We’ve answered some of the most common questions asked during job interviews for the Kitchen Manager role. If you’re the interviewer, we’ve also provided some pointers you should keep in mind.
Kitchen Manager Interview Questions
Read on for the answers to the following interview questions for Kitchen Manager candidates.
- Can you tell me about your experience in kitchen management?
- How do you ensure your kitchen’s compliance with health and safety regulations?
- How do you implement inventory management as a Kitchen Manager?
- How do you manage kitchen emergencies?
- What process do you follow for determining prices for new menu items?
Now, let’s go through each question and sample answer, where we’ll also explain their significance to both employers and candidates.
1. Can you tell me about your experience in kitchen management?
For employers: This question allows you to learn more about the candidate’s experience and leadership skills. Ask for any standout experiences that really challenged them as a leader in the kitchen.
For candidates: Discuss your kitchen experience and highlight instances where you took on a leadership role. Include how you kept your team motivated to achieve goals and overcome challenges.
Show your knowledge of the different roles involved in all aspects of kitchen operations. It’s best to build on the information posted in the Kitchen Manager job description.
Sample answer: “In total, I’ve had seven years of kitchen experience — four of which as a Kitchen Manager. In my last job, I managed a team of 15 people, including Chefs, Food Runners and Cooks in the kitchen.
I am experienced in menu planning and pricing, hiring and training staff and sales reporting. I have led several training sessions on food preparation and customer service and have been part of the best kitchen teams in the city.”
2. How do you ensure your kitchen’s compliance with health and safety regulations?
For employers: This question will help you evaluate the candidate’s awareness of health and safety regulations beyond regular kitchen duties, and how they prioritize the safety of customers and employees in everyday operations.
For candidates: Describe how you have executed, or plan to execute, your training process on health and safety regulations, including ways of conducting regular inspections and maintaining documentation of safety standards.
Sample answer: “Compliance with food safety regulations and other health and safety standards is important not only for our patrons but also for my team.
I make sure all new hires are trained in proper food preparation, hygiene practices and equipment handling. For the rest of the staff, I conduct weekly inspections to spot potential hazards and poor practices so we can address these as soon as possible.”
3. How do you implement inventory management as a Kitchen Manager?
For employers: This question should give you an overview of how the candidate controls costs, reduces food waste and supervises inventory and other supplies in a restaurant setting.
For candidates: Talk about your experience tracking inventory levels, cost savings and supervising inventory management processes, and share specific examples.
Sample answer: “I make sure my kitchen follows a system where older stock is used before newer supplies. I track stock levels as often as I can and use restaurant inventory management software if possible. By analyzing inventory data, I can identify issues and adjust accordingly, which can help reduce food waste in the long run.”
4. How do you manage kitchen emergencies?
For employers: Accidents are bound to happen in any fast-paced kitchen environment. Assess the candidate’s problem-solving skills and knowledge of emergency procedures.
For candidates: Discuss how you’ve trained your team in responding to emergencies in the past. Give a step-by-step breakdown of the actions you take when faced with an emergency.
To answer this question, it’s best to keep the major emergencies in commercial kitchens in mind.
[Source: Restaurant Technologies]
Sample answer: “As a Kitchen Manager, my job is to know how to effectively respond to emergencies. These can include fires, accidents or equipment failure.
When an emergency occurs, I assess the situation, delegate tasks to staff if needed and communicate to front-of-house operations or the authorities, whichever is appropriate.
It’s important to keep calm throughout as your team also looks to you for guidance and reassurance.”
5. What process do you follow for determining prices for new menu items?
For employers: This question shows how the candidate ensures the kitchen’s profitability. A big step in doing so is setting the prices for new menu selections. By asking this question, you can evaluate the candidate’s experience and knowledge of industry trends, ingredient pricing and market demand.
For candidates: Talk about how you keep factors like ingredient costs, labor and profit margins in mind when determining prices. If you have successfully priced new menu items in the past, share specific examples with the interviewer.
Sample answer: “When determining prices for new menu items, I aim to strike a balance between offering value to customers and ensuring the dish’s profitability.
For example, I calculate the portion of sales spent on ingredients and factor in raw food costs to arrive at a selling price that aligns with our target profit margin. To make sure that the price is reasonable and competitive, I analyze market trends and competitor pricing.”
Job Interview Tips for Kitchen Manager Candidates and Employers
For Employers
When interviewing Kitchen Manager candidates, pay attention to personal insights that showcase their experience and strengths for the job.
If the candidate gives you very general answers, as follow-up questions that are more specific. Ask about their daily routine or what they look for when hiring new team members. You can even place them in sample scenarios where they need to solve a problem or meet a goal.
For Candidates
Review the job description carefully before the interview. This will allow you to frame your responses based on the employer’s requirements. When answering each question, make sure your responses are relevant and clear.
Talk about previous experiences where you have demonstrated your skills. Lastly, smile, keep calm and be prepared with your own set of questions to ask by the end of the interview.
