I applied online. I interviewed at Chipotle (Gainesville, FL) in Sep 2014
Interview
I applied online and several days later got an email saying that there would be an interview the next day at 4:30. I went to the interview and they offered me a drink and to hate a seat and the interviewer would be with me shortly. There were about 8 other people there for an interview (it was a group interview) and they took us in groups of about 5 people. They held the interview in the back of the restaurant, so it was a little loud and distracting. It was with 2 general managers. They sat us down and we all wrote down what our names and phone numbers, then they asked us why we were interested in working at Chipotle. We went around in a circle answering questions, so everyone had to give an answer. They told us about the business and what to expect while working there. They asked us what we knew about Chipotle, and most people gave the typical answers of the CEO name and when the company started, so try to think a little deeper than that! They also asked us about our prior work history, and really emphasised that they almost prefer employees without experience, because the ones who do typically "cut corners".
They kept asking us if we had any questions, so keep in mind some things you might want to ask them! It was a very friendly environment.
At this particular store, they said that if you pass the group interview, you will then get a second interview with all of the management, and then if you pass that, you have an interview with all of the team members. They're very dedicated to making sure you'd be a good fit for their team.
I did not pass the first group interview, unfortunately. I was too nervous, so make sure to relax and have fun!
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Why we were interested in Chipotle. "The environment" isn't enough, try to be a little more specific as to why you like the environment! Also, do you homework on the company.
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Chipotle (Los Angeles, CA) in Sep 2014
Interview
I applied online and was contacted a day later for an interview the next day, I couldn't make it so I moved it to a further day (from a Thursday to a Sunday). The interview was at 2:15pm so I arrived around 1:55pm, told the cashier that I was there for an interview and she told me to take a seat and that she'd let the manager know I was here. The restaurant was super busy, the line curving almost the entirety of the room, so I was worried that I'd be overlooked since I was sitting down for a good 10 minutes without any of the employers interviewing or even acknowledging me. Three other girls showed up throughout the time I was waiting so we decided to sit outside in the patio area. We told another worker that we were there for an interview and she as well went to go tell the manager that we were there. We told a total of 3 different workers that we were there, each saying they would let the manager know but the 3rd worker came back and told us that no one had let the manager know but to sit down and wait some more because the manager was busy either way; it took until roughly 2:50pm for us to be interviewed. I was not impressed.
Luckily, everything got better from then on.
One of the chillest, most relaxed interviews I've ever had! And this is coming from someone who'd rather get intensive dental work than do interviews (I seriously suck at them).
The manager came out with a crew member. She introduced herself and the crew member and then asked us:
1. Tell me about yourselves? What do you guys like to do for fun?
2. What do you know about Chipotle?
3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
4. Any questions?
And that was pretty much all the questions she asked. There were four of us and three of us (myself included) talked plenty so I think we took up a huge time of the interview. They seemed genuinely interested in what we had to say, asking us to further expand on our hobbies (ex. if I said I loved to read they ask to know what some of my favorite books were, etc). They also told us that they prefer for us to NOT have any prior experience, which surprised me (I have no prior experience so I was glad about that). Don't forget to mention Food With Integrity, and that they empower their employees. You'll be a shoe-in. Do your research!
After they told us that they would either call or email us for a second interview either that same day or next. I didn't receive a call nor an email until two days later to meet up for a second interview the next day.
I arrived ten minutes early and two of the girls from my first interview arrived a few minutes after me. They had us wait and offered each of us a drink. We chatted amongst ourselves and then a crew member sat down amongst us and started chatting and asking us why we wanted to work at chipotle. All very relaxed (this was not part of the interview… although, it might have been a test).
The manager and two other crew members came out and we moved our group to the patio area. The manager talked about herself and her past experiences with Chipotle. The other manager that we had interviewed with previously showed up somewhere along this time. They then proceeded to ask us scenario questions.
1. What would you do if you noticed someone left uncooked meat out for a questionable amount of time and put the meat back into the refrigerator after a long day?
2. What would you do if a customer told you did not put enough meat into his/her order and requested you put more meat? <— I received this one
3. What would you do if some higher up than you didn't season the meat appropriately and you saw?
After we answered, the two managers started talking to each other and then told us we’d be proceeding into the third interview. We were taken into the restaurant and asked to say hi and chat with the crew members working. The manager pretty much told us that we were in at this point. We got a run through of where everything was and were then excused and told we'd be contacted in two days.
Two days later I got the call. $9.25 an hour, non-negotiable. I accepted. They sent an email where I had to do a background check and two days after that I received another email to fill out other documents including tax forms and agreeing to Chipotle policies and other forms. The next step is to set up a date and time for orientation which I’ve yet to do.
Best of luck guys!!
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
2. What would you do if a customer told you did not put enough meat into his/her order and requested you put more meat?
I applied online. The process took 1 week. I interviewed at Chipotle (Miami, FL) in Jul 2014
Interview
Applied online on a Monday, got an interview for that Saturday. Went to Chipotle at 9 for my interview and it was a quick group interview with 4 other people. They said they would call back whoever gets a second interview. About 2 minutes after the initial interview was over, I got a call for the second interview. They gave me 2 sheets of paper with their motto and a paper about the companies values and the 13 characteristics which they would quiz me on at the third interview. Third interview went well and I got the job, however I never started.