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Home > Panera Bread > Panera Bread Team Member
Panera Bread Team Member
Panera bread team member job description & interview, job description and duties.
What Does a Panera Bread Team Member Do?
The cafe industry chain Panera Bread regularly must hire motivated workers for the entry-level position of team member. Primary job duties for Panera team members include food preparation, sanitation, and customer service. Panera Bread crew members operate cash registers, as well.
Communication is Key
Applicants with strong communication skills and experience in the coffee shop industry may gain preferential treatment during the Panera Bread hiring process. Training generally includes hands-on demonstration as well as verbal and visual instruction over the course of a week or two.
Salary and Compensation
How Much Do They Get Paid?
Panera Bread team members earn an average pay of $8.60 per hour. Experienced Panera Bread workers may see increased hourly wages, depending on location. Aside from base pay rates, many Panera employees receive excellent job benefits. Employment benefits packages provide access to discounts on food and drink, financial savings plans, and healthcare coverage.
Opportunities to Advance
Panera Bread team members may also advance into career-oriented roles, such as management jobs and supervisory positions. Pay scales and employee benefit availability generally vary by Panera location.
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Panera Bread Cashier Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer : Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Panera Bread Cashier : Well, I basically did everything there. I was working there for about a year. At first, I wasn’t getting that many hours, but I realized to get more hours I would have to be able to work more positions so I taught myself each position. I began on line, that’s where the salads and the soups and the sandwiches are made. Then after that I think I went to cashier because I like to talk to people, so I taught myself cashier. Because even when I would ask to be trained as other things, they would brush me off, so I just taught it to myself.
Then eventually they would call me in and say, “Hey you know cashier, can you come in for so-and-so,” or, “Can you do this?” Then eventually they started putting me on the schedule for other positions. The second was cashier and then I did dining room. The Panera I worked at, there were two floors, so you would have to clean the upstairs and downstairs, all the bathrooms. Then the next position I taught myself was dish, that’s where you do dishes and then at night you take the … Well, throughout the day you take your trash out too, but once the night is over you take out all the trash.
Interviewer : What was the work environment like?
Panera Bread Cashier : The work environment at Panera, I guess it depends on each cafe, but at the one I worked in, all my fellow employees, they were so nice. I mean, that’s really what every Panera, even that I’ve visited, the employees are so nice to each other. They’re friendly, most of them are very helpful. It was just my managers. Sometimes they acted like they didn’t want to be bothered with me, so that’s why I had to teach myself the other positions. But it was fairly cool.
Interviewer : What was your favorite part about working there?
Panera Bread Cashier : Favorite part about working at Panera honestly was the chocolate chip cookies.
Interviewer : Please describe the application and interview process.
Panera Bread Cashier : Well, the application process was fairly easy. The first application I filled out was short. It was my name, my address, my work history. Then when I actually went in again, I got a longer application, which was all the other stuff, like work history, references, and stuff like that. Then a few weeks later I got a call from a manager, they brought me in for an interview. Then after that, I guess if they like you, they bring you in for a second interview with the general manager at that store. I did good with that interview too, so then I got hired maybe two weeks or a week after. That’s when they started putting me to work.
Interviewer : What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Panera Bread Cashier : There’s a few of them I can remember, but the one that I really remember, I do not know why they asked me this, but they asked me what was my favorite burger. I was like, “You don’t even sell burgers,” but they asked me that. Then they asked me what would I do in different scenarios, which would make sense because I’m going to be in different scenarios, so it makes sense to see what I would do. But, yeah.
Interviewer : How were you notified that you received the job?
Panera Bread Cashier : Well, after that second interview, I don’t know if it was because they liked me so much, but they immediately told me, “Okay, well, welcome aboard.” Then they was like, “We’ll call back and we can give you a start date,” but they immediately let me know that I was hired.
Interviewer : What set you apart from other candidates?
Panera Bread Cashier : What set me apart at Panera was probably my willingness to work, because even though it’s a good environment to be in, a lot of times people don’t really want to … If you’re assigned line, you do the line duties and that’s what everybody does, but I mean, with me, I didn’t really mind helping other people with different duties, like, “Okay, I can go put this in the wash or something, I’m not doing anything.” I would go put in the washer, maybe sweep, do trash. So yeah, probably my willingness to work and do other people’s jobs, I guess.
Interviewer : What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Panera Bread Cashier : Well, like I said, be willing to do work because … I don’t know, it just depends. If you want a lot of hours, then be willing to do other jobs and even willing to try to teach yourself, because working at Panera is not really hard, it’s just there’s so many details to everything that you have to do. So if you want to work more hours, you have to be like, “Okay,” you’ve got to watch other people’s jobs to see what they’re doing, because that’s how I taught myself to be able to do dish or do dining room. So be able to see and be very detailed with your work.
