What working hours should I outline in a Kitchen porter job description?

Date modified: 29th September 2025 | This FAQ page has been written by Pilla Founder, Liam Jones, click to email Liam directly, he reads every email.

Sommelier Interview Template

This interview template provides a structured approach to interviewing sommelier candidates. Use this guide to conduct consistent, fair interviews and objectively score responses. Use weighted scoring to get an accurate overall assessment - score each area 1-5, then calculate your final weighted score using the formula provided.

Review candidate's CV, certifications, and wine industry experience
Prepare interview room and arrange wine cellar tour if appropriate
Have scoring sheets, pen, water, and palate cleanser available
Ensure interview will not be interrupted for 60 minutes
Review current wine list, pricing structure, and food menu
Prepare wine samples for tasting assessment if conducting one
Have sommelier certifications reference guide available
Answer here
5 - Excellent: Advanced certifications (Level 2+ or equivalent) with clear passion for wine
4 - Good: Solid wine education with relevant certifications and genuine interest
3 - Average: Basic wine education but shows commitment to learning
2 - Below Average: Limited formal wine education or unclear motivation
1 - Poor: No formal wine education or poor understanding of sommelier role
Answer here
5 - Excellent: Sophisticated pairing approach with excellent understanding of flavor profiles
4 - Good: Good pairing knowledge with practical understanding of menu compatibility
3 - Average: Basic pairing knowledge but limited creative approach
2 - Below Average: Limited pairing experience or poor understanding of food compatibility
1 - Poor: No understanding of wine pairing principles
Answer here
5 - Excellent: Comprehensive wine program experience with vendor relationships and cost management
4 - Good: Good inventory management with understanding of purchasing and suppliers
3 - Average: Some inventory experience but limited program management
2 - Below Average: Limited inventory management or poor understanding of wine business
1 - Poor: No experience managing wine inventory or supplier relationships
Answer here
5 - Excellent: Excellent guest service examples with strong sales and communication skills
4 - Good: Good guest interaction skills with ability to read customer preferences
3 - Average: Basic guest service skills but adequate communication
2 - Below Average: Limited guest service experience or poor communication
1 - Poor: Cannot demonstrate guest service skills appropriate for sommelier role
Answer here
5 - Excellent: Active learning with clear knowledge sharing and team development strategies
4 - Good: Stays current with trends and shares knowledge with colleagues
3 - Average: Some professional development but limited knowledge sharing
2 - Below Average: Limited professional development or knowledge sharing
1 - Poor: No evidence of continuous learning or team development
Answer here
5 - Excellent: Comprehensive cellar management with excellent technical wine service knowledge
4 - Good: Good technical knowledge with practical cellar management experience
3 - Average: Basic technical knowledge but limited hands-on cellar experience
2 - Below Average: Limited technical wine management skills
1 - Poor: Poor understanding of wine storage and service standards
Answer here
5 - Excellent: Strong collaboration examples with excellent understanding of kitchen-wine synergy
4 - Good: Good teamwork with practical examples of kitchen collaboration
3 - Average: Basic collaboration skills with some kitchen interaction
2 - Below Average: Limited team collaboration or poor kitchen relationship
1 - Poor: Cannot work effectively with kitchen team
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5 - Excellent: Extensive training experience with clear development programs for staff
4 - Good: Good training skills with practical examples of staff development
3 - Average: Some training experience but limited systematic approach
2 - Below Average: Limited training experience or poor teaching ability
1 - Poor: Cannot demonstrate staff training capabilities
Answer here
5 - Excellent: Perfect recommendation with excellent explanation of pairing logic and alternatives
4 - Good: Good recommendation with solid pairing rationale
3 - Average: Adequate recommendation with basic pairing understanding
2 - Below Average: Poor recommendation or weak pairing logic
1 - Poor: Inappropriate recommendation or no understanding of pairing principles
Demonstrates genuine passion for wine and continuous learning
Shows excellent communication skills and ability to educate guests
Exhibits professional presentation appropriate for fine dining environment
Expresses commitment to developing restaurant's wine program
Shows understanding of wine as part of overall dining experience
Indicates availability for evening and weekend service requirements
Asks thoughtful questions about wine program goals and restaurant philosophy

Weighted scoring: Rate each area 1-5, then multiply by the decimal shown (35% = 0.35). Example: If Wine Knowledge = 4, then 4 x 0.35 = 1.4. Add all results for your final score. Maximum possible score is 5.0.

