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This position has closed. University of Wisconsin-Madison removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Catering Supervisor - Union South

University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 18, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell us about the largest catered event you have run. How did you plan the setup and service?

What they are checking: Real event leadership experience at the scale Union South handles.

Tell us about a time an event went wrong. What did you learn?

What they are checking: Honesty and learning from mistakes in a fast-moving job.

What does great customer service look like at a wedding compared with a morning meeting break?

What they are checking: Whether they adjust service style to the type of event.

What would you do

Your crew is mostly students. How do you train and motivate student workers who may only be with you for a semester?

What they are checking: Ability to lead a student crew with high turnover and keep standards high.

A client tells you the room setup is wrong 20 minutes before a VIP event. What do you do?

What they are checking: Calm problem-solving and customer service under pressure.

How do you handle a student worker who keeps showing up late?

What they are checking: Fair, consistent supervision and follow-through.

How do you handle a guest with a food allergy question during service?

What they are checking: Taking allergies seriously and knowing whom to ask.

This job includes nights, weekends and lifting up to 50 pounds. How does that schedule fit for you?

What they are checking: Whether they understand and can handle the physical and scheduling demands.

How do you plan for an off-campus event where you have less control over the space?

What they are checking: Planning and logistics for events outside Union buildings.

About the work

How do you make sure your crew follows food safety rules, like holding temperatures, during a long event?

What they are checking: Knowledge of food safety rules, which the posting names as a key duty.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at University of Wisconsin-Madison from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Job Category: University Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Food Service Supervisor Job Summary: Take that next step in your hospitality career as a Catering Supervisor at Union South. In your catering supervisor role, you will lead a student crew to set up and serve catered events in our buildings, surrounding buildings on campus, and off campus. From morning breaks to weddings to VIP events, no two days are the same. We are looking for a self-motivated, high-energy person who is ready to ensure that every event they supervise is a success through their leadership and customer service skills. This position comes with a pension plan, sick leave, plenty of vacation time, opportunities for professional development, and a workplace in which coworkers appreciate and support each other. It is all here at the Wisconsin Union – apply today! Physical Demands: Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds frequently needed Work Schedule and Location: 100% onsite Variable schedule-including nights and weekends to support events. Key Job Responsibilities: • Adheres to federal, state, campus, and local food safety regulations, policies, and procedures • Assigns and coordinates the day-to-day activities of food service staff • Prepares, presents, and executes catered events • Leads and provides exceptional customer service, answers questions, and provides information regarding food preparation, catering, and associated activities • Cleans, inspects, and maintains kitchen equipment and work areas Department: Wisconsin Union, Dining & Hospitality, Catering Compensation: The expected starting salary is $22.50/ hour. This position will also receive additional pay for weekend and night hours. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see. https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/univstaff.pdf Preferred Qualifications: • Food service, restaurant, hotel experience, or customer service experience as a supervisor or team lead Certifications: • ServSafe Certificate required or able to obtain within 6 months of hire • City of Madison Alcohol Operator License required or able to obtain within 6 months of hire • Driver’s License – valid and meets UW Risk Management Standards- preferred but not required How to Apply: Click the "Apply" button to start the application process. You will be prompted to upload the following documents: -Resume -Cover Letter Applicants should attach a cover letter and resume detailing their training and experience relating to the required and preferred qualifications referenced above. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine which qualified applicants will advance in the recruitment process. Contact Information: Kathleen Keller, kathleen.keller@wisc.edu, 608-262-9323 Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information. Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website . To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department .