Associate applicants have rated the interview process at Panera Bread with 2.1 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) and assessed their interview experience as 71% positive. To compare, the company-average is 73% positive. This is according to Glassdoor user ratings.
Candidates applying for Associate roles take an average of 6 days to get hired, when considering 7 user submitted interviews for this role. To compare, the hiring process at Panera Bread overall takes an average of 6 days.
Common stages of the interview process at Panera Bread as a Associate according to 7 Glassdoor interviews include:
One on one interview: 40%
Presentation: 20%
Skills test: 20%
Phone interview: 10%
Personality test: 10%
Here are the most commonly searched roles for interview reports -
I applied online. The process took 1 week. I interviewed at Panera Bread (Baton Rouge, LA) in May 2016
Interview
Within about 3 days of applying, I was called to schedule an interview on the next day. I walked in about 15 minutes before the scheduled interview and the manager came right out to meet me and took me into the dining area to interview. The interview process was short and sweet, he read about 6 questions off of a sheet of paper and wrote my responses. After about 10 minutes of this process, we stood up and he offered me the job and we set up orientation for 3 days later. My tips would be to dress professional, and walk in there with confidence. Show your personality, do not be nervous, and eye contact.
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