How to Get a Job at Joe's Crab Shack
One of the biggest names in seafood dining, Joe's Crab Shack administers a relatively simple hiring process for intrigued job seekers. Locations across the country accept potential workers from various backgrounds and job experiences. Employment hopefuls encounter several options to choose for work with a variety of positions in both the front- and back-of-house. The interview process varies by job title; however, the restaurant chain looks for dedication and enthusiasm in every potential hire.
Typical Procedures
Most positions call for a one-on-one interview with restaurant personnel. Store managers or assistant managers usually conduct the sessions. Generally, interviews only last around half an hour. Additional stages of the hiring process may include a second interview, skills assessments, and even "shadow shifts," where new hires follow and learn from more distinguished employees in the same position.
How Candidates Should Dress
Dressing properly for the interview may play an important hiring factor for applicants. Suitable wardrobe may include business-casual clothing, such as khaki pants, collar shirts, dress shoes, and other similar attire. Appearance and hygiene also serve important factors interviewees should monitor. Hair should be clean and neat, with facial hair fully removed.
Topics of Discussion
Experienced restaurant workers often encounter hiring practices similar to other companies, especially in the topics used during interview questions. Typical topics range from availability and work habits to behavioral qualities and personal attributes. Additional questions revolve around the position at hand and typical Joe's Crab Shack atmospheres. Managers often further explain duties of the position and the importance of teamwork and social skills pertinent to the job.
Interview Tips From a Joe’s Crab Shack Manager Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: What qualities do you look for in an applicant?
Joe’s Crab Shack Manager: The qualities that I look for in an applicant were somebody that showed confidence. They enter my interview with a knowledge of our company. They knew we were a happy environment, and they knew that they were good for the job. If they seem like they didn’t really know why they were applying it made me question them because we have high standards and we want to deliver this.
Interviewer: What kinds of answers do you look for in an interview?
Joe’s Crab Shack Manager: I usually look to see if they had- How they’ve dealt with confrontations. Would they try to take it up on themselves or would they get higher, like a manager to help them. That says a lot about a person, especially in that environment because sometimes it’s only one manager and a whole bunch of situations going on. If you can at least apologize and say you’re sorry, then seek a higher. That told me that they’re great people. They can deal with confrontations and they can deal with some issues, which I think is really important in the customer service industry.
Interviewer: What is one of the best answers you’ve been given in an interview?
Joe’s Crab Shack Manager: One of the girls just said that they will apologize immediately. After apologizing they would just listen to them. Honestly, that’s all the customer wants sometimes. They just want to be listened to. They probably just had a really bad day and they just take it out on other people because the confrontation is there. If you just say “I’m sorry, let me see what I can do for you”, and they just pour themselves out, then that kind of just eases out and sets a really good environment. When the manager comes, he already let everything out. He doesn’t have anything else to argue about.
Interviewer: What should an applicant do to prepare for the interview?
Joe’s Crab Shack Manager: Joe’s Crab Shack and any restaurant wants you to know about them. The hardest part that you can ever do, training process, is going to be the menu test. We’ve had a lot of people that have failed the menu test. It’s just so much, and you can’t even expect to know it all by the time that you have to take the exam. A previous, before you think about going to that restaurant and applying, take a to-go menu. See what they sell, your top picks. Then when you’re in the interview process, or an audit as we call it, the audit is to help us know if you know what you’re talking about. We basically have a sheet to checklist and we see if you know the menu, then how to give the steps to give an incredible Joe’s experience. By you knowing a little bit about maybe your favorite dish, then you can totally just confuse us and make us think you know everything. If you seem confident and you’re like, “oh, I know this” or just a little bit, then we will think you know everything. Just do a little bit of studying, it won’t hurt.
Interviewer: Describe the advancement opportunities for someone starting out.
Joe’s Crab Shack Manager: Joe’s Crab Shack has the best advancement opportunities, honestly. I was a server for only two months maybe. As soon as they see potential in you, you get promoted super fast. It starts from hosting, but if you had recent serving experience they’ll put you as a server. As they see potential you’ll get bar-tending, then bar lead, then you get opportunities to go across the United States and open a new Joe’s Crab Shack as a team leader. Which is awesome because you get to experience going to another- I had the experience to go to Florida to open a Joe’s Crab Shack and train other people. You get paid for that, you get the experience. The professional development. Then management, flex manager. All of the opportunities.
Joe’s Crab Shack Server Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Joe’s Crab Shack Server: My job title to start off was a server. I would take people’s order, write it down, repeat it, just give the crave-able Joe’s experience, which also included steps and guidelines. We had to put the bib on them, and their views of what’s a great experience at Joe’s Crab Shack.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Joe’s Crab Shack Server: The work environment was very fun. Very vivid. We wore really bright tie dye shirts and khaki pants, non-slip shoes. It was really casual. We didn’t have to be quiet, we were really outgoing. We dance every 45 minutes. It was a really fun environment and really not so demanding.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Joe’s Crab Shack Server: The application was really long. It was online. It took me probably about 30 to 40 minutes. They do a questionnaire, asking you common sense questions just so they can know you’re a real person, you’re trying to get a job there. Once you fill that online application you get an interview. It usually doesn’t take that long, it takes like 2 to 5 days for them to give you an interview date. If they’re hiring on the spot they usually do it the same day or the next day. Then they ask you to come in, you interview with them. Then if you get hired they usually tell you on the spot. If they don’t tell you on the spot and they tell you, “oh, we’ll contact you,” you pretty much didn’t get it.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Joe’s Crab Shack Server: Of course if you have any experience. “Why are you a really good candidate for this position?”, “Are you fun?”, “Are you sociable?”, “How do you deal with customer service, with bad situations?” Just pretty broad about customer service and how they want to keep their image as giving the good crave-able Joe’s experience. Being with the company for a long time and becoming the manager, I used to give. It’s funny how I transitioned from being the one that was interviewed and then doing the interview. We just want to make sure that we get the right happy people to work for them.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Joe’s Crab Shack Server: To get the job at Joe’s Crab Shack it’s really easy. Just go in there and be happy and just be willing to learn everything, because it’s a learning process. It’s different from serving jobs because you have to be more enthusiastic. You have to want to be there. You definitely can’t have a bad day there because it reflects a lot. Just go in there and just tell them why you want to work there. Let them know that you can dance and you’re willing to dance. It’s dying out and they’re seeking for people. If you’re bilingual, let them know. It’s the first thing.
Jade says:
I just had an interview yesterday morning…on a sunday. The interviewer was pretty friendly and made it clear that dancing is a requirement, actually a contract that must be signed if hired that you will dance every 45 minutes while working. She asked about previous employment, pros and cons of that job. Gave me the menu and told me to study one item and i had 5 minutes to pretend she was a customer and market that item. My advise to you is to look smart, act excited, do a little research on the company so you have before hand information about the place. Dont forget tobe friendly, make eye contact at all times and oh….they are looking for high energy people.
Milano millien says:
I’ve worked at a few restaurants before , but there’s nothing like working at Joe’s. It’s about having fun and making money. I learned with this type of job you must be ready, fast on your feet and love to have a fun. You should also be consistently pleasant, smart, and know how to work as a team.
deborah says:
I have an interview for the first time in my life as a dishwasher. What questions should I expect to here from them?
Corrine says:
They’ll ask if you like to dance and sing, how you will make a guest feel welcome if they’ve never been to joes, how you’ll promote the company, etc.