the top 12 questions that most recruiters tend to ask during the interview. To ensure you’re well-prepared, read them all and then practice answering using your own experiences from work.
The Best Fast-Food Worker Interview Questions
1. Skills and Experience Fast-Food Interview Questions
Example answer: “I have worked in two fast-food places before. In my first job, I was in charge of taking orders and serving customers. Meanwhile, my second job involved additional responsibilities like managing inventory levels and communicating with various suppliers.”
For employers: This question will help you determine if their level of expertise matches your requirements. Some applicants might be looking for their first job in the fast-food industry, so if you are not accepting applicants with no prior work experience, you can immediately establish they are not the right fit.
Example answer: “In my experience, good communication skills are vital for performing a Fast-Food Worker job. This is simply because you have to deal with different people every day and stay professional in those interactions.
I would also emphasize the ability to efficiently work in a fast-paced environment. Working in a quick-service restaurant can get really hectic so it is important to keep everything under control during those busy hours.”
For employers: The purpose of this question is to gain insight into the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of what working in a fast-food restaurant implies and what skills they deem important for doing the job properly.
Example answer: “Yes, in my previous roles, I was responsible for handling transactions via the ABC POS system. However, I am also a fast learner, so I can quickly get the hang of other POS systems that you might be using in your establishment.”
For employers: This question assesses a candidate’s knowledge of POS systems, as handling payments may be part of their daily tasks.
Example answer: “I have no problem standing for long hours, especially since that’s part of being a Fast-Food Worker. Also, I prefer to have a job that involves some physical activity rather than mostly sitting for eight hours.”
For employers: This question helps you evaluate whether the candidate is accustomed to being on their feet for the better part of their working hours.
Example answer: “Yes, I know your items very well as I was your customer many times before. My favorite is your double cheeseburger with salad dressing. I know you are focused on delivering high-quality, unique burger options with premium ingredients and creative toppings as well as sweet options like gourmet milkshakes and freshly baked cookies.”
For employers: Asking this question shows a candidate’s dedication to working in your fast-food restaurant. Being familiar with the establishment’s menu items means they have done their research and are committed to getting a job.
2. Customer Service Fast-Food Worker Interview Questions
Example answer: “Seeing customers leave the restaurant satisfied with our service gives me a sense of accomplishment. This is one of the main reasons I started working and building my career in the hospitality industry.”
For employers: This question should show you how dedicated a candidate is and if they care enough to go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. It also helps you assess their level of enthusiasm for the role and if they are customer-oriented.
Example answer: “I usually follow standard procedures but I’ve sometimes made a few exceptions for the sake of helping customers. For instance, one time a customer came with an expired coupon. She explained that she’s been in the hospital for weeks and just got out.
After consulting with my manager, I managed to extend our offer and give her the food she wanted at a discounted price. She left the restaurant visibly content and grateful.”
For employers: This question should reveal if a candidate possesses problem-solving skills. Also, given the more direct tone of this question, it will help you evaluate the candidate’s capability for answering tricky questions and balancing company policies with customer satisfaction.
Example answer: “I try to honor customers’ wishes most of the time but there were instances when some were unreasonable with their requests. When that happens I make sure to stay calm, listen attentively and repeat my explanation to give them a better understanding.”
For employers: Asking this question will help you determine how far a candidate’s patience stretches and if they are accustomed to dealing with difficult customers on a daily basis.
3. Fast-Food Worker Situational and Behavioural Questions
Example answer: “One time this lady approached me visibly angry, asking why I put pickles in her sandwich when she specifically said she didn’t want pickles. She then required a new sandwich free of charge. Since I was the one who took her order, I know she didn’t mention pickles at all and I had a feeling she was fishing for a free meal.
I calmly explained to her our establishment’s guidelines. Then, as a gesture of goodwill, I suggested making her a new sandwich while offering the first one free of charge, so she’ll only need to pay for the new one. Despite her initial annoyance, she eventually accepted my solution.”
For employers: This question will help you determine if a candidate knows how to stay professional in challenging situations and if they know how to deal with unpleasant people.
Example answer: “In my previous job, there have been many times when the POS system stopped working. When this happens, I usually check if the printer is out of paper or if it is jammed. If that’s not the case, I unplug the POS device, wait for about one minute and then press and hold the red button until the screen goes off. Then, I press and hold the green button to turn the screen on again.
This does the trick most of the time. But in cases when it doesn’t, I consult the user manual and have been able to fix it every time.”
For employers: Asking this question will help you understand the applicant’s level of technology proficiency and if they are capable of fixing small issues by themselves.
Example answer: “I’ve had a situation where a bus tour group arrived unexpectedly and around 50 people came to the restaurant all at once. To maintain organization, I established a clear waiting line, making it easy for customers to know whose turn it was. I coordinated with other front-of-house staff members to begin taking orders as the customers waited in line.
By the time customers reached the cashier, their orders were already processed. It took a team effort but we managed to serve all those people in less than an hour.”
