interview terroir Flashcards
Tell me about yourself.
Sure! Well I have always worked in service, since my first high school job at a bakery and then at a beer bar when I was in college. I caught the wine bug my senior year of college after going to a weekly wine tasting at my local wine shop. I landed a gig in a wine store back home in San Francisco with virtually no experience, just about legally able to drink. It’s been 3 years working in the wine retail sphere since, in which I’ve learned a ton about wine, but also how to sell wine and how to read people and their preferences. Now I’m seeking to apply those skills in a more service-oriented setting and learn more about bar and restaurant hospitality.
How did you hear about this position?
Scrolling through Instagram one day, I saw your post and it immediately captured my attention. That day, I had been pouring through job postings and not finding anything that my heart really called to. It felt like an a-ha moment of all the things I wanted in my next job.
Why do you want to work at Terroir?
I want to have fun. And that doesn’t mean I don’t also want to work really hard. I wanted my next gig to advance my skillset and continue on an ambitious path, but I didn’t quite feel like I wanted to go buy a suit to serve a bunch of Wall Street millionaires at a fancy restaurant. I was thinking, there must be a way to continue on this accelerated path of learning while also being allowed to be myself and connect with guests in a more human and less robotic way– and also get away from natural wine lol. I have heard of Terroir for years, and am familiar with you and your work as well, initially through the Somm movies and later through attending a Summer of Riesling event in San Francisco. That’s another major pull for me–I am very excited about your passion for Riesling because I don’t have a ton of expertise in Germany and Austria. I would be thrilled for the opportunity to do a deep dive on Riesling by syncing my at-home studies with wines you taste here.
Why do you want to be a server?
I love the rush of being a server. I find a busy mind sort of puts me in a meditative state, and it brings me so much joy to guide guests to the perfect wine. That’s always been a part of my work, but in retail you don’t usually get a live reaction after the bottle leaves the door. I would love to be there for the totality of a guest’s experience with a wine.
What can you bring to this company?
I am highly self-motivated while also working very well in a group setting. I am willing and eager to put in the work to study at home so I can bring my A-game to work–I want to be the best that i possibly can be and I’m always looking for ways to improve. In a team setting, I have really solid communication skills and am receptive to criticism.
What are your greatest strengths?
My sense of humor and my curiosity. It makes me willing to take on challenges–if I mess up, I can laugh it off and look for a better solution for next time. My curiosity about wine and food helps me to stay diligent in my studies and, in general, I like to learn something new every day.
What do you consider to be a weakness?
I think my weakness would be pure lack of experience. And I do want to be upfront with you about not having much wine service experience in a setting like this. That said, I am a fast and eager learner.
Tell me about a challenge or conflict you had at work and how you’ve dealt with it.
g
Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership skills.
f
Tell me about a time that you made a mistake.
f
Why are you leaving your current job?
d
How would your boss and coworkers describe you?
a
How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
n
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself running my own beverage program somewhere, or better yet, creating my own establishment where I can merge my love of food, wine, and music. While I am still sort of tasting the rainbow and just trying to gain exposure to absolutely everything, in 5 years I want to begin specializing in a particular region and gain real expertise and authority on a subject.
What makes you unique?
n
