I need help answering interview questions for my first management position at a restaurant.

aleghart, thanks for the advice, but this is a small management position for a small town in the middle of nowhere.  Of course, if i was applying for a management position at a HUGE CORPORATION, duh... i would have some idea or at least I would not be coming to EE to ask for advice in THAT situation.  I would just know better not to apply.  I am on here asking for advice because I really would want to get this job knowing that it is going to be temporary til i find something better.

Furthermore, isn't asking questions what knowledge and the acquiring of knowledge is all about?  FYI, I use EE BECAUSE I have no clue what to do about things.   If i have a small idea on what to do, why would i need to use EE? I would just figure it out by myself.  Your alternate examples are a little too extreme compared to this position that I am asking help for.... like hazerdous materials truck or medical services?.... I'm talking about a small management job for a small hometown restaurant in a tiny town way out in the woods.

Also, I wouldn't call my question cheating, I'd call it preparing.

BigRat, thanks for your response as well.  To add onto what you were saying, of course I have an idea of what management is all about.  1. I've taken many college courses in management and 2.  I wouldn't have applied for this position if I had no idea what it entailed.  All i am asking you guys is some tips on what to tell the interviewer in order to spark their interest in me as a candidate for the position and not to sound like "i dont know what i'm talking about" meaning, I want to sound like I've been a manager for a lonnnng time, and not just starting out.

>>I want to sound like I've been a manager for a lonnnng time, and not just starting out.

But you are just starting out. And that's point 3 - honesty. Every job you take on in your career - except on the way down! - will be something new and more challenging. So that's why I gave you the advice.

If you've taken the management courses then you should be "technically" OK. The interviewer will see that, otherwise you're off the list anyway. So the only thing left is yourself. And that means being yourself and the best yourself is having those three attributes.

When I interview programmers I ask then the usual technical questions. Those that pass are on the short list. Those that fail, and fail in the usual mumbling, fumbling way - not open and clear about the fact that they don't know the answer - get thrown out.  If any are remaining and I'm stuck for choice I pick those with those attributes, because I'll know they'll grow.

>Furthermore, isn't asking questions what knowledge and the acquiring of knowledge is all about?

In the case of a job interview, they (we) are looking for actual experience.  Not just a willingness to learn.  If you have no actual experience (no, college courses do not qualify as experience), then you are an entry-level candidate.

That's not a bad thing.  It is what it is.

I am suggesting that you don't pretend to know things because you've got the answers from a book or from someone else (like here on EE).  In the case of personnel issues or safety...if you don't have experience, you could cause some damage.

In the holdup case I presented, my wife was involved in one, a co-worker in another.

The store my wife worked at was held up.  The store manager knew to cooperate quickly and empty the cash drawer.  No argument.  No attempt to call the police or set an alarm until after the robber left.  He still got beat up, but got the perp out of the store before he had a chance to walk around and find my wife hiding on the ground.  He even had the good sense to offer his own store bag to put the money in...which helped the police catch the guy a few blocks away.

--What if you were the manager and did not know what to do?  How would I feel if you argued and the robber went around the store beating everyone else, including my wife?  Then, I found out that you had no practical experience, and answered your interview questions like a college test...memorize the answers and regurgitate?


My co-worker was a part-time bank teller.  When she was held up, her co-worker just a few feet away did not know how to partner up.  He kept jabbering away at small-talk while my friend slowly emptied her entire till into a bag.  This was another college kid who just wanted a temporary job to pay the bills until he could find something better.  He answered the interview questions correctly...and had no serious stake in the job.  Didn't care about the job or his co-workers.

Completely ignored the robbery taking place.  The lack of support from co-workers, security, and the managers...none of whom noticed the by-the-book holdup activity forced her to quit the bank.  The robber got away clean.  When he cleared the door, she turned to her co-worker and proceeded to pummel him with her fists.  Rightly so.

>Your alternate examples are a little too extreme compared to this position that I am asking help for

Right...but it's a pattern of behavior.  A little help here.  A little help there.  What will you do when you get the "big" interview.

I understand the desire to take shortcuts.  IMHO, it's dishonest.

I hope you don't think that small-town business do not deserve the same professionalism as "real" jobs.  What would your employer think if you said that in an interview?

honestly, they'd probably agree that the company isn't a "real" company.  I've had many employers in the past tell me "this is not going to be your career let me just tell you.  you are going to want to continue on to a better more challenging job."  Well in my opinion, it is seeking out knowledge to help myself grow and learn and be that good manager.  Would it be better if I never came on EE and just completely lied 100% and acted like an experienced pro manager?  Then what?

>Would it be better if I never came on EE and just completely lied 100% and acted like an experienced pro manager?

I don't know what you're asking.  Noone has suggested that you lie at all.

I have suggested that you answer your interview questions based upon your own personal knowledge and experience.

I've sat through many interviews, on both sides of the desk.  "Cramming" your resume and CBK for an interview like its a pop-quiz is dishonest.

That's my opinion.  You can take it or leave it.

But, you'll never convince me that deceiving a mom-and-pop business in order to get a temporary job, until you get a "real" job is an acceptable business practice.

Is it common?  Yes.  Especially with students with no real-world experience.
Will it improve your resume?  Yes.
Will it improve your bank account?  Yes.
Will it improve your character?  Well...you can answer this.  In many cases, people just don't care, as long as they get the job.

I hope your interview goes well.  Don't forget, that every interview is a learning experience.  You will interact with a business owner or manager who has serious stakes in the business.  You will see what is important to them.  Use the interview to broaden and/or deepen your own knowledge.

bwjohnson88 >>
>>  "they'd probably agree that the company isn't a "real" company."

On the contrary. You might get that attitude with an interviewer from a BIG company, because there the interviewer is a hired hand, just as you hope to be. But in a smallscale company as you are describing, you are likely to find that the interviewer is "the guy with a dream" who have worked his ass of for many years to make that dream come true. He is serious about his business.

Other than that I agree with aleghart

regards JakobA

yes, i am sorry, i noticed the date of the last post after clicking "submit" button.