For employers: This question should help you determine if a candidate is a quick thinker and if they can adapt to unforeseen situations fast while still delivering top-notch service.
Example answer: “There were a couple of instances where I disagreed with some team members but I never let it be blown out of proportion. I am a firm believer in finding a common ground with just about anyone and I have managed to solve every issue I had with my colleagues by a simple, calm conversation.”
For employers: Asking this question should help you gauge if a candidate knows how to work in a team and how well they communicate with others.
Types of Interview Questions for Fast-Food Worker Position
- Fast-Food Worker Interview Questions About Skills and Experience: Just like every other interview, this one, too, should start with more general questions that will give the employer a better idea of how the candidate’s experiences, background and future aspirations fit into their work culture.
- Food Service Worker Interview Questions About Customer Service: Customer service is one of the most important aspects of running a successful fast-food business. While a Fast-Food Worker should know how to ensure customers’ satisfaction at all times, they should also be able to explain which methods they use to make guests always feel comfortable and welcome.
- Fast-Food Worker Situational and Behavioural Questions: Behavioral questions show you how a candidate would navigate different situations a Fast-Food Worker normally encounters at their jobs.
What Are the Top Interview Questions for Food Service Workers?
In total, we’ve prepared 40 questions that you can use to evaluate candidates for the job. Make sure to pick the ones that suit your hiring needs and focus on skills that will benefit your entire team.
28 More Questions for Food Service Worker Interview
- Do you enjoy working in a team?
- Tell me about a time when you were required to learn a new skill on the spot.
- How do you usually handle large orders?
- What would you do if you saw a colleague not following hygiene standards?
- How comfortable are you with helping other workers in the kitchen?
- What do you think makes for a great Fast-Food Worker?
- Were you ever tasked with training a new employee? What did you teach them?
- What keeps you motivated during long shifts?
- How do you stay in good physical shape to cope with this job’s physical requirements?
- Tell me about a time when you successfully resolved a customer complaint.
- What would you do if you saw there’s been an error on an order?
- Do you use a specific strategy to upsell menu items?
- What do you think is the most effective way to communicate with customers?
- When was the last time you made a mistake and what did you learn from it?
- What would you do if you were serving a customer who is rude to other staff members and not following the restaurant’s rules?
- How do you usually approach learning new skills?
- When was the last time you faced a challenge at work? What was the outcome?
- How do you handle orders from customers with dietary restrictions or severe allergies?
- What do you enjoy the most about your job?
- What is your current availability?
- When was the last time you received constructive criticism? What happened?
- Give me an example of a time when you received excellent customer service.
- How do you connect with regular customers to make them feel welcome?
- What’s your experience with different types of kitchen equipment?
- Tell me about your experience handling cash and credit cards.
- What would you say are your top three strengths?
- Why would you like to work for us?
- What was the best thing about your previous jobs?
How To Prepare for a Fast-Food Worker Interview
To get ready for your job interview, follow these three simple steps.
1. Research the company
The chart below shows what sources candidates use the most to find out more about their potential workplace. It can also guide you in the right direction when doing your own research.
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Researching the company before your interview helps you understand its values and work culture. Once you understand the business on a deeper level, you can adjust your answers to fit their needs and requirements.
2. Practice your answers
Familiarize yourself with the most commonly asked Fast-Food Worker interview questions and practice what to say. By doing this, you leave little room for saying the wrong things or not knowing what to say at all.
3. Come up with your own set of questions
At the end of an interview, you will most likely be asked if you have any questions for the recruiter or hiring manager. Here is what you can ask after a Fast-Food Worker job interview:
- Will I be working shifts and if so, will I know my shifts in advance?
- Can you tell me a bit more about the team and the people I would be working with?
- Do you provide training for your new hires?
- Do you offer any bonuses or non-monetary benefits?
Tip: After your fast food worker interview, a follow-up email can help you stand out in the hiring process.
How To Hire the Best Fast-Food Worker for Your Establishment
To attract, evaluate and select ideal candidates, try the following steps:
- Create a clear job description outlining key requirements and responsibilities.
- Conduct your interviews in person if possible, so that you can better assess a Fast-Food Worker candidate’s communication and social skills.
- During the interview, observe the candidates’ communication style, attitude and enthusiasm.
- Give the candidates on-the-spot tasks, such as preparing a menu item or handling a cash transaction to evaluate their practical skills.
- Offer an attractive salary and benefits package.
- Show them what potential they have for career growth and development within your establishment.
Written by Rea Gierran
With a background in Communication Arts, Rea’s expertise lies in content marketing and copywriting. Her published works can be seen on online news websites such as Rappler and Adobo magazine. Outside of her work, Rea takes on the role of a “momager” for Shiro, a TikTok dogfluencer.
Reviewed by Stefan Petrov
With over 10 years of experience as a writer and editor, Stefan has worked in the automotive, IT, health and hospitality industries. Familiar with Google Search Console and other SEO tools like Ahrefs and Semrush, Stefan uses his experience to create content that’s visually appealing to the user but also ranks in the SERPs.