Waitress

This one tends to come up every time. Have some questions prepared.

This will show you have done some research and are eager to know and learn as much as possible. You probably don't want to ask more than three or four questions. Try and use questions that focus on you becoming an asset to the company. A generic question might be "how soon can I start if I were to get the job." Another idea is to ask what you would be working on and how quickly they expect you to be able to be productive. Remember to ask about next steps and when you can expect to hear back.

I used to work on a bar a couple of years ago. I learned how to make cocktails and pour draught beer.

People become very candid when they answer. If their reason is anything like they just want to make more money, didn't like the management or had problems getting along with others, those are red flags.

On the surface, this appears to be a simple question, yet it is easy to slip. I would suggest not mentioning money at this stage as you may come across as totally mercenary. If you are currently employed, you can say it's about developing your career and yourself as an individual. If you are in the unfortunate position of having been downsized, stay positive and keep it brief. If you were fired, you should have a solid explanation. whatever your circumstances, do not talk about the drama but remember to stay positive.

This question is always a tricky one and a dangerous game to play in an interview. It is a common mistake to discuss salary before you have sold yourself, and like in any negotiation, knowledge is power. Do your homework and make sure you have an idea of what this job is offering. You can try asking them about the salary range. If you want to avoid the question altogether, you could say that at the moment, you are looking to advance in your career and money isn't your main motivator. If you do have a specific figure in mind and you are confident you can get it, then it may be worth going for it.

After listening to the customer, I would try and think of a solution. If I'm unable to deal with the problem myself, I'd find my manager or another senior member of staff.

If they have dined with us I get feedback about the restaurant I run from a servers perspective, that's pretty powerful. If they haven't dined with us then I assume that we are one of many restaurants that received their application and I can ask them questions based on that. If they haven't dined with us then I can still ask about their last dining experience, what they would have improved if they had had the power to do so.

If asked about disappointments, mention something that was beyond your control. Stay positive by showing how you accepted the situation and have no lingering negative feelings. If asked about your greatest achievement, choose an example that was important to you as well as the company. Specify what you did, how you did it and what the results were. Ideally, pick an example that can relate to the positions you are applying for.

I've got experience making ice cream sundaes. When I first started at my last job, my manager taught me how to make them correctly and since then I followed the recipe and instructions.

The answers are very enlightening about their attitude, personality and commitment.

I also ask what do they like eating and cooking.

And what scares them the most….

This is not an easy one as you have no idea whom you would be working with. Even if you can immediately think of a long list of people who you don't like to work with, you could take some time to think and say that it's a difficult question as you have always gotten on fine with your colleagues.

In my last job, I had to work on Christmas Day. As it was busy, I had to help look after three Christmas parties and it was very challenging. As I was working with another waitress, we worked as a team to serve the larger parties together so they did not have to wait longer for their food to be served. I had to keep on my toes as food was coming out quick and customers wanted more drinks.

The first part of this question is easy. Everyone can answer it. The second part is where people stumble. Service steps for implementation can be blurry so a clear answer really shows me something about the candidate.

This question is excellent! It tells me what they most value in their own abilities, what they see as important and shows their potential as an employee.

Beware of this type of question! Under no circumstances is it necessary to break company policy to achieve something. Resist the temptation to answer and give examples, as what the interviewer is looking for is to determine how ethical you are and if you will remain true to company policy.

This is not the arena for full disclosure. You want to stay positive and add a few specific statements or paraphrase. Something like "Joe Blogs always mentioned how reliable and hard working I was" is enough.

Waitressing gives me the opportunity to learn on my feet and I get to serve different customers. As there are new people in the restaurant every day, it means every day is different.

I can comfortably carry two plates from the kitchen to the restaurant. Depending on the plates, I can sometimes carry three at a time

Do your homework prior to the interview. Doing the background work will help you stand out. Find out who the main players are -- have they been in the news recently? You're not expected to know every date and individual but you need to have a solid understanding of the company as a whole.

Your answer is of course that you are an excellent team player; there really is no other valid answer here as you will not function in an organization as a loner. You may want to mention what type of role you tend to adopt in a team, especially if you want to emphasize key skills such as leadership. Be prepared to give specific examples in a very matter of fact sort of way.