What is the hiring process like at Olive Garden Italian Restaurants?

They have really hands on managers and interview process was easy

too many people on shift, rarely made more than $80 in a 5-6 hour shift

Certain managers are great and usually have a good interview process.

Hours aren't very good for part-time.

You can pick up shifts as needed or give away shifts. Very flexible. can also move to other locations if you are moving across country. I started in NJ back in 2010, then transferred to Harrisburg,PA, and in 2013 I moved to CO and was able to transfer also. They do not help you move of course, but the transfer process was very smooth and I was very grateful.

if sick it's very hard to call out of work regardless of location. If it's snowing and very dangerous, same thing.

Easy to get shifts Easy to get hired

Very clicky managers focus on dumb things hard to make money because sections are so small

The one that I had worked at was brand new and the managers there really cared. It was a great place to work.

The tips were on the low side.

You have the rare occasional good days.

Everything. You have 3/4 managers who give a flip but they get on to you for not doing 1 thing right when you’re doing every other job that you aren’t even paid for and then I get a lot of tables that are just horrible when I get everything they need and more. More soup more salad more breadsticks. You think big parties would be understanding but they are upset and impatient that they didn’t get their 5th refill of Fajol and nobody bothered to back it up because everyone else hates working there as well. It’s just an awful place to work. I did not have a good time but I still did the best to make that restaurant the best place to dine. I would go above and beyond to make sure everything was clean and nice and neat but nobody gave two *bleeps*. I’m not one that usually complains but I got hired as a busser because they needed bussers but I originally applied for serving and I heard from a little birdie (coworker) that I didn’t have enough experience and I saw them hire like 3-4 new servers after I was hired on as a busser. The managers were shady and didn’t care about me but I put so much effort into that place because that is the kind of person I am. When I work I wanna work hard and I do.

You have the option to pick up shifts that are posted or switch with other employees. The more job codes you know the more hours you can get. It’s good around the holidays and decent in the colder months. You have the option for healthcare & anniversary pay as long as you work enough hours.

It’s really up to you to make sure you get the hours you need. Even being scheduled 5 days a week w/ multiple job codes, it won’t alone be enough. You definitely need to stay on top of finding shifts to pick up. It’s a corporate business and so it can really feel like the employees aren’t being looked out for. It can be really frustrating especially in the slower seasons. They’re always hiring instead of making sure employees are getting the hours they need or actually making $. This lower priority makes them lose some of the best employees sometimes. Summer is very slow and the over staffing makes it very hard to make the $ you need to. You have to be smart and save in the winter. Shifts become harder to find as well.

We would trade food with Red Lobster - which was fun! The people I worked with were awesome! We had so much fun and I loved working with them

At the time, even with server experience, they wouldn't train me as a server.

You have the rare occasional good days.

Everything. You have 3/4 managers who give a flip but they get on to you for not doing 1 thing right when you’re doing every other job that you aren’t even paid for and then I get a lot of tables that are just horrible when I get everything they need and more. More soup more salad more breadsticks. You think big parties would be understanding but they are upset and impatient that they didn’t get their 5th refill of Fajol and nobody bothered to back it up because everyone else hates working there as well. It’s just an awful place to work. I did not have a good time but I still did the best to make that restaurant the best place to dine. I would go above and beyond to make sure everything was clean and nice and neat but nobody gave two *bleeps*. I’m not one that usually complains but I got hired as a busser because they needed bussers but I originally applied for serving and I heard from a little birdie (coworker) that I didn’t have enough experience and I saw them hire like 3-4 new servers after I was hired on as a busser. The managers were shady and didn’t care about me but I put so much effort into that place because that is the kind of person I am. When I work I wanna work hard and I do.