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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask if anyone works in a chippy and if so what sort of questions to expect at an interview?

13 replies

Cocolepew · 01/09/2018 18:34

DD is 16 and, has an interview on Monday. This is only her second one, the first was for a toy shop. Feedback was her interview was good but she was nervous Confused.
Any tips will be gratefully received Smile

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TSSDNCOP · 01/09/2018 18:40

Can she add in her head?

What would she do to manage a queue if people are waiting for specific things to be cooked?

Can she serve a pickled egg without going Envy

AnalUnicorn · 01/09/2018 18:43

Can she talk about how she’s good at timekeeping, likes talking to people, enjoys cooking and appreciates the importance of hygiene standards? If she did some research on hygiene and commercial food preparation before the interview then that would show that she is serious.

Cocolepew · 01/09/2018 18:44

She's crap at maths unfortunately.
She only heard about pickled eggs other day and was horrified Grin

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CoughLaughFart · 01/09/2018 18:46

‘Can you fry chips?’ might come up.

Sparklesocks · 01/09/2018 18:49

I reckon stuff about staying calm and not flappy when the queue is big, maybe hypothetical scenarios about how she’d handle a complaint?

sirmione16 · 01/09/2018 18:54

Any good employer knows that for a job where you can teach the skill or train someone up within reasonable time is about identifying a person with the best attitude - just ensure she has a sunny disposition, comes across as willing to learn/work and can hold good conversation using examples of what she's done in the past or what she's doing at school. She's 16, they won't be expecting much apart from a good personality as it's customer service based.

Also handy if she's clued up a little on food hygiene though, does she know what a blue chopping board vs white chopping board is used for? Does she know any allergy information about what some products may contain? Does she know about cross contamination?

Best of luck!

Cocolepew · 01/09/2018 18:57

Thanks everyone this all helps Smile

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viques · 01/09/2018 19:01

Is she ok handling raw fish? A lot of people aren't! Lots of chippies do split hours, does she live close enough to be ok with this, and with getting home after an evening shift.

HopelessWanderer · 01/09/2018 20:04

I don't think it'll be that in depth of an interview.

Any experience in customer facing roles would be good, even if voluntary. So customer service. The ability to multitask and recall information given. Knowing the importance of hygiene, appearance, cleaning up after oneself, not being afraid to muck in, deal with say fish orders, washing up, making sure she maintains cleanliness where possible. Flexibility for shifts would look good, willing to work extra if required.

An eagerness to learn new skills if this is a first time in such an environment. Ability to work as part of a team, but also by herself, along with having no trouble taking orders from senior staff. Being proactive so making sure areas are clean, anything they're low on, say salt is running low, or she notices the mushy peas are low, either rectifying herself where possible or advising someone more senior.

Basic interviews ask for what you've done so far, what interests you in the job, awareness of basic hygiene & food prep, possibly 3 good traits she has, 3 bad traits. Then maybe a scenario involving a feisty customer, what would she do. Even though computerised, they may ask some basic maths questions. So if the bill came to £3.50, they paid with £5, how much change.

I would add in vigilance when it comes to money and notes in case of counterfeits.

Hope she gets on well.

Jeanclaudejackety · 01/09/2018 20:10

She'll need to be confident enough to be assertive and chatty with customers. Can she shout NEXT PLEASE over a busy full loud shop full of customers? Can she hold a brief small talk conversation without staring at her hands and looking like she wants the ground to swallow her, pretend to be interested in what an 85yr old lady has to tell her about her day? (lol)

Also basic food hygiene, hand washing and stuff. Would she be confident enough to fully check with a manager about allergens and relay it to a customer?

Basically they'll want her to be able to introduce herself, speak confidently with eye contact, be personable, someone that can keep up in a busy loud environment, turn up on time and not back out of shifts last minute, specific skills won't matter.

Cocolepew · 03/09/2018 17:51

She phoned and cancelled her interview Hmm.
Thanks for the replies anyway Smile

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Jeanclaudejackety · 03/09/2018 17:59

Oh that's a shame!!! Was she just not feeling confident? I know it's really cliche but one of my friends was struggling in sixth form to find a job as the rest of the friendship group had one, she ended up volunteering at an animal shelter for about 6 months every weekend and her confident absolutely shot up she was a changed woman!! The mix of having responsibility, having to speak to people from different walks of life and having to be a bit of an adult whilst she was there really helped her. She's a nurse now and extremely assertive

Cocolepew · 03/09/2018 18:59

It was her first day at college today and I think it was too overwhelming for her!
Shes putting herself under pressure to get a job.

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