TGI Friday’s Interview Questions & Tips

Entry-Level and Managerial Restaurant Jobs Available

TGI Friday's screens candidates to fill server, bartender, cook, host, busser, dishwasher and management positions at roughly 990 locations worldwide. Job seekers request employment online or in-person at their TGI Friday's of choice. Hiring managers typically contact eligible applicants within a few days of employment requisition to schedule onsite interviews. Depending on the location, hiring processes differ for both entry-level and managerial positions. While corporately owned TGI Friday's locations may conduct intensive interview processes, franchise-owned restaurants administer interviews in a more laidback fashion. Entry-level applicants should expect at least one interview with hiring staff while upper-level candidates often participate in several rounds of interviews with recruitment officials.

How to Prepare for the Interview

The international restaurant chain screens for friendly, helpful, and team-oriented associates. TGI Friday's typically handles numerous applicants for each opening and job hopefuls improve chances of hire by preparing for the interview. Applicants should review resumes prior to the job interview and recall helpful examples of customer service experience and relevant skills for the position desired. Potential associates should also conduct some investigatory research of TGI Friday's history, values, and menu items to better respond to company related inquiries.

Typical Interview Questions

On the day of the TGI Friday's interview, entry-level candidates should arrive punctually, dressed in business-casual attire. Applicants with well-kempt and neatly groomed exteriors make good first impressions. TGI Friday's applicants respond to questions like:

• "How much experience do you have in the food service industry?"
• "What would you do if a customer complained about their food?"

Interviewers may also ask more personable questions like:

• "Who is your favorite superhero, and why?"
• "What does TGI Friday's mean to you?"

Candidates should keep answers customer focused, while demonstrating affable and caring qualities during the TGI Friday's hiring process. Some locations require back-to-back interviews with server or kitchen managers, and general managers typically make the final decision after a brief discussion with the applicant. Remain positive and consistent throughout each meeting, and thank managers for their time at the end of conversations.

Managerial Interviews

Potential TGI Friday's managers should arrive early to the job interview, dressed in business-professional attire. Managerial candidates may meet with human resources, the director of operations, or other corporate higher-ups before securing a job offer from TGI Friday's hiring staff. Managerial applicants field a litany of questions about the restaurant industry and should arrive well-versed in both kitchen and dining room cleanliness standards and safety precautions. Candidates also discuss customer related scenarios, P&L management, and leadership aptitude during TGI Friday's hiring sessions. Applicants should refer to relevant examples from past management experience when given the opportunity, showing command of the necessary job skills.

Following Through with the Hiring Process

Some TGI Friday's interviews end with on-the-spot job offers. Other candidates wait several days or weeks before hearing back from hiring staff. If possible, ask when to expect a decision and inquire the interviewer's preferred method of follow-up. The TGI Friday's interview process may also include personality tests and criminal background checks. Express gratitude for the opportunity to work at TGI Friday's and remain patient during the sometimes extensive hiring process.

TGI Friday’s Server Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
TGI Friday’s Server: Okay, job title was a server and some of the duties that I had was serving guests obviously, taking their orders, make sure you check back on them after they have received their food to make sure everything’s okay and if it’s not okay, contact a manager and get it comped. That’s short for compensated I think. Anyways, and then you have to bring your own change and keep track of your tip share that you give out and then also try to pre-bus your tables so that the bussers don’t have so much to do and that way you can turn your tables which means to get them all clean and have someone sat again. Yeah, definitely try to clean up your tables beforehand and like I said the in-between duties would be helping other servers, refilling sauces and I totally forgot the number one thing. Running your food which means taking your foot out to your actual guests and also helping other servers do that with their food. Because at the end of the day, you can get your food tickets counted up and it counts towards how well of an employee you are and what sections you get. Like, the good ones.

Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
TGI Friday’s Server: Well, there was usually on weekdays a team of fifteen people and then you would have your key holders which was managers there but some days they would just be your co-workers like servers on any other day. Anyways, on weekdays it would be like fifteen team members and on weekends when it was a lot busier they would call in twenty people to serve and everyone would just kind of pull their weight and we also had bussers that would help do things like seat people if the hostesses were too busy helping the servers so it was kind of just like a help everyone kind of thing.

Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
TGI Friday’s Server: Well, when I was a server I would come in, clock in, check with the hostess stand what tables I was assigned and then from there, wait until I got sat which means when the hosted brings people over to your table and then drink order, time of dining…pace of dining, that’s what they call it. Appetizers, entrée, ask if they want dessert. Try to up-sell them so you get more tip and then in between just try to help other servers with drinks or refilling foods like any of the sauces and at the end of the day just tip share out and then you get to leave with money.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
TGI Friday’s Server: The first was with the hiring manager. I walked in and met him that day and he gave me an impromptu interview right there and then when I passed that I went on to the proprietor of the business and then he sat down and had the formal interview with me and then that’s how I got hired.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
TGI Friday’s Server: The first hiring manager asked me “What stands out about this business?” And I guess I was caught off guard because I was just thinking about questions about myself instead of “Why do you want to work here?” And so he just taught me to think about where you’re working and the importance of that.

Interviewer: Did you have to pass any tests?
TGI Friday’s Server: There was a test. There was a food test and then of course, the alcohol test because TGI has a bar so you have to know what kind of drinks they sell and all the food.

Interviewer: What should an applicant wear to the job interview?
TGI Friday’s Server: Not jeans. I definitely recommend something formal even though it is kind of a casual restaurant, the managers wear button down shirts to work every day so definitely like, business casual attire.

Interviewer: How were you notified that you received the job?
TGI Friday’s Server: I believe they called me and it probably took about a week.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
TGI Friday’s Server: Just try to do some research about TGI first and make sure you like it and definitely that.

Related Links:
TGI Friday's Application