3 Interview Questions to Ask Every Golf Caddie Job Candidate
Interviews can tell you a lot about an applicant, but their effectiveness depends on the questions you ask. To make sure the candidate is the person you want to hire for your golf caddie position, first consider what you’re looking for in a candidate. Go into the interview with a solid idea of the requirements of the position, scheduling expectations, and the length of time for which you plan to hire the caddie. Since many golf caddie positions are seasonal jobs, often occupied by students over the summer, you’ll want to consider your expectations before you begin the screening and interviewing process.
1. Describe your past experience in customer service roles.
Golf caddies are often some of the most consistently customer-facing employees at a golf course. They follow players on the course, make sure their golf clubs and golf balls are ready to go at each hole, and assist golfers with any on-course needs. This means that they are likely having regular conversations with members (and possibly professional golf players), and their ability to maintain a good attitude and tend to customers’ needs will determine whether or not they will do a good job. If a candidate’s interest in a golf caddie role is only due to their love of golf, they may not be able to keep up with the customer service side of the job.
2. What is your previous golf experience?
Now, customer service experience is important, but that doesn’t mean that knowledge of and experience with golf doesn’t count for anything. You may have a strong preference for golf caddies with a certain level of golf experience. It may even make sense to hire employees with tournament experience or a competition background in school, depending on what kind of golf course you manage. At the very least, you’ll want a caddie who understands how the game is played, which golf clubs to use when, and the basic functions of the golf caddie job, otherwise you’ll need to invest a substantial amount of time in training.
3. What is your availability? Is your schedule limited in any way?
Golf caddies often work in shifts, and depending on where you live, may only work certain months during the year. And just as it’s important for you to know information about your scheduling expectations up front, it’s also important to understand the applicant’s expectations before moving forward. For example, your golf course may hold large tournaments or events that require all hands on deck. If the candidate cannot attend those events, you may want to consider hiring someone else. You may want someone who can take an early morning shift since many golf courses start tee times early in the morning, especially over the summer. And many golf caddie jobs require work on the weekends, so getting clarity about what days your new employee expects to work is also critical.
The best candidate for your open position is out there, and we hope these sample questions will help you sift through applications to find exemplary golf caddies.
Simon B.
