Applebee’s Interview Questions

If you are looking for Applebee’s Interview Questions, you have come to the right place.

We can all agree that interviews are stressful and that competition is intense.

However, you can ace the Applebee’s job interview with a little preparation.

Here, we will discuss how to answer Applebee’s Interview Questions

Interview Questions by role:

• Applebee’s Hostess Interview
• Applebee’s Server Interview
• Applebee’s Manager Interview

Please note that these are practice interview questions, and we are not affiliated with the company mentioned in this post.

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Applebee’s Interview Questions and Answers

Can you tell me about yourself?

• Discussing your hobbies and interests is okay, but keep it brief. Focus on relevant work experience. Remember that having relevant work experience will put you ahead of the competition.

What can you tell us about Applebee’s?

Interviewers ask this question to weed out applicants hoping to get an interview by randomly applying to hundreds of jobs. Instead, they want to meet with applicants who have done their research about the company. Here are a few facts about this company

About Applebee’s

• Applebee’s is an American casual dining chain known for its salads, chicken, pasta, burgers, and riblets.
• The menu also has a 2-for $20 menu (2 Entrees and one appetizer).
• The first Applebee’s opened in Atlanta, Georgia in 1980.
• Applebee’s first restaurant opened in Kansas City.
• Customers can order their meals online.
• Applebee’s parent company is Dine Brands.
• Many restaurants offer Applebee’s To Go,  allowing customers to order online and have their meals delivered to the Car Side To Go parking spot.
• Do you think you know a lot about Applebee’s?  Take our Applebee’s Interview Preparation trivia and find out!

Why do you want to work for Applebee’s?

• Tell the interviewer that you would love to learn more about the restaurant industry and business in general and that you feel Applebee’s would be a good place to do this. Applebee’s has received numerous awards, such as “Chain of the Year” from Restaurant Hospitality Magazine, “Excellence in Retention Award” from National Restaurant Magazine, and “One of America’s Best Managed Companies” from Forbes Magazine.
• Say how their product is better than the competition. For example, you can mention how you love the lunch combo meal, the desserts, and the very friendly atmosphere.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

• If you see yourself staying at Applebee’s, say you see yourself in a career in restaurant management.
• If you are going to college, tell them this and state what you plan on doing once you finish your degree.

Why should Applebee’s hire you?

• All restaurants will be looking for someone who works well as part of a team, is punctual, is a great communicator, and works well under pressure. State that you have these skills and, because of this, you would be a good fit at Applebee’s.

What is your greatest strength?

• The best way to respond to this question is to describe the skills and experience that directly correlate with the job you are applying for. With this in mind, review the job description and reassure the interviewer that you have the expertise and skills to do the job.

What is your greatest weakness?

Do you have any restaurant experience?

• If so, mention it, as it will help you get the job, but be prepared for the “why did you leave” question.
• If you don’t have restaurant experience, don’t worry as Applebee’s hires many first-time employees. 

What hours can you work?

• The more flexible you are with your hours, the better your chance of getting hired, so be flexible!
• Let the interviewer know if you can work on weekends and holidays.

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How would you deal with a difficult customer?

• Say you would give the customer your full attention and ask how he/she is doing.  If they were upset about a product state, you would offer to replace it. If they are upset about the wait time, say that you would apologize and ensure that you would provide extra special care to this customer during their visit.

What motivates you?

Who are Applebee’s competitors?

• Several of Applebee’s competitors include Outback Steakhouse, Cheesecake Factory, T.G.I. Friday’s, Ruby Tuesday, and Chili’s.

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Hostess Interview

Can you tell us about your previous work experience?

• They want to know how your related work experience matches the experience required to be a hostess. So, if you have any experience working in a restaurant, with customers, or cleaning, say that first.
• Don’t worry if this is your first job and you do not have much work experience, as Applebee’s hires many first-time employees. Tell the interviewer you have been focusing on school and are now anxious to prove yourself in the workforce.

Why do you want to be a Hostess?

• Say you enjoy meeting new people and will work well with customers so you feel like you would be a good fit as a host/hostess.

In your opinion, what makes a great hostess?

• The door is held open when the customer arrives.
• They are greeted in a friendly manner.
• They are not waiting long for a table. If they are waiting because it is busy, they are told how long the wait is.
• All guest needs are accommodated, including special needs such as boosters, high chairs, and disabilities.

Why should we hire you?

Reread the job description, find the skills they seek, and tell the interviewer you have those skills. Here are the skills I found they are looking for after reviewing the job description

• Greets (both arriving and departing) and seats all guests in a friendly manner (skill required: communication)
• Assists in maintaining the overall guest flow of the restaurant (skill required: organizational)
• Maintains a clean and organized work area and completes cleaning as assigned (skill required: attention to detail)
• Provides guest assistance to the server when needed. (skill required: teamwork)

A possible answer to this question is

• Say you have excellent communication skills, making the customer feel welcome.
• Mention you have strong organizational skills and will not have an issue maintaining the overall guest flow of the restaurant.
• State you pay great attention to detail and always ensure the restaurant is always clean.
• Finally, say you are a team player and will always assist the server when needed.

How would you deal with guests who are tired of waiting?