Panera Bread Cashier : My job title was a cashier. However, my duties were to open the bakery in the morning and then close it sometimes at night, which that would be putting all the bread up and all the bagels, slicing all the bread, and then putting other pastries in and sorting them.
Panera Bread Cashier : It was really peaceful and you were up in the morning so you have people coming in before we’re getting coffee and bagels, and just seeing them in the rush was really fun. And also, it was pretty fast paced so that was a big, nice thing working there.
Panera Bread Cashier : Yeah, sometimes, if we had extra bagels at night, I get to take some, because I close our bakery, but also you get half off food and then other items. And then, if you worked there for a year and a half, they pay for some of your college as a benefit.
Panera Bread Cashier : The application really is just them trying to get to know you. So, it’s just a regular application process. But when they get you into the interview, they see what your personality is like to see if you’re a great fit for the team. For example, if you’re outgoing, then they really want you. If you have very good communication skills, then that also ties together and they also want you more than someone that’s just timid or doesn’t really have good communication skills.
Panera Bread Cashier : What do you like to do in your spare time, I think was one of the most important questions. And then, I said I like helping people, hanging out with friends, learning new things, and going on hikes and stuff. So, anything like with communicating, I like to do.
Panera Bread Cashier : It was I think two, three days later. And then, they had called me but I missed the call so I ended up going back in because it was right down the street from my house. And they say they wanted me to join their team. I was really excited because I went there all the time. It was there and Taco Bell that are my favorite places, so it was really nice.
Panera Bread Cashier : I was in this training to be a summer camp counselor for a whole summer, or I think three months, and it was really intense and it just got us to open up more and teach us how to be a camp counselor. And that, right there, helped me become a better communicator and understand why people did things and how to react to it and better explain it more in-depth than someone that hasn’t been in training at all.
Panera Bread Cashier : Be open minded. At first, it may seem hard, but once you get into it, then it’s really fun and they have a really great atmosphere. It’s a really good company to work for.
Panera Bread Team Member Interview Video
Interviewer : Please describe your job title and primary duties. Panera Bread Cafe Associate : I was a café associate, meaning that I was ringing people’s orders, also going to the tables, cleaning off tables and making sure dishes were being returned to dish return areas, and making drinks. I was also a barista, so making smoothies and stuff, and just putting stuff in a bake.
Interviewer : What was the work environment like? Panera Bread Cafe Associate : I would say it was fun. Worked with a lot of high schoolers, I was a high schooler at the time, so worked with a lot of high schoolers. Also a bit stressful just because we were by a high school, so rush hour was really rush hour, it was a bit hectic at that time.
Interviewer : What was your favorite part about working there? Panera Bread Cafe Associate : I would say that my favorite part would be probably making drinks, so the barista part about it.
Interviewer : Please describe the application and interview process. Panera Bread Cafe Associate : I applied a month and then within a few weeks I got a call back for an interview. I got to the interview, got hired on the spot as well with that, and it was really chill. They just walked me through, is this my first job, have I had any customer service experience and stuff like that.
Interviewer : What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview? Panera Bread Cafe Associate : They just asked have I worked food retail, I guess, before. Which was no, this was my first official retail food job, so just asking about that. And then, asking I guess my pay desire. That was basically it.
Interviewer : How were you notified that you received the job? Panera Bread Cafe Associate : I got hired on spot with my interview, so say day I went to the interview I got hired. And after a week til just doing background checks and stuff, so the next week I start getting my schedule for my first shift.
Interviewer : What set you apart from other candidates? Panera Bread Cafe Associate : I guess I was more honest, just because I didn’t really have customer service experience at that time. I let them know, but my customer service experience wasn’t at work it was more volunteering. So I guess just being honest, saying, “Hey, I didn’t have a job prior to this, so I don’t have work customer service experience,” but I had experience dealing with other people with other aspects with volunteering or other group service stuff like that.
Interviewer : What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment? Panera Bread Cafe Associate : Just be prepared. Food service may seem intimidating, but just be relaxed about it.
Interviewer : Please describe your job title and primary duties. Panera Bread Team Member : I was a sandwich maker there. You just go there and make sandwiches and soups that people order.
Interviewer : What was the work environment like? Panera Bread Team Member : It was pretty nice. The people there were friendly when I came in. The workers were friendly, the managers are friendly, so it was a really nice environment. Made you feel at home a little bit.
