Hiring Procedures May Vary
Quick-casual restaurant chain McAlister's Deli provides fast, personalized service from talented staff members. The chain conducts basic interview processes to evaluate potential associates, though exact interview processes may vary by location, as numerous franchised units allow franchise owners to control hiring practices.
During the Interview
Interviews take the form of 1:1 and last about 20 minutes. Interviewers usually keep questions simple and avoid asking tricky questions. Common questions posed in McAlister's Deli interviews include, "What is your customer service experience?" and "How do you handle an upset guest?"
Dress Appropriately
Candidates should wear appropriate attire to McAlister's Deli interviews. Current deli employees dress in simple khaki pants and knit shirts, and interviewees should dress similarly to show a fit with the company.
Interview Behavior
Though the company boasts casual dining environments, applicant should remain highly professional during interviews. Candidates should answer questions in clear and concise manners and exhibit confidence. Whenever applicable, job hopefuls should use past work experiences to help answer questions. Overall, applicants want to show desire to work with McAlister Deli.
Check on Hiring Status
After interviews, candidates may send thank-you emails or make phone calls to check on hiring statuses.
McAlister’s Deli Cashier Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
McAlister’s Deli Cashier: There is a front of house and back of house. I worked up front as a cashier, waiter, server kind of deal. They came up and ordered and paid, and then I brought the food out and got refills and everything for them, kind of a cashier/waiter mix.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
McAlister’s Deli Cashier: Busy and hectic. It was a lunch place, so most of the business was done between 11 and 1, and that’s when they do a bulk of their business on top of catering type of deals and things like that. There was a lot of work at once and then a lot of just cleaning up and breathing afterward.
Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
McAlister’s Deli Cashier: Show up about 9 … I think 9:30 or 10 was when the morning shift started, and it was getting ready, prepping things for when I got busy. Then, it was like 2 hours of chaos and everybody showing up at once, and then, it was a … from about 2 until 5, it was cleaning and restocking for night shifts and stuff.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
McAlister’s Deli Cashier: The application was your basic application questions. Have I worked anywhere before? Do I have any felonies? Have I been arrested or anything? The actual interview, I interviewed with 2 managers first, like a shift manager and then, I think, after he approved me, I met with the general manager of the store. It was just getting a feel for what kind of person you are, and based on that, I’m pretty friendly and pretty talkative and very comfortable holding conversations. So, they put me in the front of the house. I guess if someone has multi- … They ask you if you can multi-task or whatever, then they would probably put you more in the back where you can do multiple things at one time. Very standard, very just straight line. Nothing too crazy. No curve balls or anything.
Interviewer: What should an applicant wear to the interview?
McAlister’s Deli Cashier: I wore a pair of slack and a dress shirt tucked in. No suit of tie or anything, but professional. You got to dress for the job you want, right.
Interviewer: How were you notified that you received the job?
McAlister’s Deli Cashier: They told me right there to come back on a certain day, but they took my phone number down and stuff too and called to confirm to make sure that I was still going to come and in and do the interview and make sure we were still on for it.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
McAlister’s Deli Cashier: Be comfortable with talking to people, working with people. You’re rarely ever alone. You have to be comfortable with large groups of people, either coworkers or strangers. Don’t get flustered easily. Try to stay calm and try to understand that even the interview and the job are both pretty straight forward once you do it a little bit. I would say just try to your head on straight and stay calm, and it will be over soon. I think is the best advice.
