| I owned a European-style gourmet cafe and catering | | | | quick judgment. If there is only a small amount of |
| business for many years, where service levels, and | | | | smoke, then I would expect them to determine if they |
| safety and security considerations were extremely | | | | can put the fire out right away. If there is a large |
| important to me. | | | | amount of smoke, then I would expect them to |
| I had a steady stream of job applicants, some with | | | | evacuate the cafe immediately, and call the fire |
| prior experience, and some without. It was important to | | | | service. I would expect them to address: |
| me to learn how candidates would perform in | | | | - The cause of the smoke, and the extent to which it |
| emergency situations, because I knew that everything | | | | is controllable or uncontrollable |
| else could be learned from routine procedures. | | | | - Under what circumstances should the cafe be |
| The interview began with me asking the candidate to | | | | evacuated or not |
| give a one minute overview of themselves, so to | | | | - When to call the fire service |
| become comfortable talking. Then the interview would | | | | - How to use the fire extinguisher |
| really start. The candidates came prepared for | | | | - How to take care of concerned customers |
| questions about their prior jobs. They were somewhat | | | | Question 3: |
| surprised that I asked three questions about the future | | | | "The cafe is moderately busy on the inside and you |
| only, and not the past. | | | | are behind the cash register. All of a sudden, someone |
| Question 1: | | | | walks right up to you and asks for the money in the |
| "The cafe is moderately busy on the inside and you | | | | register. What would you do?" |
| are behind the cash register. All of a sudden, one of | | | | If the candidate didn't answer with "give them the |
| the customers collapses. What would you do?" | | | | money," or something to that effect right away, then it |
| The essence of this question is to determine how the | | | | didn't matter what their answers were to the first two |
| candidate would handle a medical emergency. I would | | | | questions. Also, it didn't matter how otherwise desirable |
| expect them to: | | | | they may be - they were not hired. |
| - Examine the seriousness of the situation immediately, | | | | In some cases I was asked if the perpetrator had a |
| and call for medical assistance if in doubt | | | | gun or a knife, to which I told them that they wouldn't |
| - Ask if there is a doctor on the premises or near by | | | | necessarily know. Asking that question automatically |
| - Ask the customer what help they need if they are | | | | eliminated the candidate. I was concerned that in a live |
| conscious | | | | situation they would hesitate before acting, making the |
| - Provide bandages if the customer is wounded | | | | perpetrator nervous and unpredictable. |
| - Avoid moving the customer if they are unconscious | | | | I passed on some otherwise good candidates who |
| - Ensure that others keep away from the scene so as | | | | could not answer these questions to my satisfaction. |
| to give the customer privacy | | | | However, when considering the liabilities of a |
| - Understand the dangers of giving unqualified first-aid | | | | restauranteur, safety and security are paramount - |
| Question 2: | | | | dead employees and customers are not good for |
| "The cafe is moderately busy on the inside and you | | | | business. |
| are behind the cash register. All of a sudden, you | | | | When hiring employees it is useful to understand their |
| detect smoke. What would you do?" | | | | individual competencies and personal style |
| The essence of this question is to determine how the | | | | characteristics, in addition to your own. |
| candidate would handle a potential crisis, and apply | | | | |