interviewing for jobs

[danno]

I have had a few interviews over the past month or so and yesterday I had a second of 2 interviews with one of the upscale hotels in town. this one was conducted over the phone. I think the questions
were geared towards finding out more about my personality. I think a lot of the higher end hotel mgt. co. use this in their hireing process. one question that stands out in my memory is Are you a habitual smiler? I could have lied and said yes but I said no Im not. But im not a habitual frowner either.
has anybody else been throught his process,and if so what do you think of it. thanks Danno

[W.DeBord]

I'm not sure I understand how a phone interview like that is good for them? Seems to me any smart person would know what answer their looking for. Are you a thief? No. Are you enthusiatic? Yes.

Seems like a good lier or someone who wants a job badly isn't going to loose playing shrink over the phone. Heck, I've met people who can lie to you eye to eye and they seem to believe every word they say.

My husband once interviewed at a job that made everyone take a test at a psy. office between the first and second interviews. My brother-in law worked there and he swears by this profiling they do to find who's a leader and who's not (so they really fit the job their applying for). He also says it's saved the company money in the long run...

[annie]

Hi Danno - In the past two days, I've interviewed at two high end hotels in the city - and I'm on my way to a third, the highest of them all.
At the first hotel, I had to go through about an hour of 'behavioral' interviewing with HR. They asked if I smiled, cared about my appearance, could remember names. Don't they knkow that pastry chefs don't have to be sociable? I think that your actual actions in the face to face were also being noted. And I know that 'what the heck does remembering names have to do with your ability to craft the perfect croissant?' was not the proper answer. But that interview got me sent to a second, working interview with the chef...

The second hotel asked me why I was changing careers, and did I know they didn't have parking for the staff? Badda bing, badd boom, and on to a working interview right then.
At least these guys are getting a bunch of free labor!

Having done interviewing when I was forced to do some HR, I think that interviews are more about protocol, and the interviewee's ability to respect that. You may never wear a suit, but wearing one to the interview shows you do protocol. And never, ever being negative, even if you left your last job because you were wounded by a disgruntled ex-worker! Put another way, the whole thing is phony and about sucking up. But you are speaking with a gatekeeper, not the people you will be working with/for - who will get a sense of the real you, and will see a fit or not.

Telephone screening, I think, is totally bogus. Only the tout d'ensemble can give you a sense of the person. Oh sure, I've called people for an interview where the phone was answered "what the **** do you want" and then turned syrupy when I mentioned a company name. And I got multiple interviews at the Harvard School of Public Health on the basis on one phone screening. But I stil think it's a bogus way to treat people!

Good luck. Let us know when you land a job , and if it's what you thought!

[Dunk]

What do you normally wear when applying for a kitchen position? Does it vary depending on whether you are applying for a chef position or cook position?

Those of you who do conduct interviews -- what do you think is appropriate for an interviewee to wear? I was always under the impression that business casual was the norm, but seriously I have no idea.

thanks

Dunk

[m brown]

a suit unless the interview is a casual one with your friend who owns a bistro and wants you to take over for them while they go on vacation......

always wear an ensable, it looks good on you! a blazer or pressed shirt and trousers for men and women or skirt for women and scottish men
try to look clean, shave and floss!

an interview, no matter how wacky, is your chance to get your foot in the door and shine! do your best!!!

ps if you are in kitchen whites at a show or benift, make sure it is your best jacket and pants and apron!!! bring your business cards always and always speak well of your employers past and present!

pss or pps
i just re read this post, i sound like such a mom but remember, mother knows best!!

[danno]

I agree with you M brown. although I havent worn a suit to every interview just the ones that are most important to me. all the rest I still wear a pair of dress pants and a tie. Some interviews are just practice for the upcomming more important ones. I did have a chance to meet with the chef before the phone interview and he asked me some questions, and one just threw me, How do you influence change into a culture? I went into some B S I cant even remember now. but when i think about the question now Im not sure one person can influence change into a culture what do all of you think about that.
here is another question for all you pastry chefs out there that are in charge of there own shop . would you be willing to take a pastry cook position (2nd or third under the pastry chef)if that was all that was available and a cut in salary by half? and if how do you think this would affect your attitude aver time. thanks Danno

[ShawtyCat]

We once had a lady show up in the grayest white shirt I ever saw, that had black rings around the cuffs and collar, she reeked of sweat and she actually wanted to apply for a line cook postition. (line cook = day/night cook at our place) Not the kind of person we wanted touching the food. The health dept would have had a field day with us just by looking at her.

My MIL doesnt necessarily care about potential employees showing up in a suit but looks for a neat, clean people with clean fingernails. She's really picky about the fingernails. She gives a short tour of the kitchen and asks questions.