Interviewer : What was your favorite part about working there? Panera Bread Team Member : The employees because they were like family or friends. We used to go out, eat dinner after work, and everything. It was pretty good.
Interviewer : Please describe a typical day as an employee. Panera Bread Team Member : You go in, clock in, then see if you’re out in dining room, making sandwiches, dishes. That’s pretty much it. You go there, and they put you to work.
Interviewer : How would you describe the application and interview process? Panera Bread Team Member : It was pretty easy because I had four friends working there. So, I pretty much went in, said, “Hey, I know this person,” and they just hired me on the spot.
Interviewer : What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview? Panera Bread Team Member : Past experiences at other places you worked at.
Interviewer : What set you apart from the other candidates? Panera Bread Team Member : I think probably my personality. I went in there – and I didn’t dress up-up, but I looked nice – and they asked a few questions, and I just think I answered them in the right way.
Interviewer : What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment? Panera Bread Team Member : Just be yourself when you go in for the interview. That’s pretty much it.
Panera Bread Sales Associate Interview Video
Interviewer : Please describe your job title and primary duties. Panera Bread Sales Associate : I was a sales associate, so what I did basically was being on the cash register and cleaning up in the dining room.
Interviewer : What was the work environment like? Panera Bread Sales Associate : It was friendly. There was a lot of customer interaction.
Interviewer : How would you describe the application and interview process? Panera Bread Sales Associate : It’s pretty simple. You can fill out the application. You get called back if you call the store and just check in on your application, and they call you in for an interview and talk to a manager. It’s pretty short.
Interviewer : What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview? Panera Bread Sales Associate : The biggest thing was, “Why do you like Panera?”, “What’s your favorite thing about the company?”, “What do you know, don’t know?”
Interviewer : What set you apart from other candidates? Panera Bread Sales Associate : Probably the fact that I knew a lot about the company. My mom’s family is from St. Louis. I knew that’s where the company started, about the time it started. We used to go there a lot, so I knew their products.
Interviewer : What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment? Panera Bread Sales Associate : I would say be prepared, make a good impression to the GM, because they’re there a lot, and their bosses will come in and they’ll talk to you. It’s kind of good to know management in charge. And just be prepared for a lot. You’re going to meet a lot of people. It’s a lot of responsibility.
Related Links: Panera Bread Application Panera Bread Job Interview
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PANERA CAFE RETAIL TEAM MEMBER: CASHIER Want to work in a place where you can learn, laugh, be supported, be yourself and reach your goals? If so, then Panera is for you. We do everything possible to earn your trust and help you succeed—every day, in every way. Come join the fun! Panera Perks: Competitive pay Eligible for quarterly increases based on performance Free Meals on shifts Career Growth Opportunities Paid vacation & holidays for full-time team members Medical, dental, vision, life insurance vacation & 401(k) with match available Are you friendly, motivated, and hard-working? Up for a challenge? Ready to grow? If so, you’ll thrive on our team Our Cashiers are the friendly face of Panera.: As a Cashier, you’re in charge of welcoming customers, taking their orders, helping them have a great experience, and sending them off with a smile. Come share good eating and craveable food with the best customers in town. As a Cashier at Panera, it’s up to you among other tasks to: Ring up orders quickly and accurately. Know our menu. Help customers with questions or requests. Deliver excellent customer service in every circumstance. Convey energy, warmth, and a passion for good eating. Step in and support your manager and team. This opportunity is for you if: You enjoy people and have great communication skills. You want to be part of a fun, energized team that works hard and laughs often. You like the hustle and bustle of the hospitality industry. You’re committed to health and food safety. You’re at least 16 years of age. You are passionate about our Guiding Values and Behaviors: Warmth for guests: Making people smile Bold thoughts, brave actions: Learning, growing, and taking risks Own it: Finding solutions and taking initiative Win together: Working (and winning) as a team Inspire and celebrate: Having fun and celebrating success Rooted in respect: Seeing the best in others (Note: Food service/retail experience not required.) Growth Opportunities at Panera: A Path to Success : – Most of our retail managers started as hourly associates. Our career path program helps you get there. Skills and Training : Every day at Panera we help build your skills and prepare you for a strong career—whatever your goals may be. Nationwide Opportunities : We open about 100 new cafes each year—so you’ll have plenty of chances to move or grow with us. ___ Around here, every day starts with a fresh batch of bread and a thousand possibilities. Get ready to rise. __ Equal Opportunity Employer and Affirmative-Action Employer
Panera Bread Company
- 3630 South Geyer Rd., Suite 100 Sunset Hills MO 63127
- (573) 368-4499
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