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Role guide

Chef interview preparation

Updated 23 August 2026

Only Chefs describes a chef interview as commonly combining a tasting or practical component with a sit-down discussion, although this comes from one specialist recruiter and employer formats vary. House of Lords recruitment provides separate named-employer examples of application assessment and, for some roles, telephone screening; the evidence does not establish that these examples apply specifically to chef vacancies. This guide covers those examples and a focused preparation plan.

01

How the interview usually works

Only Chefs provides one specialist recruiter's description of a common chef interview format. The House of Lords examples concern that employer's recruitment process generally and do not establish a chef-specific process.

  1. Application assessment at the House of Lords

    Application review

    Depends on the employer

    For House of Lords recruitment, the process can begin with assessment of a CV, supporting statement or online application against the job criteria. The evidence does not identify this as a chef-specific stage.

    What they assess

    • Evidence against the job criteria

    How to prepare

    • Read the vacancy criteria closely.
    • Check that each application claim is accurate and supported by a specific example.
    • Keep the facts in your application consistent with the examples you prepare for interview.

  2. Telephone screening for some House of Lords roles

    Telephone screening

    Up to 30 minutes

    Depends on the employer

    Some House of Lords roles use an initial telephone screening focused on skills, experience and role requirements.

    What they assess

    • Skills
    • Experience
    • Role requirements

    How to prepare

    • Keep the vacancy details and your application nearby.
    • Choose concise, truthful examples that make your personal contribution clear.
    • Prepare a quiet place and confirm the call arrangements.

  3. Practical component and sit-down discussion

    Tasting or practical component with a sit-down discussion

    Common

    Only Chefs describes a chef interview as commonly combining a tasting or practical component with a sit-down discussion.

    What they assess

      How to prepare

      • Ask the named contact about the practical arrangements if the invitation is unclear.
      • Review the vacancy and select truthful examples for the discussion.
      • Practise explaining your decisions, personal actions, result and learning without memorising a script.

    House of Lords recruitment

    The process can begin with a CV, supporting statement or online application assessed against the job criteria. The evidence does not establish that this applies specifically to chef vacancies.

    Some House of Lords roles

    An initial telephone screening of up to 30 minutes may focus on skills, experience and role requirements.

    02

    Your preparation plan

    Start with the vacancy rather than trying to predict every question. Review the claims in your Chef CV, then choose a small set of truthful examples that you can explain clearly.

    For UK Chef applicants, useful evidence may include monitoring stock, inspecting deliveries, storing food correctly and helping to minimise waste. You might also prepare examples of cooking dishes to specification, plating consistently and communicating with the kitchen brigade and front of house during service. Chef responsibilities change with seniority, so keep each example at the level of the vacancy. Depending on seniority and kitchen structure, relevant experience may include supporting or training junior colleagues and coordinating across kitchen and service teams.

    If the vacancy is for a kitchen assistant rather than a chef, use the Kitchen Assistant Interview Preparation Guide to prepare for the closer role.

    The week before

    • Read the job description and mark the criteria your examples need to address.
    • Check that the experience in your Chef CV is accurate and consistent with what you plan to say.
    • For a UK Chef application, choose a truthful example involving stock, deliveries, food storage or waste if it fits your experience.
    • For a UK Chef application, prepare an example involving cooking to specification, consistent plating or communication during service if relevant.
    • Match any leadership example to the vacancy's seniority and your actual responsibilities.

    The day before

    • Practise concise answers covering the situation, your actions, the result and what you learnt.
    • Confirm the location, start time, contact details and any stated practical arrangements.
    • If your interview is remote, test your connection, camera and microphone.

    On the day

    • Bring only permitted notes and any documents requested in the invitation.
    • Listen to each question, pause briefly and use a specific example rather than a rehearsed general answer.
    • Ask the named contact for clarification if an instruction or practical arrangement is unclear.
    03

    What interviewers look for

    Stock and delivery control

    For UK Chef applicants, the role includes monitoring stock, inspecting deliveries, storing food correctly and helping to minimise waste.

    Evidence to prepare

    • Choose a truthful example in which you checked stock or a delivery, explain what you did and state the result.

    Cooking to specification

    During service, UK Chef applicants may need to cook dishes to specification.

    Evidence to prepare

    • Recall a service where you followed a dish specification and explain your personal actions and the outcome.

    Consistent plating

    During service, UK Chef applicants may need to plate dishes consistently.

    Evidence to prepare

    • Select an example that shows how you approached consistent plating during service and what happened.

    Kitchen and front-of-house communication

    During service, UK Chef applicants may communicate with the kitchen brigade and front of house.

    Evidence to prepare

    • Prepare an example of communicating with kitchen or front-of-house colleagues during service, including your actions and the result.

    Supporting junior colleagues

    Depending on seniority and kitchen structure, chefs may support and train junior team members.

    Evidence to prepare

    • If relevant to your seniority, choose a truthful example of supporting or training a junior colleague and explain what you learnt.
    04

    Questions you should be ready for

    Use the answer plans as prompts, not scripts. Your examples should sound like you.

    Stock, deliveries and storage

    Use these questions to practise concise, evidence-based answers.

    Tell me about a time you monitored stock or inspected a delivery.

    What they want to learn: The interviewer is looking for a clear account of your relevant experience and reasoning.

