Associate applicants have rated the interview process at Panera Bread with 1.8 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) and assessed their interview experience as 73% positive. To compare, the company-average is 70.3% positive. This is according to Glassdoor user ratings.
Candidates applying for Associate roles take an average of 8 days to get hired, when considering 595 user submitted interviews for this role. To compare, the hiring process at Panera Bread overall takes an average of 9 days.
Common stages of the interview process at Panera Bread as a Associate according to 595 Glassdoor interviews include:
One on one interview: 50%
Personality test: 11%
Background check: 10%
Skills test: 7%
Presentation: 6%
Group panel interview: 4%
Phone interview: 4%
IQ intelligence test: 4%
Drug test: 3%
Other: 2%
Here are the most commonly searched roles for interview reports -
The process took 4 days. I interviewed at Panera Bread (New York, NY) in Mar 2018
Interview
I’d applied online at first but when I went in to check on the app, the GM told me paper applications are always better (and also that they were holding open interviews later that day; so I decided to go in). I didn’t get much time to prepare for any possible questions the interviewer might ask, but I did quickly go over the basics. Though I must say it was nothing like I had expected — most of the questions she asked me required some thought (and trust me it felt more than just a fast food restaurant interview). I think I only messed up during one of the questions, but overall I’m really hoping I get the job! They’re supposed to inform me in a week if I’m hired (or if there’s gonna be a 2nd interview) so fingers crossed!!
Overall, the process was very easy, and the interview was no more than 20 minutes. Met with one of the managers, and it was mostly conversational. I was hired immediately,
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.