20 sweetgreen Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviews, preparation is key. And if you’re hoping to land a job at sweetgreen, you’ll want to be prepared to answer some specific questions about the company.

In this article, we’ll give you a rundown of some of the most common sweetgreen interview questions, so you can go into your interview with confidence. We’ll cover questions about sweetgreen’s history, mission, and values, as well as questions about your experience and qualifications.

So whether you’re interviewing for a job at a sweetgreen location or for a corporate position, read on for some helpful tips.

sweetgreen Interview Process

The interview process at sweetgreen is lengthy, with 12 executive team members meeting over the course of a month. There is a disconnect between the internal and external recruitment teams on process and status. Candidates are scheduled to come onsite to meet the founders COB the night before, with less than 15 hours notice. The recruiter onsite barely says hello/welcomes candidates. The recruiter said an offer would be coming on a Friday, only to backtrack on Monday. There is a lack of synergy on information and messaging. This results in a poor experience for candidates. The company does not seem to value or appreciate candidates time/energy.

1. What do you know about sweetgreen?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company and its products. Interviewers ask this question to see if you have done any research on the company before coming in for an interview. To answer this question, make sure you know what sweetgreen does and how it operates.

Example: “I’ve been to sweetgreen once before, but I remember that they serve healthy salads and grain bowls. The restaurant was very clean and had a lot of customers when I went there. I also remember seeing a line at the register, so I waited about 10 minutes to order my salad.”

2. How would you describe yourself and what are your best qualities?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s personality and values. It also helps you determine if they are a good fit for your company culture. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention one or two of your most important qualities that relate to the job description.

Example: “I would describe myself as someone who is passionate about healthy food and committed to making customers happy. I am always looking for ways to improve my customer service skills and make sure everyone has an enjoyable experience at sweetgreen.”

3. Do you have any experience in the restaurant industry?

Sweetgreen is a restaurant chain, so it’s important that you have experience in the food service industry. If you don’t, consider working at a fast casual or quick-service restaurant before your interview to gain some experience.

Example: “I worked as a server at a local restaurant for two years while I was studying business management at college. It was a great way to make money and learn about customer service. The job also helped me develop my communication skills and learn how to work with others.”

4. Why do you want to work for Sweetgreen?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have done your research on the company. It is important to show that you are passionate about working for this brand and understand what it stands for.

Example: “I want to work for Sweetgreen because I am a huge fan of its mission, which is to make healthy food more accessible. The fact that the company uses local produce and sources from small farms makes me feel good about eating there. I also love how the menu changes with the seasons so customers get to try new things all year round.”

5. Can you tell me a time when you had to deal with an upset customer, how did you handle it?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your customer service skills. They want to know how you would react in a challenging situation and if you have the ability to diffuse it. In your answer, try to show that you can remain calm under pressure and use your communication skills to solve problems.

Example: “I once had an upset customer who was disappointed with her salad because she thought there were too many tomatoes. I apologized for the inconvenience and offered her another salad on the house. She accepted my offer and seemed satisfied with the outcome of our conversation.”

6. Tell us about a time you were working under pressure and had to complete multiple tasks at once.

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle stress and multitasking. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you were under pressure but still managed to complete your tasks successfully.

Example: “At my previous job, I was working as the assistant manager of a restaurant while also helping out with customer service. One day, our usual cashier called in sick, so I had to take over her duties for the rest of the day. This meant that I had to work both the front counter and the back kitchen at the same time. However, I remained calm and focused on completing each task one at a time. By the end of the day, we had served all of our customers without any issues.”

7. If hired, what kind of impact would you like to make on customers?

This question is an opportunity to show your passion for the company and its mission. You can talk about how you would like to make customers feel welcome, excited or inspired by their experience at sweetgreen.

Example: “I want to make sure that every customer feels welcomed when they come into a store. I’d love to see them leave with a smile on their face and feeling energized after eating one of our delicious salads. I also think it’s important to educate customers about healthy food options so they know what to expect from sweetgreen.”

8. Do you consider yourself a leader or a follower?

This question can help the interviewer determine your leadership skills and how you would fit into their company culture. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you were in charge of a project or group and helped achieve success.

Example: “I consider myself a leader because I believe that everyone has the ability to lead others. In my last position as a server at a restaurant, I was responsible for leading my team of servers on our shift. We had a lot of customers during lunchtime, so we needed to work together to ensure all orders were taken correctly and delivered to tables within a reasonable amount of time. I also led a small group project in college where I worked with two other students to create an app that tracked food waste.”

9. How do you feel about working late nights and weekends?

Sweetgreen is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Sunday. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you’re willing to work nights and weekends. If you are, explain why. If you aren’t, be honest about your feelings on the matter.

Example: “I’m happy to work late nights and weekends as long as I know in advance so that I can plan my schedule accordingly. I enjoy working evenings and weekends because it gives me a chance to interact with customers who come in during those times.”

10. Describe how you prioritize tasks when there is not enough time in the day.

This question can help interviewers understand how you manage your time and whether or not you are able to meet deadlines. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific example of when you had too much work to do in one day and how you managed the situation.

