Pizza Express

Hey, I might be up for a job at my local Pizza Express. Just wondering what the experience was like for any of you, working night shifts, or saturday day times, and what pay is like. Just any feedback really
I'm a 17 yo if it makes any difference. Thanks

Reply 1

kkdonut

Would depend if your waiting, running food, or in kitchen - as experience of waiting (and a little running) ...

If you do evening shifts (closes) they are a nightmare.. Loads of cleaning and irratating little jobs (Would depend on how strict the manager is though)
The compnay itself is excellent to work for, however the management are generally strict - they will constantly make you adhere to 'Pizza Express standards' - as every time a customer visits a branch, everything must be the same even down to the amount of olives you serve, or sugars that go in a pot (Serious!)

I would not hesitate working there, but my advice is do not take up the position if its running, as you will be expected to know the table numbers of by heart, take the food immeadiatly, and know what everything is... Waiting is excellent, and the tips are fantastic!

Do you mind me asking which store you have applied to?

Reply 2

lookitsdanhunt

8

Zakky

Hey, I might be up for a job at my local Pizza Express. Just wondering what the experience was like for any of you, working night shifts, or saturday day times, and what pay is like. Just any feedback really
I'm a 17 yo if it makes any difference. Thanks

Hi, I have experience working in my local ASK restaurant. As they are owned by the same company, they are similar in regards to pay, shifts etc.

First thing, if you dont want to end up working weekend evenings/days or long split shifts, this job isn't for you.

Sunday nights are a nightmare with stocktake, and even though the restaurant closes at 10:30, you probably wont end up leaving until 12/1ish.

The team I worked with were a great laugh! Even when it was busy (the busy period usually only lasts about an hour) we manage to keep ourselves entertained.

As the above poster said, you have to work from the book so as to speak. There are alot of guidlines that you have to adhere to. Its almost like reading from a script. Every month there is a Mystery Diner who will mark the restaurant on its performance. If its you serving and you dont follow these rules, expect a bit of a grilling. If you manage to get 100% then you can pocket £100 :smile:

Pay itself isnt great. About minimum wage, but with tips, you can expect to almost double it every week. If you are working weekend evenings, expect to take home between £20-£30 an evening.

Free food is a bonus! If you work a shift of 5+ hours you get a free meal off the menu :smile:

There are opportunities to do NVQ's in customer service etc for free aswell. I did one alongside my college work, doesnt take up much time at all, as most of it is assessed whilst you are working!

Any more questions etc, pm me and ill be happy to help, but my wrist is hurting now and I need some food :smile:

Reply 3

Afrotortina

2

... Is this the person that doesnt want to work at mcdonalds any more?

Reply 4

username254396

OP

18

Afrotortina

... Is this the person that doesnt want to work at mcdonalds any more?

Nope it's not me, and to kkdonut, it's in Bromley, SE London

Reply 5

kkdonut

Ok Kewl - And ASK is owned by the same group as Pizza Express, and everything is above is correct, take note of the hours! they are very unsociable, although the restaurant may shut at 11pm, you will be doing close down duties from 10.30.
Pay is average and if you are under 22 expect the £4-5 region. Also, at Pizza Express every customer is a potential mystery diner, as one no longer comes up every month - but each customer has the chance to fill in a survey online about there experience and it goes directly to head office, ops manager and restaurant manager.

Any specific questions you have, theres so much I could talk about lol

Reply 6

emelle

Bumping an old thread here guys, but any further comments on working at pizza express? I may have got myself an informal interview and trial shift.

What's it like working there?

Reply 7

The Real Quaid

16

Original post by emelle

Bumping an old thread here guys, but any further comments on working at pizza express? I may have got myself an informal interview and trial shift.

What's it like working there?

(see above)

Reply 8

emelle

Original post by The Real Quaid

(see above)

Um, yes I have read the thread... that's why I said any further comments. A couple of good comments does not a decent employer make.

Reply 9

just Kate here

okay i know this thread died out quite a while ago, but I hope you don't mind me dragging it back up to ask a couple of questions.

I've been looking on the Pizza Express website for waitressing/food running vacancies, and found one near me, the only problem being that I can't find the required hours anywhere on the website?

As I'm only 16 and in year 11, the hours are very important to me (and my parents!) as I would most likely only be available for weekends and the occasional weeknight.

Could anybody clarify how flexible the hours are, and what the general hours are for someone working part time? Is there even such a thing as part time (probably a stupid question, but i haven't seen it mentioned anywhere on the site)?

Also, sorry to be annoying, but does anyone know the key difference between waitressing and food running? And how likely are they to hire a 16 year old with no real work experience other than volunteering over the summer? Do I stand a chance?

Thank you!

Reply 10

coopsyy

1

Original post by just Kate here

okay i know this thread died out quite a while ago, but I hope you don't mind me dragging it back up to ask a couple of questions.

I've been looking on the Pizza Express website for waitressing/food running vacancies, and found one near me, the only problem being that I can't find the required hours anywhere on the website?

As I'm only 16 and in year 11, the hours are very important to me (and my parents!) as I would most likely only be available for weekends and the occasional weeknight.

