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How to source and shortlist {role_name}

Hiring guide

About {role_name}

Job description

Source and shortlist candidates

Structured interview

Progression and salary

Where can you find qualified {role_name}?

Waiters are commonly sourced from hospitality networks, training institutes, and regional job platforms. The goal is to target both experienced professionals and entry-level candidates passionate about customer service.

  • Professional Networks
    • LinkedIn – Search with filters like “Waiter,” “Server,” or “Dining Staff” within the hospitality industry.
    • Indeed – Use sponsored listings to reach large applicant pools.
    • Glassdoor – Ideal for highlighting work culture and employer brand.
    • Culinary Agents – Specialized in restaurant and hospitality talent.
    • Hosco – Global network for hotel, restaurant, and tourism professionals.
  • Educational Institutions
    • Target hospitality schools and hotel management programs for entry-level hires:
      • India: Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Oberoi Centre for Learning and Development, Amity School of Hospitality
      • UAE: Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, HTMi Dubai
      • US: Cornell School of Hotel Administration, Johnson & Wales University
      • Europe: Glion Institute of Higher Education, Les Roches
      • Most institutions have placement cells or alumni networks that support job postings for hospitality roles.
  • Company Career Pages
    • Leverage your own brand page for organic reach.
      Example:
    • “Join our hospitality team — where passion meets professionalism. Apply now at [companywebsite.com/careers].”
    • Integrate your ATS (Applicant Tracking System) to accept resumes directly and filter them by experience and location.
  • Role-Specific Job Boards
    • Poached Jobs – Hospitality-specific roles.
    • CatererGlobal – Leading portal for Middle East & Asia hospitality jobs.
    • HCareers – Focused on hotels, restaurants, and F&B staffing.
    • BarCats – Ideal for waiters, bartenders, and restaurant staff roles.
    • Seasoned.co – Restaurant and service industry jobs (US-based).
  • Geography-Specific Job Boards

What are the best practices for headhunting {role_name}?

  • Target Alumni and Certified Professionals‍
    • Look for candidates with hospitality diplomas or certifications in food service or customer care.
  • Search by Hospitality Keywords‍
    • Use Boolean searches on LinkedIn
      • ("Waiter" OR "Server" OR "Dining Staff") AND ("Restaurant" OR "Hotel" OR "Banquet") AND ("Customer Service" OR "Hospitality")
  • Leverage Referrals‍
    • Ask current employees for referrals — they often know reliable peers from previous hotels or restaurants.
  • Engage via WhatsApp / SMS‍
    • Quick communication gets higher response rates for frontline roles.‍
  • Highlight Benefits‍
    • Mention tips, meals, accommodation, and incentives — these attract quality candidates faster.

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How to shortlist candidates?

Once you have started to get applications from applicants, a thorough screening process and shortlisting of prospects will help you make the most of your time spent with the most qualified ones. 

Automated shortlisting tools :

Automated screening quickly filters out unqualified candidates, saving time for manual review. This allows the manual process to focus on the most promising candidates, ensuring the best ones are considered for further evaluation.

Screening questions to auto-shortlist based on predefined criteria

like qualifications, location, experience, and skills. Either use job board or use an ATS such as whitecarrot. Here are some questions for {role_name}

  • “How many years of experience do you have as a waiter or server?”
    • Auto-reject if less than 6 months (for mid-level roles).
  • “Have you worked in a restaurant, hotel, or event service before?”
    • Auto-reject if No (for experienced-hire roles).
  • “Are you currently located in [City/Region] or willing to relocate?”
    • Auto-reject if answer is No and relocation not possible.
  • “Are you available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays?”
    • Auto-reject if answer is No.

Skill based question to auto shortlist candidate

Analyze the skill test data to automatically shortlist top-performing applicants. (recommended screening test time - 15 minutes). Here are some skill test questions for {role_name}

Customer Service

Ability to manage guest interactions and ensure satisfaction.