Example: “In my previous position as a marketing manager at a software company, I was responsible for creating content for our social media accounts, writing blog posts, managing email newsletters and updating our website. One week, I had so many tasks that needed to be completed that I didn’t have enough time in the day to complete them all. Instead of trying to rush through everything, I prioritized what was most important and delegated some tasks to other employees.”

11. Are you open to learning new things and growing as a person?

This question is a great way to determine if the company you’re interviewing with has an open culture. An employer might ask this question to see how willing you are to grow and develop as a person, employee or professional. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific ways you’ve grown in your career so far.

Example: “I am always looking for new ways to improve myself and my work. I have taken several online courses on business management and marketing over the past year, which helped me learn more about the industry and apply that knowledge to my current job.”

12. Have you ever worked in a team environment before?

This question can help interviewers understand your teamwork skills and how you interact with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific time when you worked in a team environment and what the results were.

Example: “I have worked in a team environment before at my previous job where I was part of a marketing team that created social media content for our company’s accounts. We had weekly meetings to discuss any changes we wanted to make to our strategy or ideas we had for new content. This helped us stay organized and work together to create effective content.”

13. What do you think makes a successful team member?

This question can help interviewers understand your leadership skills and how you view teamwork. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss a time when you helped create or maintain a successful team.

Example: “I think the most important quality of a successful team member is their ability to communicate effectively with others. I have worked in teams where communication was lacking, which made it difficult for us to work together efficiently. In these situations, I would try to speak up more often so that everyone knew what they were doing. This helped me become a better communicator overall.”

14. Would you rather work alone or with others?

This question can help employers determine if you’re a good fit for the team environment at sweetgreen. When answering, consider what your coworkers do and how they contribute to the company’s success.

Example: “I would rather work with others because I enjoy collaborating on projects and learning from my colleagues. At my last job, I worked in a small marketing department where we all had different strengths. We learned from each other and helped one another when needed. For example, I was better at creating content while my coworker was better at social media management. By working together, we were able to create more effective campaigns.”

15. Tell me about a time you handled conflict between coworkers.

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle interpersonal challenges and your ability to resolve conflict. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you helped coworkers work through their differences and achieve success as a team.

Example: “At my previous job, I had two coworkers who often disagreed about the best way to complete tasks. One coworker was very detail-oriented while the other preferred to take on more projects at once. I noticed that they were both talented employees, so I scheduled a meeting with them to discuss their concerns. I asked each of them what they liked most about working together and what they would like to change. They came up with a compromise that allowed them to continue working in different ways but also collaborate more.”

16. What skills can you bring to Sweetgreen that will help improve our business?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have done your research on Sweetgreen and are familiar with its business practices. Use this time to highlight any skills or experiences that will help you succeed in this role, such as:

Prior experience working in a fast-paced environment
Experience managing employees
Knowledge of food safety regulations
Example: “I can bring my passion for healthy eating to Sweetgreen, which I believe is important to the success of the company. My previous experience working at a local restaurant has given me valuable insight into how to create a positive work culture where employees feel valued and appreciated. I also understand the importance of maintaining high standards when it comes to food preparation and sanitation.”

17. We are looking for someone who is willing to learn and grow with our company. Will you be able to adapt to change if need be?

This question is a great way to determine how adaptable you are. It’s important for employers to know that their employees will be able to adjust to new processes and procedures as they come up. When answering this question, make sure to show your willingness to learn and grow with the company.

Example: “I am always open to learning more about my job and ways I can improve. If there was a change in procedure or something else that needed adapting, I would be happy to do so. I believe it’s important to have an open mind when working in any environment.”

18. In this line of work, we often get busy during peak hours and we may ask you to take initiative and complete tasks without being asked first. How comfortable are you with this type of situation?

This question is designed to assess your ability to work independently and take initiative when needed. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific time you took initiative at a previous job or how comfortable you are with taking on additional responsibilities during busy times.

Example: “I am very comfortable with being asked to complete tasks without being told first. In fact, I enjoy the opportunity to show my managers that I am capable of handling more than what’s expected of me. At my last job, I was often tasked with helping out in other areas of the restaurant when we were especially busy. This helped me learn new skills and gain valuable experience.”

19. Are you able to stand up for long periods of time?

Sweetgreen is a fast-paced environment where employees are often on their feet for long periods of time. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re physically capable of performing the job duties. In your answer, let them know that you have no problem standing up for long periods of time. Explain that you’re in good physical health and can handle the demands of the position.

Example: “I am able to stand for long periods of time without any issues. I’m actually quite comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. As a server at my current job, I had to work quickly while also making sure all customers were happy. I think I would be a great fit for this role because I’m used to being on my feet all day.”

20. What kind of reservations service systems have you used before if any?

Sweetgreen uses a reservations service system to manage customer orders and payments. The interviewer wants to know if you have experience using this type of software, as it will help them determine whether or not you are qualified for the position. If you do have experience with similar systems, explain how your previous experience can benefit Sweetgreen.

Example: “I’ve used several different types of reservation systems in my past positions. I am familiar with OpenTable, which is one of the most popular online reservation services. However, I prefer to use an in-house system because it allows me to customize the process to fit the needs of each restaurant. This helps streamline the ordering and payment processes and ensures that customers receive their food quickly.”