    Answer plan

    • Answer the question directly before adding context.
    • Choose one truthful example from your own experience.
    • Describe your personal actions and reasoning.
    • Finish with the result and what you learned.

    Evidence to use: Choose a truthful example from your own experience that directly answers this question.

    Avoid

    • Giving a generic answer without a specific example.
    • Describing the team's work without making your contribution clear.
    How have you stored food correctly and helped to minimise waste?

    What they want to learn: The interviewer is looking for a clear account of your relevant experience and reasoning.

    Answer plan

    • Answer the question directly before adding context.
    • Choose one truthful example from your own experience.
    • Describe your personal actions and reasoning.
    • Finish with the result and what you learned.

    Evidence to use: Choose a truthful example from your own experience that directly answers this question.

    Avoid

    • Giving a generic answer without a specific example.
    • Describing the team's work without making your contribution clear.

    Cooking and plating during service

    Use these questions to practise concise, evidence-based answers.

    Tell me about a time you cooked dishes to specification during service.

    What they want to learn: The interviewer is looking for a clear account of your relevant experience and reasoning.

    Answer plan

    • Answer the question directly before adding context.
    • Choose one truthful example from your own experience.
    • Describe your personal actions and reasoning.
    • Finish with the result and what you learned.

    Evidence to use: Choose a truthful example from your own experience that directly answers this question.

    Avoid

    • Giving a generic answer without a specific example.
    • Describing the team's work without making your contribution clear.
    Describe a time you maintained consistent plating during service.

    What they want to learn: The interviewer is looking for a clear account of your relevant experience and reasoning.

    Answer plan

    • Answer the question directly before adding context.
    • Choose one truthful example from your own experience.
    • Describe your personal actions and reasoning.
    • Finish with the result and what you learned.

    Evidence to use: Choose a truthful example from your own experience that directly answers this question.

    Avoid

    • Giving a generic answer without a specific example.
    • Describing the team's work without making your contribution clear.

    Communication and team support

    Use these questions to practise concise, evidence-based answers.

    Tell me about a time you communicated with the kitchen brigade or front of house during service.

    What they want to learn: The interviewer is looking for a clear account of your relevant experience and reasoning.

    Answer plan

    • Answer the question directly before adding context.
    • Choose one truthful example from your own experience.
    • Describe your personal actions and reasoning.
    • Finish with the result and what you learned.

    Evidence to use: Choose a truthful example from your own experience that directly answers this question.

    Avoid

    • Giving a generic answer without a specific example.
    • Describing the team's work without making your contribution clear.
    If relevant to your seniority, tell me about a time you supported or trained a junior team member.

    What they want to learn: The interviewer is looking for a clear account of your relevant experience and reasoning.

    Answer plan

    • Answer the question directly before adding context.
    • Choose one truthful example from your own experience.
    • Describe your personal actions and reasoning.
    • Finish with the result and what you learned.

    Evidence to use: Choose a truthful example from your own experience that directly answers this question.

    Avoid

    • Giving a generic answer without a specific example.
    • Describing the team's work without making your contribution clear.
    05

    Questions to ask them

    “How is responsibility divided across the kitchen team for this role?”

    This clarifies the level of responsibility attached to the post, since chef duties can differ by seniority and workplace.

    “What quality standard would you expect the successful chef to meet?”

    This helps you understand the employer's expectations for taste, presentation and consistency.

    “What would you want the successful candidate to achieve in the first few weeks?”

    This gives you a clearer picture of the employer's immediate priorities.

    “How will the interview process proceed after today?”

    This confirms any remaining stages and when you may hear the outcome.

    “Is there anything about my experience that you would like me to explain further?”

    This gives you a chance to address an unanswered concern before the interview ends.

    06

    On the day

    In person

    • Check the location, journey and arrival instructions before leaving.
    • Bring any documents or permitted notes requested by the employer.
    • Listen to each question, pause briefly and answer with a truthful example where possible.
    • If an instruction is unclear, ask the interviewer to clarify it before proceeding.

    Remote

    • If your interview is remote, test your camera, microphone and internet connection beforehand.
    • Keep the job description and brief notes within easy reach, provided the employer permits notes.
    • Join early enough to resolve a minor technical problem without rushing.
    • Choose a quiet setting and close applications that could interrupt the call.
    07

    Common mistakes

    Assuming every chef interview follows the same format.

    Confirm the arrangements with the named contact. Only Chefs describes a tasting or practical component alongside a sit-down discussion as common, but exact employer formats vary.

    Giving broad claims without a personal example.

    Describe the situation, your own actions, the result and what you learnt.

    Preparing examples that do not match the seniority of the vacancy.

    Review the job description carefully and choose examples that reflect the responsibility level being recruited.

    Talking only about the finished food.

    When relevant, explain your own decisions and how the result met the kitchen's standard for taste, appearance and quality.

    Rushing when a question or practical instruction is unclear.

    Pause and ask for clarification before answering or beginning the task.

    08

    After the interview

    Send a short thank-you message after the interview. Refer to the role, confirm your interest and add any brief factual detail you promised to provide.

    If the employer gave a response date, wait until that date has passed before asking for an update. Keep the message polite and concise.

    09

    Frequently asked questions

    From guide to application

    Make your CV and your answers tell the same story.

    Use cvlift to tailor your CV to the role and bring the most relevant experience forward. Then use this guide to practise the examples behind it.

    Tailor my CV