  1. A guest complains their soup is cold. What should you do first?
    • a) Ignore and walk away
    • b) Blame the kitchen
    • ✅ c) Apologize and offer to replace it immediately
    • d) Offer a discount without consulting the manager
  2. A table is waiting for service during rush hour. What’s your best action?
    • a) Serve another table first
    • ✅ b) Acknowledge them and inform you’ll be there shortly
    • c) Wait until they call you
    • d) Delegate to someone else
  3. What defines great customer service?
    • a) Fast service only
    • ✅ b) Timely, friendly, and attentive interactions
    • c) Minimal conversation
    • d) Expensive menu

Food & Menu Knowledge

Understanding of menu items, ingredients, and presentation.

  1. What is the main purpose of knowing the menu well?
    • ✅ a) To guide and recommend dishes to guests
    • b) To memorize prices only
    • c) To impress customers with jargon
    • d) To avoid questions
  2. A guest asks for an allergen-free dish. What should you do?
    • a) Guess ingredient
    • ✅ b) Check with the kitchen and confirm before serving
    • c) Decline service
    • d) Ignore concern
  3. What’s the best way to upsell?
    • a) Force guests to order high-value items
    • ✅ b) Suggest suitable add-ons naturally (e.g., “Would you like a dessert with that?”)
    • c) Skip asking
    • d) Recommend cheapest item

Cash Handling & POS

Accuracy in billing, payments, and record maintenance.

  1. A guest gives you $50 for a $35 bill. What is the correct change?
    • ✅ a) $15
    • b) $10
    • c) $5
    • d) $20
  2. What is the first step before closing a bill?
    • ✅ a) Verify all items and applicable taxes
    • b) Ask for tips
    • c) Print bill immediately
    • d) Skip checking totals
  3. Why is accuracy in billing important?
    • ✅ a) Builds trust and prevents disputes
    • b) Saves printing paper
    • c) Reduces interaction
    • d) Impresses the manager

Note - Auto reject candidates if scores less than 70% in this section

One way video interview

Recruitment Bullet

Use tools like hirevue, whitecarrot.io to ask candidates pre-recorded questions about their experience and skills.

Recruitment Bullet

Use sample question given in scorecard.

Collect other information 

Recruitment Bullet

Collect data from shortlisted candidates, such as salary expectations and visa status.

"Shortlist in Seconds" – Use our CV scoring feature to get top candidate recommendation

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Manual candidate profile shortlisting:

Recruitment Bullet

Thoroughly review the CVs of the top scoring candidates from the automated process

Recruitment Bullet

Look for evidence of the required skills, experience, and achievements

Recruitment Bullet

Review the candidate’s portfolio or GitHub repositories to see examples of their work.

Schedule recruiter calls with the candidate

Recruitment Bullet

Use a tool like calendly or whitecarrot to allow candidates to self-schedule calls based on your availability

Recruitment Bullet

Confirm the call details (date, time, dial-in info) with the candidate via email

What questions to ask in the recruiter phone screen?

Recruitment Bullet

 Use scorecard for rating candidates for recruiter

Recruitment Bullet

Sample scorecard : 

Criteria Sample Question Rating (1–5) Comments
Customer Interaction “How do you handle a guest complaint?”
Food Knowledge “Can you explain a dish from our menu?”
Communication & Attitude “Describe how you greet a new table.”
Team Collaboration “How do you support your coworkers during peak time?”
Problem Solving “Tell me about a stressful day and how you handled it.”
Recruitment Bullet

Check for consistency in responses from the candidates.

Recruitment Bullet

Record such scorecards in an ATS like whitecarrot or use google doc

Frequently Asked Questions?

What are the most common skills to look for in a Waiter?

Look for customer service, communication, menu knowledge, and multitasking. Candidates should demonstrate politeness, attention to detail, and a sense of urgency during busy shifts.

How do I keep Waiter candidates engaged during sourcing and shortlisting?

- Respond quickly to applications (within 48 hours). - Send personalized thank-you notes after interviews. - Highlight benefits such as tips, free meals, and flexible shifts. - Keep communication friendly and concise — hospitality candidates value personal touch.

How can I assess cultural fit during the shortlisting process?

Ask scenario-based questions that reveal attitude and teamwork, like: “If a colleague drops an order during service, what would you do?” Candidates who emphasize helping, staying calm, and teamwork often fit best in service-driven cultures.

Hiring guide

About {role_name}

Job description

Source and shortlist candidates

Structured interview

Progression and salary