20 Sysco Interview Questions and Answers

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food, food products and equipment to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. With more than 57,000 employees and more than 400,000 customers, we operate approximately 330 distribution facilities worldwide and serve more than 1.5 million customer locations.

Sysco Interview Process

The interview process at Sysco can vary depending on the position you are applying for. For some positions, like drivers, the process is fairly quick and straightforward. For other positions, like financial analysts or IT project managers, the process may be more involved, with multiple rounds of interviews. Overall, the interview process seems to be fair and reasonable, although some candidates have found it to be unprofessional or even dehumanizing.

1. Tell me about your experience with sales and customer service.

Sysco is a food distributor, so it’s important that you have experience with sales and customer service. Use your answer to highlight your relevant skills and how they can benefit Sysco.

Example: “I’ve worked in the food industry for five years now, and I started as a server at a restaurant. My manager noticed my passion for food and encouraged me to pursue a career in food distribution. I took her advice and applied for an entry-level position at Sysco. I was hired on the spot and quickly learned about the company’s products and services. I spent two years working in customer service before moving into sales.”

2. Why do you want to work at Sysco?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in their company. They want to know what you like about Sysco and why you are excited to work there. Use this opportunity to share any research you have done on the company, including its values and goals. You can also talk about how your skills and experience make you a good fit for the role.

Example: “I am very interested in working at Sysco because of the company’s commitment to customer service. I believe that my communication skills and ability to solve problems would be an asset to the team. I am also impressed by the company’s dedication to employee development. I feel confident that if I were hired here, I could grow both personally and professionally.”

3. What is your preferred shift?

Sysco offers a variety of shifts, including nights and weekends. Employers ask this question to make sure you are flexible enough to work any shift they need you to. Before your interview, read through the job description to see which shifts the company is looking to fill. Choose one that matches up with what they’re hiring for. In your answer, explain why you chose that particular shift.

Example: “I am available to work any day or night shift. I prefer working during the day because it gives me energy throughout my entire workday. However, if you’re looking to hire someone who can work at night, I would be happy to do so as well. I find that I’m more productive when I get some natural light in the morning.”

4. Do you have any prior delivery experience?

Sysco is a food distributor, so the interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience with delivering products. If you do, share your experiences and how they relate to the position. If you don’t have delivery experience, you can talk about any other relevant work experience that involves driving or operating vehicles.

Example: “I’ve never delivered for Sysco before, but I did deliver pizzas when I was in high school. It was a part-time job, and it taught me valuable lessons about customer service and working as part of a team. I also learned how to drive a car while I worked there.”

5. How would you describe yourself in five words?

This question is a great way to learn more about the applicant’s personality and values. It also helps employers get to know you better as a person, which can be helpful when they’re trying to decide who to hire. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to choose words that describe your character or values.

Example: “I would describe myself in five words as hardworking, honest, dedicated, empathetic and organized. These are all qualities I have developed over my career, and I believe they make me an excellent candidate for this position.”

6. Are you comfortable lifting up to 50 pounds?

Sysco requires employees to lift up to 50 pounds. This question helps the interviewer determine if you are physically capable of doing this job. Use your answer to highlight your physical capabilities and willingness to do this task.

Example: “I am comfortable lifting up to 50 pounds, but I can easily lift more than that. In my last position, I was responsible for unloading trucks by myself. I would often have to lift boxes weighing over 100 pounds. I find it easy to lift heavy objects as long as I take care not to rush. If I take my time, I can ensure that I don’t drop or damage any products.”

7. Can you provide an example of a time when you had to deal with an unhappy customer?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle conflict and whether or not you have experience in customer service. Use examples from your previous job to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication skills and ability to work under pressure.

Example: “In my last position as a server at a restaurant, I had an older couple come into the restaurant for dinner one night. The husband ordered a steak that was supposed to be medium rare but came out well done. He became upset with me because of this, even though it wasn’t my fault. Instead of getting defensive, I apologized and offered him another meal on the house. He accepted, and we were able to make things right.”

8. Give us an example of a time when you went above and beyond for a customer.

This question is a great way to show your dedication and willingness to help others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a time when you helped a customer in need or went above and beyond for a client.

Example: “When I was working at my previous job, we had a customer who ordered large quantities of food every week. One day, they called us because their order hadn’t arrived yet. We checked the tracking information and saw that there was an issue with the delivery. The driver said he couldn’t deliver the food until later that evening.

I spoke with our manager about what happened, and we decided to send someone over to the customer’s house to drop off some appetizers so they wouldn’t have to wait all day for their food. They were very grateful, and we ended up getting them as a regular customer.”

9. What are some qualities that make you stand out as a delivery driver?

Sysco is looking for drivers who are dependable, responsible and have a passion for customer service. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention some of your personal qualities that make you an ideal candidate for the position.

Example: “I am passionate about my work and always strive to do my best. I also take pride in being on time with deliveries and making sure customers are satisfied with their orders. In fact, I once received a call from a customer who was having trouble opening one of our cans. I offered to come back to their location and open the can for them so they could enjoy their meal. They were very appreciative of my help.”

10. What types of trucks have you driven before?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your driving experience. If you have never driven a truck before, it’s important to be honest and explain that you are comfortable with trucks of all sizes.

