’2008-06-12 21:55:16′, ‘All of us at some time or another had to begin interviewing new restaurant employees. Due to the typically high turnover in the hospitality industry you may or may not find yourself becoming proficient in the process. The down side of being a new restaurant manager in training is that many HR departments do not focus on this important aspect of the business. Below are seven areas to be very careful with to ensure you hit your one year employee anniversary as the new manager.

Safe Interviewing? (CYA Interviewing) Don’t ask questions about or make any references to: Age, religion, racial heritage (Yes there is a minimum age requirement to satisfy state and local Liquor license requirements and must be adhered to, ask if they are at least the requires age on the application if applying for those positions)

2. Languages spoken at home (if part of the job description, you can ask in what languages the candidate is fluent)

3. Family: spouse”s employment, child care, marital status, where parents were born, where the candidate was born, if family lives locally, sexual orientation

4. Home ownership, car ownership (Do you have adequate transportation to be able to work the hours scheduled is appropriate)

5. Arrest record (you may ask if candidate has ever been convicted of a felony, not if they”ve ever been arrested) Keep it on the application follow-up with all candidates with a permission form to do a background and reference check.

6. Handicaps (Assume if they are looking for a Job in the hospitality industry…)

7 . Citizenship (yet if they are not a citizen you cannot hire them)

If the candidate volunteers information on any of the above “no-no”s”, say something like “That isn”t information I need for this interview” and move on to safer territory. Do keep questions open-ended and job-related and ask all candidates the same basic questions.  For some cool interview questions to break up the interview boredom check out this list of 7 from bnet.com We will be spending alot more time on hospitality employees and hiring the best staff. Restaurant managers need to be the best to find the best. Have a great shift’, ‘

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