The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Panera Bread (Akron, OH) in Mar 2012
Interview
Got a call from the hiring manager a week after a friend told me they saw a sign that they were hiring.I went to the interview with one of the managers(assistant?) and I wore a nice button down shirt, black slacks, and dress shoes. I probably could have went more casual, but I always want to seem as professional as possible. She asked me questions about availability and my weaknesses. Typical interview questions but nothing terrible. She then said she thought I was a good fit for register (since I had experience and didnt want to be a dishwasher), but I had to come in for a second interview a few days later with the store manager.
I came in and she seemed really nice and pleasant. I was actually not feeling well, so I was happy it was so short. Similar questions again, mostly repeat. She asked me to work at Panera, I accepted. I came back in a few hours later to do paperwork.
Panera has the worst training ever. I had to go in two days later for 2 hours of video, drive 30 minutes away for "Planet Bread" (the most useless training class ever), and I've been barely getting any hours because I have to work with certain people to train me. Their training is garbage. I've done almost 4 hours of computer work, an hour of "fake" ringing up orders, and a lot of formal stuff.
They just gave me a tour of back of house, told me how it is for employees, and asked about my availability to get me scheduled. Very easy, but maybe easier than normal as I was a high schooler at the time.
You may get a phone call from a hiring manager or recruiter to confirm basic details like availability and interest.
Some stores skip the phone call and go straight to an in-person chat.
This step is usually short and casual.
In-Person Interview
This is the core part of the process for an associate role:
What to expect:
A one-on-one interview with a manager or shift leader at the café.
It’s often informal and brief—many candidates report it lasting about 10–20 minutes or less.
In some cases, a group interview might be used first, especially if hiring multiple people.
Typical interview topics:
Your availability and schedule.
Customer service and teamwork experience.
Why you want to work at Panera.
How you handle busy situations or customer issues.
Which part of the job appeals to you most.
Typical vibe: relaxed, conversational, and focused on personality and fit more than technical skills.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How you handle busy situations or customer issues.
my interview was a very very simple interview they just asked why you would wanted to work there, availability, cross training, what position you wanted, etc. It was very easy and kind people at panera bread