• If it were okay with the manager, I would offer a free sample of an appetizer.
• I would assure them their table is coming and try and give them an accurate estimate of their wait time.

Do you have any questions for us?

• What are the characteristics of top-performing host/hostesses?

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Server Interview

The job description states an Applebee’s server communicates with guests to serve food and drinks while maintaining an upbeat atmosphere.  A server also relays orders to the bar and kitchen. You will find frequently asked Applebee’s Server Interview Questions and Answers here.

Can you tell us about your previous work experience?

• They will ask about your previous work experience during the Applebee’s server interview. Talk about any experience you have working with customers, serving food and drinks, using a point of sale system, and finally setting and busing tables.

Why should we hire you?

Have a second read of the job description, find key skills they are looking for and convince the interviewer that you have these skills. Below are the skills I found after reviewing the job description:

• Interacts verbally with all guests, creating a friendly and upbeat atmosphere (skill required: communication)
• To serve food, drinks, and to accommodate guests’ needs in a courteous and timely manner (skill required: works well under pressure)
• Relays orders to service bar and kitchen via the point-of-sale computerized register system. (skill required: quick learner)

So when asked why should they hire you as their server say

• Mention you have excellent communication skills and will always greet the customer in a friendly manner.
• State that you work well under pressure, allowing you to serve guests kindly and courteously.
• Finally, mention that you are a quick learner and will learn about the point of sale system and menu items quickly.

How would you deal with an upset customer?

• I would find out what was wrong with the customer and, if it was an unsatisfactory item, offer to replace it.
• I would apologize if they felt they were waiting too long for their meal.
• The ultimate goal is to ensure that the customer leaves happy because if they leave unhappy, they will not return.

Questions to ask on an Applebee’s Server Interview

• What type of promotion can top-performing servers receive?
• What are some traits of great servers you have worked with in the past?

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Manager Interview

An Applebee’s Restaurant Manager reports to the General Manager and assists in leading the restaurant’s operations and a team of 40+ hourly associates. Here are frequently asked Applebee’s Restaurant Manager Interview Questions and Answers.

Can you tell us about your previous work experience?

This is where you relate your previous work experience to the experience required to be a restaurant manager. Below is the knowledge required for this position:

• Two years of management experience, with a minimum of three months each in all of the following operational areas: Kitchen, Bar, Front of House Operations, and Financial/Human Resource and Systems Management is required.  So, try to relate your experience to the operational areas mentioned above.
• Tip!!! Be sure to mention any college courses you have completed, especially in hospitality.

Why do you want to be a Restaurant Manager at Applebee’s?

• Say you enjoy mentoring and coaching others in their careers.
• Say you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and enjoy the challenge.

Why should Applebee’s hire you as their restaurant manager?

For this question, you need to look at the job description, find critical skills they are looking for, and tell the interviewer that you have these skills. Below is what I found after reviewing the job description:

• We are looking for quality, hard-working Associate Managers who have an established career in leadership in the hospitality industry (skill required: leadership)
• Monitors and maintains adequate food and beverage inventories (skill required: attention to detail).
• Ensures timely product preparation and presentation meet company standards. Uses daily line checks to ensure product preparation meets sales volume (skill required: works well under pressure).
• Communicates effectively with other management staff (skill required: communication skills).

A possible answer to this question is

• State your excellent leadership skills, allowing you to manage a large organization such as a restaurant.
• You mention paying great attention to detail, which is vital when managing tasks such as managing inventory and ensuring guests are treated in an excellent manner.
• Say you work well under pressure, which will help ensure all products are sent out according to company standards and that the restaurant meets its sales targets.
• Finally, say you have strong communication skills, allowing you to communicate effectively with other management staff.

What are your salary expectations?

• Be sure to research Applebee’s Manager Salaries online before you go into this interview.
• You can always flip the question and ask what the salary range is.

How do you motivate others?

• Say you feel money is not the best motivator, and a simple pat on the back goes a long way.
• Say you always take the time to praise good work.

Can you describe your process for firing someone?

• Say you put most people on a performance review as they have to understand why they are not performing well. I let them go if they still make mistakes after a week or two.

Questions to ask at an Applebee’s Manager Interview

• What are the characteristics you look for in top-performing Applebee’s Restaurant Managers?
• Why is the restaurant manager position open? What did the previous manager do well, and what could he or she have improved on?

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Does Applebee’s drug test for employment?

• There is no evidence to suggest that Applebee’s does a drug test on their employees.

Interview Tips for Applebee’s

• Arrive 10 minutes early.
• Turn off your smartphone.
• Learn as much as you can about the company.
• Don’t speak too fast, as you will sound nervous.
• Don’t speak too slowly, as you will sound dull.
• Make eye contact during the entire interview.

How should I dress for an interview at Applebees?

Applebee’s Second Interview

The second interview is an opportunity for the interviewer to find out more about you or to have someone more senior interview the final list of candidates.

Many suggest the second interview is about past performance. Such as

• Can you name the most significant accomplishment of your last job?
• Can you tell us about how you increased sales and/or productivity?

Remember to use the names of all the people you met last time. Make sure you recognize them and greet them.

See Also

• Share Your Interview Experience – Help Others Prepare

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