Why do you want to work in hospitality?

What the interviewer listens for. Enjoys people and a fast pace: You say you like busy work and serving people. Gives a real moment: You share one moment you enjoyed and say you want to learn. How to answer. 1. You like busy work and people. 2. One moment you enjoyed. 3. You want to learn.

What experience do you have in a cafe, restaurant or bar?

What the interviewer listens for. Names tasks you can do now: You say where you worked and the tasks you did, like coffee, tables or the register. Names one thing you got good at: You name one thing you got good at in that job. How to answer. 1. The place. 2. Your tasks (coffee, tables, register, kitchen). 3. One thing you got good at.

A customer says their food is cold. What do you do?

What the interviewer listens for. Apologises: You say sorry to the customer. Fixes it quickly: You offer to replace the food straight away. Tells the kitchen and checks back: You tell the kitchen and the manager, then check back with the customer. How to answer. 1. Apologise. 2. Offer to replace it straight away. 3. Tell the kitchen and the manager. 4. Check back.

Tell me about a very busy service you worked.

What the interviewer listens for. Stays calm: You show you kept calm when it was very busy. Sets priorities: You say what you did first and why. Helps the team: You say how you helped the rest of the team. How to answer. 1. How busy it was. 2. What you did first. 3. How you helped the team. 4. How it ended.

A customer looks drunk and asks for another drink. What would you do?

What the interviewer listens for. Refuses politely: You say no to more alcohol in a polite way. Offers water or food: You offer the customer water or food. Follows responsible service of alcohol: You tell the manager and follow your RSA training. How to answer. 1. Refuse politely. 2. Offer water or food. 3. Tell the manager. 4. Follow your RSA training.

Tell me about a time you worked well with a team under pressure.

What the interviewer listens for. Works well with the team: You say what your part was and how you supported others. Copes under pressure: You show how you stayed calm and kept working when it was hard. How to answer. 1. The situation, in one sentence. 2. Your task. 3. What you did, step by step, with I. 4. The result and what you learned.

How do you keep food safe?

What the interviewer listens for. Knows hygiene: You say you wash your hands and keep raw and cooked food apart. Knows safe temperatures: You say cold food stays at 5°C or below and hot food at 60°C or above. Labels allergens: You say you label allergens. How to answer. 1. Wash hands. 2. Keep cold food at 5°C or below and hot food at 60°C or above. 3. Keep raw and cooked food apart. 4. Label allergens.

A customer tells you they have a nut allergy. What do you do?

What the interviewer listens for. Takes it seriously: You write the allergy on the order and tell the chef in person. Never guesses: You check every item and never guess. How to answer. 1. Write it on the order. 2. Tell the chef in person. 3. Check every item. 4. Never guess.

Can you make coffee? What do you know about our menu?

What the interviewer listens for. Gives an honest skill level: You say honestly what coffee you can make. Has looked at the menu: You show you looked at the menu and name one dish you liked. How to answer. 1. Say what you can make. 2. You looked at the menu and liked one dish. 3. You are keen to learn.

What certificates do you have?

What the interviewer listens for. Names your RSA for this state: You say if you hold RSA for this state. Names other certificates: You list food handling and any barista course, and where you did them. How to answer. 1. List them. 2. Where you did them.

What are your work rights, and can you work nights, weekends and public holidays?

What the interviewer listens for. Shows you can work legally: You name your visa and say clearly what work it allows. Shows flexible shifts: You say which night, weekend and holiday shifts you can do and when you can start. How to answer. 1. Your visa and what it allows, using the current rule. 2. Your shifts. 3. Your start date. Check the current rule for your visa on the Home Affairs website before the interview.

Hospitality interview questions and answers

11 questions cafes, restaurants and bars ask, what they want to hear, and a free way to practise each one out loud.

Practise these questions

By Thanh Tran, PTE and IELTS coach
Updated October 2026

The 11 questions, and how to answer

Answer each “tell me about a time” question with the STAR method: the Situation, your Task, the Action you took and the Result.

