Interview techniques

• newEditor
• Hair and beauty
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• BTEC

Interview techniques

Learning objective

What qualities do head chefs look for when hiring?

In your groups, list as many things you think a head chef looks for when hiring a chef.

Write them on the post it notes and then stick them on the board.

1. Teamwork

2. Communication

3. Hygiene & safety awareness

4. Time management

5. Handling pressure

6. Passion for food

7. Reliability

Before the interview- Research the business

Before any chef interview, candidates should:

• Look at the menu and cuisine style

• Research the chef or restaurant reputation

• Understand the kitchen culture (fine dining, casual, hotel, etc.)

• Check reviews or social media

👉 This shows genuine interest and helps them tailor answers.

Example:
"I noticed you specialise in seasonal British produce — I really enjoy working with fresh ingredients and would love to develop those skills."

Before the interview- Have real life examples of kitchen experience

Think of real stories using the STAR method:

• Handling pressure during service

• Teamwork in the kitchen

• Following hygiene rules

• Solving problems

• Learning a new technique

Encourage them to prepare 2–3 strong examples in advance.

Before the interview- Plan questions to ask

Good chef candidates ask about:

• Training and development opportunities

• Kitchen structure/team

• Typical service style

• Expectations of the role

This shows ambition and engagement

• Practice answers out loud

• Stay calm and confident

• Show passion for food

• Smile and maintain eye contact

Enthusiasm is often as important as technical skill.

For the interview- Dress professionally

Even if it’s a kitchen role:

• Wear clean, smart clothes (or chef whites if requested)

• Maintain good personal hygiene

• Tie back long hair

• Keep nails clean and short

First impressions matter — chefs are judged on cleanliness and professionalism.

For the interview- What to bring

Candidates should bring:

• Updated CV

• Food hygiene certificates (if they have them)

• Portfolio/photos of dishes (optional but impressive)

• Notebook and pen

👉 Being organised shows professionalism.

During the interview- First impressions count

From the moment they walk in:

• Smile and greet confidently

• Maintain eye contact

• Offer a firm handshake (if appropriate)

• Sit upright with good posture

• Avoid slouching or fidgeting

👉 Employers often decide their first impression in the first 30 seconds.

During the interview- Communication

During answers:

• Speak clearly and at a steady pace

• Avoid slang or swearing

• Use professional kitchen language

• Listen carefully before answering

• Don’t interrupt

Encourage learners to use real kitchen examples rather than vague answers.

👉 Example:
Instead of “I’m good under pressure”
Say: “During a busy Saturday service…”

During the interview- Show your passion

Employers want chefs who:

• Work well in teams

• Stay calm under pressure

• Care about food quality

• Follow hygiene standards

You should:

• Mention teamwork often

• Show enthusiasm for food

• Talk about learning and improvement

Passion is memorable.

During the interview- Ask good questions

At the end of the interview:

You should ask 1–2 thoughtful questions, such as:

• What training opportunities are available?

• What is a typical service like?

• How does the kitchen team work together?

👉 This shows motivation and maturity.

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Star technique

Teach learners the STAR technique for answering questions:

• Situation — Brief context

• Task — What needed to be done

• Action — What they did

• Result — Outcome

Example chef answer:

"During a busy Saturday service (S), our fryer broke down (T). I reorganised stations and communicated with the team (A), and we still completed service on time with positive feedback (R)."

Cuisine around the world

Select 2 countries from the following 5:

• China

• Japan

• Singapore

• Vietnam

• Pakistan

Write up a menu from your 2 counties.

 5 starters, 5 mains and 5 desserts

1 menu - street food

1 menu - mid range 

1 menu michelin star restaurant

 

 

So - you must create 3 menus for each country: one street food, one mid range and one michelin star.

 

You must investigate and give a description of the ingredients, & cooking methods involved

 

You must show your research to display which restaurants you got the information from.