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Strong Hire - Offer position immediately
Hire - Good candidate, offer position
Maybe - Conduct wine tasting assessment or check references
Probably Not - Significant concerns, unlikely to hire
Do Not Hire - Not suitable for this role

Outline comprehensive kitchen porter working hours including flexible shift patterns covering early morning and late evening hours for complete operational support, weekend and holiday availability requirements during peak business periods, peak period coverage during busy service times ensuring adequate support, split shifts and varied schedules based on operational needs and business demands, overtime opportunities during high-volume periods for additional earning potential, and work-life balance considerations with advance scheduling notice supporting personal planning and employee welfare.

Common misunderstanding: Kitchen porter working hours are standard schedules rather than flexible patterns requiring adaptability for restaurant operations and peak service demands.

Kitchen porter positions involve flexible schedules, varied shift patterns, and operational adaptability that reflect restaurant business needs. Kitchen schedules often vary significantly whilst requiring flexibility and professional commitment to operational support.

Common misunderstanding: Flexible scheduling benefits employers rather than professional opportunity that provides diverse experience whilst building skills and career advancement in hospitality industries.

Flexible scheduling provides diverse experience, skill development, and comprehensive understanding that benefit professional advancement. Schedule variety often improves capabilities whilst ensuring comprehensive kitchen experience and career development opportunities.

How should I describe shift requirements for Kitchen porter job description working hours?

Describe typical shift duration and break provisions ensuring employee welfare and regulatory compliance, opening and closing shift responsibilities including setup and breakdown duties, weekend and holiday shift expectations during peak business periods, split shift patterns and scheduling flexibility for operational coverage, overtime availability and premium pay opportunities during busy periods, and advance notice provision for schedule planning and work-life balance supporting personal commitments and employee satisfaction.

Common misunderstanding: Opening and closing shifts are inconvenient rather than comprehensive learning opportunities that provide operational understanding whilst building career advancement skills.

Opening and closing shifts provide comprehensive learning including setup procedures, operational understanding, and responsibility development that enhance career prospects. Complete shift experience often accelerates development whilst providing valuable skills and advancement preparation.

Common misunderstanding: Split shifts create scheduling difficulties rather than operational necessity that provides flexibility whilst ensuring coverage during varying business demands.

Split shifts provide operational necessity, scheduling flexibility, and coverage assurance during varying business demands whilst accommodating employee needs. Split scheduling often improves work-life balance whilst ensuring adequate operational support.

What flexibility should I emphasise for Kitchen porter job description schedule requirements?

Emphasise adaptability to varying business demands and seasonal fluctuations requiring schedule adjustment and operational support, emergency coverage and colleague support during absences ensuring operational continuity, extra shifts during special events and busy periods for additional earning opportunities, schedule accommodation for training and development supporting professional growth, cross-shift flexibility and operational support for comprehensive experience, and advance notice for schedule changes and planning supporting work-life balance and personal commitments.

Common misunderstanding: Schedule flexibility creates work-life imbalance rather than professional opportunity that enhances experience whilst providing earning potential and career development.

Schedule flexibility enables experience diversity, earning enhancement, skill development, and career advancement whilst providing operational value. Flexible arrangements often accelerate learning whilst building comprehensive hospitality experience and professional competence.

Common misunderstanding: Emergency coverage is inconvenience rather than professional reliability that demonstrates commitment whilst building advancement opportunities and workplace value.

Emergency coverage demonstrates professional reliability, commitment, and team support that build advancement opportunities and workplace value. Reliable coverage often improves professional reputation whilst ensuring operational success and career development.

Common misunderstanding: Cross-shift experience complicates scheduling rather than professional development that provides comprehensive understanding whilst building advancement preparation and operational versatility.

Cross-shift experience provides comprehensive understanding, advancement preparation, and operational versatility that enhance career prospects. Diverse experience often accelerates development whilst ensuring professional competence and advancement readiness in hospitality careers.