Interviewing Job Applicants: More Powerful with a Results-Oriented Job Description
Interviewing Job Applicants: More Powerful with a Results-Oriented Job Description
Using a job description as the base for questions and comments focuses attention on essential job requirements and minimizes emphasis on personality or irrelevant issues. Sticking to job-specific questions is the best safeguard against illegal questions.
Even when interviewers use a guided interview form, unless that form incorporates the job description as the centerpiece, attention can slide into non-essential issues.
Not all job descriptions are equally useful, however. A duties- or task-oriented job description only gets you through the basics. A Results-Oriented Job Description that focuses on desired outcomes is better because it aims attention at testing an applicant’s talents at analyzing and pursuing necessary results.
As an example of the way to use a job description when interviewing job applicants, here is the Job Interview Guide for a waiter/waitress. You’ll find seven standard questions following each major job result to ask when examining a candidate’s qualifications.
Of course, additional questions will depend on the candidate’s responses. And, when team interviewing, using a job-based structured approach ensures that all interviewers will approach the interview from the same orientation.
Job Interview Guide
A guide for interviewing job candidates to determine experience and competency regarding each job responsibility.
WAITER-WAITRESS
1. PREPARES TABLES FOR DINING
by
cleaning and covering tables; setting utensils, napkins, decorations, condiments, candles, and service plates.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. HELPS DINERS SELECT FOOD AND BEVERAGES
by
presenting menu; suggesting courses; explaining daily specials; answering food preparation questions; offering beverages; identifying appropriate wines.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. TRANSMITS ORDERS TO KITCHEN AND BAR
by
recording diners’ choices; identifying diners’ special dietary needs and requests; noting timing of meal progression.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. SERVES FOOD AND DRINKS
by
picking-up and delivering items from bar, kitchen, and service areas.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. MAINTAINS DINING EXPERIENCE
by
inquiring of needs; removing courses as completed; replenishing utensils; refilling water glasses; being alert to spills or other special needs.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. CONCLUDES DINING EXPERIENCE
by
acknowledging choice of restaurant; inviting diners to return.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
7. OBTAINS DINING REVENUES
by
totaling charges; issuing bill; accepting payment; returning change or credit card.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
8. PROTECTS RESTAURANT AND DINERS
by
adhering to sanitation, safety, and alcohol beverage control policies.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
9. IMPROVES WAITER/WAITRESS JOB KNOWLEDGE
by
attending training sessions; reading technical publications.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
10. CONTRIBUTES TO FOOD SERVICE AND RESTAURANT SUCCESS
by
welcoming related, different, and new requests; helping others accomplish job results.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Closing Interview Questions:
What are your greatest strengths?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What do you need to improve?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What would you like to learn in a new job?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What would you like to ask me?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Interviewing Job Applicants More Powerful with a ResultsOriented Job Description - To learn more about this author, visit Roger Plachy's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
Hiring a good employee starts with a thorough interview of experience, attitude, and problem-solving ability. Unfortunately, many interviewers ramble around an unstructured conversation.
Using a job description as the base for questions and comments focuses attention on essential job requirements and minimizes emphasis on personality or irrelevant issues. Sticking to job-specific questions is the best safeguard against illegal questions.
Even when interviewers use a guided interview form, unless that form incorporates the job description as the centerpiece, attention can slide into non-essential issues.
Not all job descriptions are equally useful, however. A duties- or task-oriented job description only gets you through the basics. A Results-Oriented Job Description that focuses on desired outcomes is better because it aims attention at testing an applicant’s talents at analyzing and pursuing necessary results.
As an example of the way to use a job description when interviewing job applicants, here is the Job Interview Guide for a waiter/waitress. You’ll find seven standard questions following each major job result to ask when examining a candidate’s qualifications.
Of course, additional questions will depend on the candidate’s responses. And, when team interviewing, using a job-based structured approach ensures that all interviewers will approach the interview from the same orientation.
Job Interview Guide
A guide for interviewing job candidates to determine experience and competency regarding each job responsibility.
WAITER-WAITRESS
1. PREPARES TABLES FOR DINING
by
cleaning and covering tables; setting utensils, napkins, decorations, condiments, candles, and service plates.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. HELPS DINERS SELECT FOOD AND BEVERAGES
by
presenting menu; suggesting courses; explaining daily specials; answering food preparation questions; offering beverages; identifying appropriate wines.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. TRANSMITS ORDERS TO KITCHEN AND BAR
by
recording diners’ choices; identifying diners’ special dietary needs and requests; noting timing of meal progression.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. SERVES FOOD AND DRINKS
by
picking-up and delivering items from bar, kitchen, and service areas.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. MAINTAINS DINING EXPERIENCE
by
inquiring of needs; removing courses as completed; replenishing utensils; refilling water glasses; being alert to spills or other special needs.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. CONCLUDES DINING EXPERIENCE
by
acknowledging choice of restaurant; inviting diners to return.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
7. OBTAINS DINING REVENUES
by
totaling charges; issuing bill; accepting payment; returning change or credit card.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
8. PROTECTS RESTAURANT AND DINERS
by
adhering to sanitation, safety, and alcohol beverage control policies.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
9. IMPROVES WAITER/WAITRESS JOB KNOWLEDGE
by
attending training sessions; reading technical publications.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
10. CONTRIBUTES TO FOOD SERVICE AND RESTAURANT SUCCESS
by
welcoming related, different, and new requests; helping others accomplish job results.
What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
When did you have these job responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
How did you overcome the challenges?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Closing Interview Questions:
What are your greatest strengths?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What do you need to improve?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What would you like to learn in a new job?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What would you like to ask me?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Interviewing Job Applicants More Powerful with a ResultsOriented Job Description - To learn more about this author, visit Roger Plachy's Website.
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