I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Panera Bread in Nov 2013
Interview
I applied the weekend before Thanksgiving online and had to take a long battery of "personality" type questions. They are the typical "I would rather work by myself than on a team", with responses such as this question "Does not describe me", "Somewhat describes me", etc
I was immediately called back the next day by someone in the corporate office of the local franchise. They gave me a quick phone screen, which featured questions pertaining to their dress code and other basic company values. They also told me that they wanted to enroll me in their "fast track supervisor" program, when they noted that I had previous supervisory experience. When I "passed" this screen, I was asked to come in for an interview the next day at one of the franchise's stores. I met with a younger woman from corporate and she went through about 20 questions. The standard question of "Do you have any questions for me?" I asked her if she would like a list of references; to which she responded that no one had ever asked her that before; but she was happy to take it. She then excused herself to speak with a manager. When she returned, she asked if I could return for another interview the following week (since it was the week of Thanksgiving).
I returned for the second interview and the majority of the questions were the same, but a few were more in-depth about my previous supervisory experience. After this interview concluded, I was asked to return for a third and final interview the next day. This interview was far more in-depth than the others and was a battery of questions related to my supervisory experience. I was also asked questions pertaining to my personal customer service experiences. After the interview was over, the GM who interviewed me excused herself to call her district manager. She then returned with an offer sheet and asked how much I would expect to make. I provided my answer and was pleased to see they were offering me more than I expected. I told her that I would have an answer for her later that afternoon; ultimately accepting the job.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Name a specific example when you received poor customer service.
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