Food Service Manager Mock Interview
Master 30 Food Service Manager interview questions covering operations, staff leadership, and health compliance.
Question 22 of 30
Have you ever broken company rules to make a customer happy?
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Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"As a student, I have been known to bend a rule or two in projects, with the permission of my professor. When it comes to a retail or food service industry, I believe it's important to cater to a client in every way possible, so long as it is not harmful to the company. Certain rules do not necessarily work for some customers, as they do for others. I understand that your organization operates with a similar mentality. Could you share with me your approach to customer service and bending the rules to make them happy?"
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
Breaking the rules, and bending them, can be different from each other. Often, service-based businesses are okay with you bending the rules to keep a customer happy. You need to know your audience, though! If the company is very stringent when it comes to their policies and procedures, then approach this question with caution. If the organization is well known for being flexible on behalf of its customers, then you can be more free with your answer. Most of all, as a Food Service Manager, it's essential that you show the interviewer you will be a positive example for your team.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"In the store where I currently work, there is very little flexibility when it comes to rules and policy. If a customer is unhappy with the return policy, for instance, they have to go directly to our corporate office. I do not have autonomy at the store level, which is something with which I disagree. Now, having zero regard for rules can be detrimental as well. I know that your company offers a great happy medium between the two, which I certainly respect. I will lead my team to make decisions that are best for the company and good for the customer at the same time."
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Anonymous Answer
Not before running it by my boss first. Sometimes it is necessary to break expectations to get people to eat. Especially in health care where people are healing.
Marcie's Feedback
Can you explain further what you meant by saying that it's sometimes necessary to break expectations to get people to eat? Can you provide some supporting examples? Make sure to show the interviewer that while you always strive to abide by all rules, you go above and beyond to exceed customer expectations. Good job!
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