These questions are written for hiring a assistant restaurant manager specifically. Each one includes what you learn from asking it and what a strong answer sounds like.
1. What does it mean to be the manager on duty to you?
Why ask it: Shows how they see responsibility.
A strong answer: Describes owning guest experience, safety, cash, and staff for the shift and making decisions.
2. How do you handle a server who disputes your decision in front of guests?
Why ask it: Tests composure and authority.
A strong answer: Stays calm, moves the conversation out of sight, and addresses it privately afterward.
3. Tell me about a time you trained someone who struggled. What did you do?
Why ask it: Training and patience.
A strong answer: Adapted their approach, gave clear feedback, and checked progress.
4. How do you decide when to cut staff during a slow night?
Why ask it: Labor awareness.
A strong answer: Uses sales pace and forecast, cuts fairly, and ensures service stays covered.
5. What would you do if a guest claims they got sick after eating here?
Why ask it: Risk management and compliance.
A strong answer: Takes it seriously, records details, notifies the GM, and follows the company's procedure.
6. How do you hold peers accountable when you used to work alongside them?
Why ask it: Transition to leadership.
A strong answer: Sets clear expectations, is fair, communicates directly, and keeps relationships professional.
7. How would you handle a cash discrepancy found at the end of the night?
Why ask it: Integrity and process.
A strong answer: Recounts, reviews transactions, documents, and reports it to the GM.
8. What tools or reports do you use to track how the shift is doing?
Why ask it: Data awareness.
A strong answer: Names sales, labor percentage, ticket times, and comps, and shows how they act on them.
9. Describe a time you resolved a conflict between front of house and the kitchen.
Why ask it: Mediation skills.
A strong answer: Listened to both sides, found the root cause, and set a better process.
10. How do you prepare for a big event or holiday rush?
Why ask it: Planning and anticipation.
A strong answer: Checks staffing, prep, inventory, communicates the plan, and has backups.
11. What would you do if you disagreed with the general manager's approach?
Why ask it: Professionalism and loyalty.
A strong answer: Shares concerns respectfully and privately, then supports the decision.
12. Why do you want to grow into a general manager role?
Why ask it: Long-term motivation.
A strong answer: Shows interest in ownership of results, leading teams, and learning the business side.