I applied in-person. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Panera Bread (Morgantown, WV) in Sept 2012
Interview
I was called an hour after I turned in my application. Came in the following afternoon for an interview. Was interviewed right on the spot. The only reason my hourly salary is as low as it is is because it was not discussed within the interview at all. I was never really told that I was hired or not or when I would be notified if I was. I was called a week later to start training for the job.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
They have situations that you have to discribe what you would do with customers, like if a customer is angry or upset or happy and such. They wanted us to describe a situation that relates from our own lives.
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