Could anybody clarify how flexible the hours are, and what the general hours are for someone working part time? Is there even such a thing as part time (probably a stupid question, but i haven't seen it mentioned anywhere on the site)?

Also, sorry to be annoying, but does anyone know the key difference between waitressing and food running? And how likely are they to hire a 16 year old with no real work experience other than volunteering over the summer? Do I stand a chance?

Thank you!

Don't stand a chance if you're still in year 11, need to be of school leaving age, ie second week of June I think.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 11

rosykatewebster

i applied for a job as a waitress and luckily i got it (based on that 'i looked nice') , however as i'm in full-time education at sixth form i couldn't do the full training needed to wait tables in the day times and so they kept me as a food runner. Basically, they really prefer it if you've left school as its a lot of hours and a lot of work, but there's no harm in applying!

Reply 12

TheCreed

4

Just bumping this thread to ask anybody who works at Pizza Express, how long after the application closing date did they get in touch with you for an interview?

Thanks guys!

Reply 13

alice269

1

Original post by TheCreed

Just bumping this thread to ask anybody who works at Pizza Express, how long after the application closing date did they get in touch with you for an interview?

Thanks guys!

I applied for a job at a new one opening near me about 3 weeks ago.... they got back to me about a week ago and I had a phone interview, then when I passed that I had a group interview and a one on one interview and thennnnnnnnnnn I got the job roday! But the whole process between applying and getting the job was only about 3weeks :-) I guess it depends on how early you apply, good luck though

Reply 14

prada1234

Original post by alice269

I applied for a job at a new one opening near me about 3 weeks ago.... they got back to me about a week ago and I had a phone interview, then when I passed that I had a group interview and a one on one interview and thennnnnnnnnnn I got the job roday! But the whole process between applying and getting the job was only about 3weeks :-) I guess it depends on how early you apply, good luck though

Hi, i know this was a couple of months ago but i was just wondering what sort of things they ask you in the first face to face interview after the phone interview? Got it tomorrow!

Reply 15

alice269

1

Original post by prada1234

Hi, i know this was a couple of months ago but i was just wondering what sort of things they ask you in the first face to face interview after the phone interview? Got it tomorrow!

Heyyy sorry I only just saw this so I guess you had your interview by now!! On the off chance you didn't, they ask you questions like what experience have you had, tell us something interesting about you, how would you deal with such and such situation, have you ever been in a position where you are working with people you don't get on with, have you ever had to use authority to get something done. It's pretty thorough. Not too bad though :-)

Reply 16

prada1234

Original post by alice269

Heyyy sorry I only just saw this so I guess you had your interview by now!! On the off chance you didn't, they ask you questions like what experience have you had, tell us something interesting about you, how would you deal with such and such situation, have you ever been in a position where you are working with people you don't get on with, have you ever had to use authority to get something done. It's pretty thorough. Not too bad though :-)

Got it this afternoon! Thanks that was very helpful! Did you have to do the role play, and is this a group or individual interview? :smile:

Reply 17

alice269

1

yeeeah i had to do the role play too :-) it started off as a group of 6 interview, and there were 6 interviewers so they took us off one by one :-) it might be different for you if your branch was already established, cause the Pizza Express was opening new in my town, so they had a lot of people to recruit, and we also had 6 weeks training at different restaurants and a 'transformation week' where you ate a lot and drunk a lot hahaha

Reply 18

MonsoonFlower

22

Original post by lookitsdanhunt

Hi, I have experience working in my local ASK restaurant. As they are owned by the same company, they are similar in regards to pay, shifts etc.

First thing, if you dont want to end up working weekend evenings/days or long split shifts, this job isn't for you.

Sunday nights are a nightmare with stocktake, and even though the restaurant closes at 10:30, you probably wont end up leaving until 12/1ish.

The team I worked with were a great laugh! Even when it was busy (the busy period usually only lasts about an hour) we manage to keep ourselves entertained.

As the above poster said, you have to work from the book so as to speak. There are alot of guidlines that you have to adhere to. Its almost like reading from a script. Every month there is a Mystery Diner who will mark the restaurant on its performance. If its you serving and you dont follow these rules, expect a bit of a grilling. If you manage to get 100% then you can pocket £100 :smile:

Pay itself isnt great. About minimum wage, but with tips, you can expect to almost double it every week. If you are working weekend evenings, expect to take home between £20-£30 an evening.

Free food is a bonus! If you work a shift of 5+ hours you get a free meal off the menu :smile:

There are opportunities to do NVQ's in customer service etc for free aswell. I did one alongside my college work, doesnt take up much time at all, as most of it is assessed whilst you are working!

Any more questions etc, pm me and ill be happy to help, but my wrist is hurting now and I need some food :smile:

Hi I've got an interview at ASK restaurant as they are opening a new extra restaurant in my area at home, so I'm going to assume that it will be a group one?
Anyway I'm in full time study at university but just finished 2nd year so just wonder if there is any chance of hiring me because of my availability after summer as I am only available during university holidays or if there is a possibility of transferring to the one at university?

Reply 19

prada1234

Hi, does anyone who currently works at pizza express know the amount of notice you have to give before resigning from a job as waiter? Tha ks

Pizza Express

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