[panini]

First impression is very strong. This might seem slallow but I size a person up by what they are wearing. They must be comfotable in the clothes what ever they may be. I would rather speak with someone in business casual who dresses that way normally then some one who drags out the suit for an interview. I shake hands to see the firmness of his or her hands, the texture of their skin. I look at nails and how they are groomed( tells a lot). I look at hair cuts, sox matching pants, skirts blouses or suits pressed, etc. I especially look to see if they are comforable in what they are wearing while I tour them. If a person has dressed to try to impress they usually won't be comforable. Tugging at this and arranging that. This is so shallow I know, and I have walked a few to the door right after the tour.
I had an opportunity to meet a basketball owner the other day. In attendance were lawyers,CPA, SUITS> Everyone was dressed to the T,I wore slacks, shirt and a foodie tie. We spent five minutes talking about my tie. And BS'd for 30 or so about the bakery bus. He could buy all the bakeries in the US and have a bunch left over. I believe he could tell I was comfortable. sorry ramble

[ShawtyCat]

If Im going on an interview I usually wear a pant suit with flats. Sorry I cant wear heels and I would look extremely stupid teeter tottering about. Pantyhose also gives me a rash. (Sorry Niko ) So that is another reason I wear a pant suit. Im comfortable that way. I have a few custom made brooks brothers suits with silk shirts left over from my office days. So my question for Panni is:

What are your views on ladies wearing pant suits instead of skirts or dresses and no heels? Should I wear something else?

[Isa]

My father use to tell me you can never be too polite. With the competition you have for each position you better make sure you stand out... for good reasons.

Once the interview is over it's a good idea to send a thank you letter. It also gives you an opportunity to point out how well suited you are for the job. Mention your strong points, how much you liked the company and why, etc.

[panini]

SC,
I would probably pick up on the wobble. If you look comforable in your pantsuit than its ok. Personally I'm not really into what people are wearing, its how they wear it. Thats just me though. Our last hire came to interview on one of her breaks from school, she was in whites. She informed me a lot of students wear their whites over reg clothes but she was not embarassed to wear her whites out, in fact she was really excited to have saved enough money for her new Clogs. She is really trying hard and is doing really well after a couple of months. She invisions herself as one of the top in the industry and I will be happy and sad when she moves on.

[momoreg]

I look at nails and how they are groomed( tells a lot)

Panini,
What can you tell about a person by this? The reason I ask is that the use of gloves in the kitchen and a weekly manicure can make a hard-working person seem like they don't even work in a kitchen. My hands used to look a lot worse until I discovered gloves and manicures!

[W.DeBord]

Yeah but what about all the chefs out there who are really only comfortable in their black and whites and a pair of jeans? Isn't that like 95% of us?

I haven't worn pantyhose in about 20 years. If I have a dress on it's a sun dress with sandels and that's not a interview look. Pant suits seem just fine to this female....oh, no blaring jewlery.

Once upon a time I would have written similar posts about how important looks are on an interview. I just don't feel that way any more unless your talking about dirty or gross, that's different. Reasonable tastes, clothes that fit, hair that's well kept. The hardest working people I've ever met always were the least fashionable, guess that just what I've seen? (But I'm not including head chefs in this they're executives and that's another story.)

My little experiences interviewing people is, I like people who are uncomfortable at interviews. To me it means they haven't been on a hundred of them and aren't bs-ers. It's natural to be uncomfortable in that situation, if their not...I don't think they've stayed anywhere very long and I'm not sure I believe their pat and perfect answers. I like honest stumblers, or maybe I'm one and know that it means little about the person they are inside and how hard they work or care.

[panini]

Momo,
When I say nails and grooming, I'm really looking for keptness. I think that most people who keep their nails and hair groomed will usually keep a groomed work station. Ragged uncleaned nails and 8 weeks since their last haircut is a pretty good indication of ones work. I guess what I'm saying is that if a person manages their time enough to groom themselves on a regular basis I think it shows in their work. This is just my experience. I have hired both. It has always prooved out that the sloppy person usually works that way.
Believe me I'm not looking for the rugged hands. Call me a woose, but I use gloves when working with colors, use lots of lotion and get my nails done every 2 weeks. IMO the customer feels the same as I do about grooming. I see lots of my customers look at my hands, I'm not sure why? maybe my mug is to hard to look at!
Debord, I'm right with ya, I gave up wearing pantyhose years ago!

[Eeyore]

Annie: "And never, ever being negative, even if you left your last job because you were wounded by a disgruntled ex-worker! Put another way, the whole thing is phony and about sucking up."

Im curious how one should answer then when asked why they left.

Here is my example

The truth: They hired me with the agreement that I would only work a certain amount of hours, I was clear when I started that I couldn't regularly work for many more. Well I was working about 75% more than we agreed on the average. I was barely able to keep my head above water and my work was beginning to suffer. I asked for help. If someone could have assisted me just one or 2 days a week but they refused so I left.

So, could someone tell me what I should say in an interview when they ask me why I left my last job? 'cause I dont have a clue.