20 UniFirst Interview Questions and Answers

As a leading provider of managed uniform and protective workwear rental programs, UniFirst Corp. is always looking for talented and ambitious individuals to join their team. If you’re interested in applying for a position at UniFirst, you can expect to be asked a variety of company-specific interview questions.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common UniFirst interview questions, along with sample answers to help you craft your own responses.

UniFirst Interview Process

The interview process at UniFirst can vary depending on the position you are applying for, but it generally consists of a phone screen, followed by one or more in-person interviews. For some positions, you may also be asked to do a presentation or ride along. The overall difficulty of the interviews will depend on the position you are applying for, but they are generally not too difficult. However, some candidates have reported being ghosted after the interview process, so it is important to follow up with the company if you don’t hear back from them.

1. Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced environment?

UniFirst is a growing company that offers many opportunities for advancement. The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you are willing to work in a fast-paced environment and how well you perform under pressure. Use your answer to show the interviewer that you can handle working in a busy workplace.

Example: “I am comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, as I have worked in similar environments before. In my previous role, I was responsible for managing multiple projects at once. This required me to prioritize tasks and manage my time effectively. As a result, I became an expert at multitasking and learned how to balance multiple responsibilities.”

2. How would you describe your leadership style?

UniFirst is looking for a leader who can inspire and motivate their team to achieve goals. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about your leadership style and how you would apply it in the workplace.

Example: “I believe my leadership style is collaborative. I like to involve everyone on the team when making decisions or setting goals. This helps me understand what motivates each employee and allows us all to work toward the same goal. In my last position, I used this method to help our team meet sales quotas every month.”

3. What are some of the strengths and weaknesses that you have as an outside sales representative?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you are self-aware and can identify your own strengths and weaknesses. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about both your positive and negative qualities.

Example: “I am a highly motivated individual who has the ability to work independently while also collaborating with others. I have excellent communication skills and enjoy interacting with customers and other people. However, I do sometimes get overwhelmed when there are too many tasks on my plate at once. In these situations, I try to prioritize what needs to be done first and delegate some of the less urgent tasks to other employees.”

4. Tell me about a time where you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.

This question is a great way to assess your communication skills and ability to persuade others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of how you used persuasion in the past to achieve a specific goal or outcome.

Example: “In my previous role as a sales representative for a uniform rental company, I had a client who was looking for new uniforms for their employees but wasn’t sure if they wanted to go with our company or another one. I met with them and discussed all of the benefits of working with us, including our competitive pricing and excellent customer service. They ended up choosing us because of my persuasive abilities.”

5. Can you tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult decision with little information, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you make decisions and whether or not you have experience making them. When answering, it can be helpful to provide an example of a time when you had to make a decision with little information but still made a choice that benefited your previous employer.

Example: “In my last position as a manager at a restaurant, I was working one night when our cook called in sick. With only two hours until dinner service began, we were short-staffed on cooks. I decided to call in another employee who worked in the kitchen part-time to fill in for the evening. While this wasn’t ideal, it helped us avoid having to cancel any reservations.”

6. We’re looking for someone who can think on their feet. Give me an example of a time where you could do this well.

This question is a great way to see how well you can think on your feet and adapt to changing situations. When answering this question, it’s important to give specific details about the situation and what you did to solve it.

Example: “I was working at a restaurant where I had to wear black pants and a white shirt. One day, my manager asked me to work in the kitchen because they were short-staffed. I told them that I couldn’t do that because of my uniform. They said that if I changed into an apron, I could work in the kitchen. So, I went back to my station and put on an apron.”

7. Can you tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential coworker’s customer service skills. It can also help you understand how they might interact with customers in the workplace.

Example: “I had a customer who was having trouble finding the right size uniform for their employee. They were ordering uniforms for over 100 employees, and it was difficult for them to find the right sizes for everyone. I offered to call all of our locations to see if any of them had extra uniforms that could be shipped to the client. We found enough uniforms at one location to fulfill the order, which saved the company time and money.”

8. Describe a situation where you knew you didn’t know what you were doing but felt compelled to fake it until you made it.

This question is a great way to show your ability to learn and grow. It’s important to be honest in this situation, as it can help the interviewer see that you’re willing to take risks and try new things.

Example: “I was working at a restaurant when I first moved to town. The manager asked me to make a Caesar salad for a large party of customers. I had never made one before, so I looked up a recipe online and tried my best. Luckily, they were happy with it.”

9. Have you ever worked without direct supervision before?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential new coworker’s experience and skills. If you have no direct supervision experience, it’s okay to say so, but if you do, be sure to explain how you worked with little or no supervision in the past.

Example: “I’ve never worked without direct supervision before, however, I am comfortable working independently and can complete tasks on my own when necessary. In my last position as an assistant manager at a local restaurant, I was responsible for scheduling employees, ordering supplies and managing inventory. While I did work under the direction of the general manager, I often had to make decisions on my own.”

10. Do you have experience selling products or services door to door?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential new coworker’s sales experience. If you have no prior experience, it’s okay to admit that and explain why you’re excited to gain this skill.