Example: “I’ve driven both 18-wheelers and smaller delivery trucks in my previous positions. I am comfortable driving any size vehicle as long as I’m given proper training on how to operate it. In fact, I prefer driving larger vehicles because they’re more stable than smaller ones.”

11. Tell us how you prioritize and organize your workday.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and organize tasks. Use examples from previous experiences to explain how you plan your day, prioritize projects and manage deadlines.

Example: “I use a calendar app on my phone to keep track of all my appointments and meetings for the day. I also have a planner where I write down important dates and deadlines. At the beginning of each week, I create a list of things that need to be done by the end of the week. This helps me stay organized and ensures I’m completing tasks in order of importance. If something urgent comes up during the week, I make sure it’s added to my to-do list so I can get it out of the way.”

12. Have you ever been ticketed or received points on your license? If yes, please explain.

Employers ask this question to make sure you have a clean driving record. If you have been ticketed or received points on your license, explain what happened and how it affected you. Show that you learned from the experience and are now a safe driver.

Example: “I was pulled over for speeding when I was in college. I had just gotten my new car and was eager to drive it. I got caught going 20 miles per hour over the speed limit. The officer gave me a warning but also wrote me a ticket for reckless driving. I paid the fine and took an online defensive driving course. Since then, I’ve never gotten another ticket.”

13. In what type of environments have you worked previously?

Sysco is a global company that operates in many different environments. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience working in challenging conditions and how you overcame any obstacles. Use your answer to highlight the skills you developed while working in these environments, such as adaptability or problem-solving.

Example: “I have worked in both hot and cold environments throughout my career. In my last position, I was responsible for maintaining servers in an industrial warehouse where it was often very hot. To overcome this challenge, I installed fans in the server room to keep the equipment cool. I also scheduled maintenance windows when the facility wasn’t busy so I could focus on the task at hand without distractions.”

14. Have you ever worked the night shift?

Working the night shift is a common responsibility for many Sysco employees. The interviewer wants to know if you have experience working in this type of environment and how it may affect your performance at work. If you do not have any previous experience, you can talk about what you would expect from such an assignment.

Example: “I have worked the night shift before, but only for one week when my manager was on vacation. I found that it was quite challenging to stay focused during the day after having worked all night. However, I am used to waking up early and feel confident that I could adjust to this schedule again.”

15. Describe a situation where you made a mistake on the job. How did you handle it?

This question is a great way to show your ability to learn from mistakes and how you can apply that learning in the future. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about any past mistakes but also highlight what you learned from them.

Example: “In my last position as a warehouse manager, I was responsible for ordering supplies for all of our locations. One day, I accidentally ordered twice as many boxes of one item than we needed. This meant we had to throw away quite a few extra boxes of food. To avoid making this mistake again, I created a system where I would check inventory levels before placing an order. Now, I always make sure to double-check my work.”

16. If a customer asked for a product we don’t carry, what would you do?

This question is a great way to test your problem-solving skills and ability to think on your feet. It’s important to show that you can be flexible, creative and willing to go the extra mile for customers.

Example: “If a customer asked for a product we don’t carry, I would first try to find it in another location or ask my manager if they could order it. If neither of those options were available, I would look into finding a similar product that was comparable in price and quality. For example, if a customer wanted fresh salmon but we didn’t have any in stock, I might offer them frozen salmon instead.”

17. What are you looking for in your next role?

This question can help the interviewer understand what you’re looking for in your next career move. Use this opportunity to explain why you are interested in working at Sysco and how it aligns with your goals.

Example: “I’m looking for a company that offers opportunities for advancement, as well as training programs to support my professional development. I am also looking for a company that values its employees and provides them with competitive benefits. From what I’ve read about Sysco, it seems like an excellent fit for me because of its commitment to employee satisfaction.”

18. Can you tell us about a time when you had to solve a problem quickly?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach challenges and solve problems. Use examples from your experience to highlight your critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities and ability to work under pressure.

Example: “At my previous job, I was working on a project that required me to create an inventory system for our company’s warehouse. The client wanted it completed within two weeks, but I knew this would be challenging because of the size of the warehouse. I spoke with my supervisor about the situation and we decided to hire another programmer to help me complete the project in time. We worked together every day until the project was finished.”

19. What makes you qualified to be a consultant at Sysco?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and how it relates to working at Sysco. Use this opportunity to highlight any relevant experience you have that makes you a good fit for the role.

Example: “I’ve worked in food service my entire career, so I understand what challenges restaurants face when they’re trying to keep their customers happy. My previous job was as a consultant for a restaurant chain where I helped them develop strategies to improve customer satisfaction. This experience has given me valuable insight into how businesses can use data to make better decisions.”

20. When was a time that you had to adapt to change? How did you approach it?

Sysco is a company that’s constantly adapting to change. The interviewer wants to know how you would handle this type of situation and if you have experience with it in the past.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for updating our inventory system every day. One week, we had an issue where the software wasn’t syncing properly with the database. This meant that I couldn’t update the inventory until the problem was fixed. It took me two days to fix the issue, but I did so without disrupting any other departments. I also worked with IT to ensure that the issue wouldn’t happen again.”