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Web: www.panerabread.com | HQ: Saint Louis, MO

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Updated May 25, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 94 ratings

2.1

“Easy” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 94 ratings

Positive	69%
Neutral	26%
Negative	5%

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2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Oct 2011 in Vestal, NY (took a day)

It was pretty informal, all in all they were both nice and asked very upfront questions.

Interview Questions

Describe 2 things past employers would say about you

Answer Question

Negotiation Details

I stated my requirements and they said that I was pretty much right in the range.

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Skills Test and a Drug Test.

More Panera Bread General Manager Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

1.0

Very Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Apr 2011 (took 2 days)

Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. It was all done professionally and the communication was fast and clear.

Interview Questions

Describe 3 things that your previous employers would tell us about working with you

Answer Question

Negotiation Details

I let them know what I was looking for and they let me know what they were offering. Nothing was done outside of a comfort level that worked for everyone.

Other Details

I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.

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Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

1.0

Very Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Sep 2011 (took 2 weeks)

The interview and selection process was straight forward. There is an initial phone screen, followed by what seemed to be a Wonderlic intelligence test, and a personality profile. This was followed by a face to face interview with a district manager. While I did not receive an offer the process was straight forward, and professional. Expect to have specific answers and example during both teh phone screen and face to face.

Interview Questions

Describe a time that you failed to reach an objective. What prevented you from hitting the objective? What could you have done different?

Answer Question

Describe a time when you needed to motivate your team either during a stressful period, or to accept change. What did you do? What was the result?

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, an IQ/Intelligence Test and a Personality Test.

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Helpful Interview?

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Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Declined Offer

Interviewed Oct 2011 (took a day)

I was recruited through a university career fair. Staff was very friendly. I was asked to contact someone for a phone interview, but they ended up calling me first. Questions for the phone interview were behavioral. Pretty easy interview with my restaurant experience.

Interview Questions

What do you think is the most important quality when hiring a new cashier?

View Answers (1)

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.

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Helpful Interview?

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Inappropriate?

1.0

Very Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed May 2011 (took a day)

Sat down with one of managers and looked ove rmy applicaton. Asked me a few questions about my job experience then said I needed to attend a training course. No real announcement I got the job.

Interview Questions

Where did you work before?

Answer Question

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

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Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Sep 2011 in Brea, CA (took 2 weeks)

I applied to the Brea Panera because it is a new location so I figured they would be hiring a lot of people. I've never worked before so I knew it would be hard. I got a phone call the day after I applied asking me to come in for an interview. I went in without knowing what to expect, and it ended up being a group interview with about 12-15 people. We had to say a little bit about ourselves, some of our customer service experience, and explain why we wanted to work at Panera. I also had a resume for the hiring manager. The same day, maybe 8 hours later, they called back to set up a second interview at another local location. I went to that interview a few days later and there was 6 other people there this time. They asked the same questions, but this interview was longer because they included other questions such as "describe a time you received really good or really bad customer service." Nothing was too difficult, they just wanted to get the idea that you know what good customer service is and that you are eager to work at Panera. They called back about 3-4 days later to say I got the job.

Interview Questions

Describe one attribute a good employee should have.

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview and a Personality Test.

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Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Apr 2010 in Boston, MA (took 2 weeks)

HR phone screening, 2 sit down interviews and Online tests

Negotiation Details

was able to negotiate 3,000 more

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Skills Test, a Personality Test and a Background Check.

More Panera Bread General Manager Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Aug 2011 (took a day)

Was greeted by a group of hiring managers. Very friendly. Eventually had a sit down with a district manager, then corporate HR. Offered to come in for RJP, which is basically a management follow shift, and accepted. It is obvious they are looking for passionate, experienced, hospitality professionals. Honesty and integrity also seem to be important.

Interview Questions

What is your biggest weakness?(obvious but many people dread that question)

Answer Question

How long do you plan on staying with Panera?

View Answers (1)

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Group/Panel Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

View Comments (1)

Inappropriate?

1.0

Very Easy Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Jun 2009 in Cleveland, OH (took 1 week)

It was really easy. There were no actual interview questions. Just questions about who you are and what you like and such. Anyone could have gotten this job.

Interview Questions

What is your favorite Band?

Answer Question

Other Details

I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

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Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Aug 2011 (took 1 week)

A few days after I finished an online application, I got a call back from a manager at Panera. I scheduled an interview for later that week and wore just a button down shirt and some nice dress pants. My interviewer was very nice and went through exactly what I'd be doing at Panera, the way they'd train me (first basically busing, then the line, then cashiering, then possible barista) and if I were to get hired, how I'd have to go to two training meeting things. She also discussed how it was possible to move up and times they had reviews. It seemed to be going well and she covered the usual questions (why do you want to work here? what hours can you work? what are you most proud of? hobbies?) and made sure to let me know that she was going to have the head manager call me for another interview.

She kept her promise and called back the next day and I scheduled my second interview for two days later. I came a little less dressed to impress (I wore a polo and the same dress pants, probably not the wisest decision I've ever made) than the first interview and was somewhat distracted/derailed since I ran into a friend's ex boyfriend waiting to let the head manager I was there. He was very nice but I got pretty jittery and started talking with my hands a lot, so I wasn't surprised I didn't get the job. He said he'd call me Monday, and it's 11:32 PM on Monday night and still no call.

Edit: actually, I just got the job yesterday. Which was surprising, but I've accepted and now have orientation on Monday. So it's kind of weird how things worked out. I'm not really crazy that I had to wait ages to find out I got a job, especially since I have interviewed other places since then. But I am grateful that they did hire me. So, moral of the story: relax. You probably will do much better than you think.