Example: “I’ve never sold anything door-to-door before, but I’m eager to learn how. I think the skills I already possess will help me succeed in this role. For example, I’m very outgoing and enjoy talking with people. I also have excellent communication skills and am confident I can convince others to try my company’s products or services.”

11. This position requires frequent travel. Are you okay with that?

Travel is a common part of many jobs, and it’s important to be honest about your feelings on the matter. If you’re not comfortable with travel, consider how you can make yourself more comfortable in that situation.

Example: “I’m okay with traveling for work as long as I have plenty of notice so I can plan accordingly. I’ve found that having a good book or some other entertainment helps me pass the time when I’m traveling.”

12. Would you say you work better independently or as part of a team?

This question is a great way to learn more about the applicant’s personality and how they might fit into your company culture. If you’re hiring for a customer service position, it can be especially important that employees are able to work well with others.

Example: “I find I am most productive when working independently, however, I also enjoy collaborating with my team members. In my previous role as an administrative assistant, I was responsible for completing many tasks on my own, but I always made sure to ask questions if I needed help from my supervisor or coworkers.”

13. What is your approach to prospecting for new customers?

Prospecting is a key part of the sales process, and employers want to know that you have experience with this. In your answer, describe how you would approach prospecting for new customers at UniFirst.

Example: “I believe in building relationships with my clients before I ever start selling them anything. Prospecting starts with listening to what they need and understanding their challenges. Then, I can offer solutions that will help them overcome those challenges while also providing value to our company. This strategy has helped me grow my client base by 20% over the last year.”

14. UniFirst is a company that emphasizes innovation. Tell us about a time where you came up with a creative solution to a problem.

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and how you can apply them in a work environment. When answering this question, think of a time when you used your critical thinking skills to come up with a unique solution to a challenge.

Example: “At my previous job, I was tasked with finding a way to reduce the amount of paper we were using at our facility. At first, I thought that implementing a digital document system would be the best option. However, after talking with some colleagues, I learned that many employees preferred having hard copies of documents because they could easily refer back to them later.

I decided to create a hybrid system where all important documents were available digitally but also printed out for those who needed them. This reduced the amount of paper we used by 50% while still allowing everyone access to the information they needed.”

15. We need our sales representatives to be able to manage their own schedules. Can you tell me about a time you demonstrated excellent time management skills.

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you can work independently and prioritize tasks. When answering this question, consider describing a time when you had multiple projects due at the same time but still managed to complete them all on time.

Example: “In my last position as a sales representative for a uniform rental company, I was responsible for scheduling myself and other employees for shifts. One day, I received a call from our manager asking me to fill in for one of our employees who called out sick. I looked through our employee roster and found someone else who could cover the shift so I wouldn’t have to cancel any scheduled appointments with customers.”

16. What kind of compensation structure are you most comfortable working under?

UniFirst is a company that offers competitive salaries and benefits packages. They want to know what you expect in terms of compensation so they can ensure you’re satisfied with the offer.

Example: “I’m looking for a position where I can make at least $50,000 per year. I have five years of experience as an assistant manager, so I feel like my skills are worth this amount. I also would like to receive a performance bonus after six months on the job.”

17. Give us an example of a time you dealt with conflict at work, how did you handle it?

When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of a time you handled conflict at work and how your actions helped resolve the situation.

Example: “At my previous job, I had a coworker who was constantly late for our morning meetings. This made it difficult for us to start our day on time because we would have to wait for them before starting our daily tasks. After talking with them about their tardiness, they said that they were having trouble getting up in the mornings. So, I offered to help them by giving them tips on how to get out of bed earlier.”

18. What is one thing you wish you had known earlier in your career?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are always learning and growing as an employee. It also gives them insight into what you wish you had known when you started working for UniFirst, which can help them understand how much you have grown since then.

Example: “I wish I knew earlier in my career that it’s okay to ask questions. When I first started working at UniFirst, I was afraid of looking stupid or incompetent if I asked a question about something I didn’t know. However, after talking with some coworkers, I learned that asking questions is the best way to learn new things and grow professionally.”

19. This job will require lots of cold calling, are you comfortable with making phone calls to potential clients?

Cold calling is a common part of many sales jobs, and the interviewer will want to know that you’re comfortable with this aspect of the job. If you have experience cold calling, describe your process for making calls. If you don’t have experience, explain how you would approach cold calling if hired.

Example: “I’m very comfortable making cold calls because I’ve done it before in my previous position. When I first started at my last company, I was tasked with finding new clients. I researched our target market and found several companies that we could provide uniforms to. Then, I called each company and introduced myself and UniFirst. I explained what we do and asked if they had any questions about our services.”

20. Can you give us an example of a time where you took initiative at work?

This question is a great way to show your potential employer that you are willing to take on more responsibility and help the company grow. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of an example from your previous job where you took initiative and helped improve your team’s productivity or efficiency.

Example: “At my last job, I noticed that our warehouse was running low on some supplies. Rather than waiting for someone else to notice, I decided to order more supplies myself so we wouldn’t run out during peak shipping season. This ended up saving the company money because I ordered ahead of time rather than ordering more supplies at a higher cost when they were needed.”