FOH Hiring for People Skills

Front-of-house restaurant jobs are, by their very nature, customer-facing. A positive attitude and an ability to effectively handle customer complaints (in the moment and afterwards) are critical to kicking butt in this role.

When you're interviewing candidates for front-of-house roles, if it’s obvious an applicant isn't comfortable interacting with people — or isn't at least able to effectively put on a personable facade — then this side of the restaurant ain’t for them. 

So how do you find the right front-of-house candidates? When searching for top talent, keep your company culture at the forefront of your search. You want someone who does a good job, of course, but you also want an employee who encourages your team, makes your guests happy, works well with others, and creates consistent experiences for your guests. This means representing your restaurant's mission and values in a public-facing role. 

Ask yourself: Could you trust this candidate to do that?