Why do you want to work in hospitality?
About you
What the interviewer listens for
- Enjoys people and a fast pace. You say you like busy work and serving people.
- Gives a real moment. You share one moment you enjoyed and say you want to learn.
How to answer
1. You like busy work and people
2. One moment you enjoyed
3. You want to learn
Practise this question out loud
What experience do you have in a cafe, restaurant or bar?
Skills and checks
What the interviewer listens for
- Names tasks you can do now. You say where you worked and the tasks you did, like coffee, tables or the register.
- Names one thing you got good at. You name one thing you got good at in that job.
How to answer
1. The place
2. Your tasks (coffee, tables, register, kitchen)
3. One thing you got good at
Practise this question out loud
A customer says their food is cold. What do you do?
What would you do
What the interviewer listens for
- Apologises. You say sorry to the customer.
- Fixes it quickly. You offer to replace the food straight away.
- Tells the kitchen and checks back. You tell the kitchen and the manager, then check back with the customer.
How to answer
1. Apologise
2. Offer to replace it straight away
3. Tell the kitchen and the manager
4. Check back
Practise this question out loud
Tell me about a very busy service you worked.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Stays calm. You show you kept calm when it was very busy.
- Sets priorities. You say what you did first and why.
- Helps the team. You say how you helped the rest of the team.
How to answer
1. How busy it was
2. What you did first
3. How you helped the team
4. How it ended
Tell it as one real example with the STAR method.
Practise this question out loud
A customer looks drunk and asks for another drink. What would you do?
What would you do
What the interviewer listens for
- Refuses politely. You say no to more alcohol in a polite way.
- Offers water or food. You offer the customer water or food.
- Follows responsible service of alcohol. You tell the manager and follow your RSA training.
How to answer
1. Refuse politely
2. Offer water or food
3. Tell the manager
4. Follow your RSA training
Practise this question out loud
Tell me about a time you worked well with a team under pressure.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Works well with the team. You say what your part was and how you supported others.
- Copes under pressure. You show how you stayed calm and kept working when it was hard.
How to answer
1. The situation, in one sentence
2. Your task
3. What you did, step by step, with I
4. The result and what you learned
Tell it as one real example with the STAR method.
Practise this question out loud
How do you keep food safe?
What you know
What the interviewer listens for
- Knows hygiene. You say you wash your hands and keep raw and cooked food apart.
- Knows safe temperatures. You say cold food stays at 5°C or below and hot food at 60°C or above.
- Labels allergens. You say you label allergens.
How to answer
1. Wash hands
2. Keep cold food at 5°C or below and hot food at 60°C or above
3. Keep raw and cooked food apart
4. Label allergens
Practise this question out loud
A customer tells you they have a nut allergy. What do you do?
What would you do
What the interviewer listens for
- Takes it seriously. You write the allergy on the order and tell the chef in person.
- Never guesses. You check every item and never guess.
How to answer
1. Write it on the order
2. Tell the chef in person
3. Check every item
4. Never guess
Practise this question out loud
Can you make coffee? What do you know about our menu?
Skills and checks
What the interviewer listens for
- Gives an honest skill level. You say honestly what coffee you can make.
- Has looked at the menu. You show you looked at the menu and name one dish you liked.
How to answer
1. Say what you can make
2. You looked at the menu and liked one dish
3. You are keen to learn
Practise this question out loud
What certificates do you have?
Skills and checks
What the interviewer listens for
- Names your RSA for this state. You say if you hold RSA for this state.
- Names other certificates. You list food handling and any barista course, and where you did them.
How to answer
1. List them
2. Where you did them
Practise this question out loud
What are your work rights, and can you work nights, weekends and public holidays?
Work rights and hours
What the interviewer listens for
- Shows you can work legally. You name your visa and say clearly what work it allows.
- Shows flexible shifts. You say which night, weekend and holiday shifts you can do and when you can start.
How to answer
1. Your visa and what it allows, using the current rule
2. Your shifts
3. Your start date
Check the current rule for your visa on the Home Affairs website before the interview.
Practise this question out loud

These are practice questions and answer outlines, not legal, visa or career advice. For work rights, check the current rules on the Home Affairs website. Student visa conditions on the Home Affairs website.

Questions for other jobs

Many questions repeat from job to job. Practise the common ones too.

More for your job search

Common questions

What questions are asked in a hospitality interview?

Why you want to work in hospitality, what you have done before, what you would do when food is wrong or a customer has an allergy, how you handle a busy service, and which shifts you can work.

What do I say if I cannot make coffee?

Be honest. Say what you can make, that you looked at their menu, and that you are keen to learn. Managers prefer honesty to a skill you do not have.

What is an RSA?

Responsible Service of Alcohol. You need it to serve alcohol in Australia, and each state runs its own course, so check your state's rules before you apply.

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