Subway Interview Questions and Answers

Quarantine measures have gutted many restaurant businesses, but Subway is not one of them. Due to its franchise business model and small “mom and pop businesses,” Subway has remained on top amidst the chaos and uncertainty of political turmoil and economic collapse. Forbes reports, “There’s no other brand that quite matches the size or scope of Subway.” In comparison to Burger King’s 18,000 restaurants, Subway now boasts about 42,000 units.

Hardly anyone can claim that they were ready when lockdown measures were imposed, but Subway took a few smart steps which allowed it not to get killed by quarantine. For starters, Subway’s restaurants tend to spend less on rent costs due to their smaller sizes and labor costs due to employing fewer workers. But also Subway has been developing delivery and takeout in recent years. That is why if you are looking for a job in a quick-service restaurant (QSR), check out the nearest Subway establishments for new openings.

Always Come Prepared

After you get invited for an interview, there are several steps you should take to give a stellar impression and get hired.

• Research. The research stage is crucial. You need to know how the company positions itself through its website and social media presence. Get familiar with Subway’s menu. Check out the company’s mission and recent achievements. Especially if you’re applying for a managerial job, the familiarity with some digits (revenue, number of franchises, etc.) will come in handy. You can also find keywords from the company's website and job posting to use in your resume and cover letter. Finally, a random search can bring you some useful tidbits about the company’s hiring policies from Reddit and social media.
• Resume. Even if you’re looking for your first proper job, a resume is still a must. Having no work experience will get you to focus on your skills instead. Think about instances or gigs on the side when you worked with a team or dealt with rude people. You can tweak that type of experience into your skills. If you have no idea how to approach writing a resume, use the GetCoverLetter builder. Here is a barista resume sample and a restaurant manager resume sample for your future reference.
  
  

  As for a cover letter, it is an indispensable supplement to your resume that allows you to explain in a less formal way why you are a great fit for the role. Especially if you lack working experience and your main competitive advantages are your enthusiasm and hard work, which are not visible on a resume. A cleverly composed cover letter is the best way to establish yourself as a viable candidate. Here is a barista cover letter sample to give you an idea of how your cover letter might look.
• Mock Subway Job Interview Questions. To ease your nervousness before a Subway interview, practice answering some typical interview questions. If you worry that you are bad with job interviews, practice is key. Invite a friend over and rehearse for an interview. Get feedback and make corrections. If you don’t want your friends to see you stumbling over the words, set up your camera or a smartphone, and record yourself speaking. Seeing yourself recorded will help you see where your delivery should be improved.

Subway Interview Questions And Answers

Let’s set your mind at ease right away. There is highly probable that your interview will include the question, “why do you want to work on the Subway?” along with a couple of personal ones. Subway has an incredibly high turnover rate, and many Subway establishments hire on the spot.

However, you never know what’s ahead of you, so it is better to come prepared. We have gathered a list of the most common questions asked by Subway hiring managers to candidates.

Get Ready to Talk about Yourself

Subway managers are looking for candidates who can successfully carry out daily duties in the shop and have compatible personalities to work with the rest of the team. For this reason, you will first be asked some personal questions.

1. Why do you want to work at Subway? This is the most likely question you’ll get. In your answer, give positive associations to the brand. The brand, and the lifestyle it symbolizes, coincide with your values. You can mention their competitive advantage over McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC. It is ok to say that you need some money to support your studies. However, your main focus should be your enthusiasm for the company.

2. Can you tell us about your working experience? If you have no work experience, it is not a problem. Try to compensate by mentioning your transferable skills. If you spent some time writing a resume, you know how to spin your previous experience and qualifications and adjust them for this job. If you had a job earlier, be ready to explain the reasons why you left it. The hiring manager is just trying to understand what kind of worker you are.

3. Which hours can you work? Get a clear idea of your workload (studies, domestic chores, love life, etc.) and be ready to give precise hours when you can be available for a Subway shift. It is common for students to earn extra cash at Subway, so no one expects you to put in 40 hours a week. Typically students work around 20 hours a week. Be flexible.

4. What are your weakest and strongest traits? The key to this question is to give something relevant to the employer. When talking about your weaknesses, pick something with a tinge of strength: self-criticism, lack of experience, shyness/lack of confidence. Surprisingly, naming one’s strength is quite a pain for many. Rehash all positive traits useful in your line of work: leadership, teamwork/collaboration, interpersonal skills, sense of humor, optimistic mindset, and an ability to deal with difficult people (customers).

5. How will you fare in a monotone job such as at Subway? You have several strategies for answering this one. First, you can be frank and say that you are not very creative and actually prefer to know what to do next and follow the rules. Second, you can say that you have the stamina and perseverance to do almost any job if you know what it entails. You have your own dreams and career goals, and this is one of the steps on your way to success. Finally, you can say that you see Subway employment as a way to get experience, and you expect to work up to a managerial position eventually.

6. What are your hobbies, or what do you enjoy doing in your free time? Being part of a team is important for Subway. That is why Subway hiring managers also look at compatibility between the team members. Answering this question, you can openly talk about activities you like to do the most: reading, writing, social media, sports; whatever it is, name it to reveal your personality and what motivates you.

Get Ready to Model Situations

Subway hiring managers love to ask situational “What if” questions.

7. What would you do if you saw a co-worker make themselves a free sandwich? The hiring manager wants to make sure you are honest and trustworthy. Make sure you clearly communicate that employee theft is unacceptable for you. Familiarize yourself with the anti-theft policy at Subway. Say that you will not let a co-worker get away with it and will report them to management.

8. What would you do if a customer complains about the service or the quality of the food to you? Your tactic here is to show that you’re ready to handle it without turning to the manager. It is important because it is common for Subway employees to work a shift with another team member and without a manager. Say that first, you will apologize to the customer. Next, you will listen to the customer’s complaint and will make sure that you thoroughly followed the instructions. Finally, you will check the ingredients and the equipment. If there’s something wrong, you will notify the manager.

9. What would you do if you have a long line of customers and some get very impatient? Answering this question, you can give your coping strategies. It is ok to acknowledge that some situations agitate you, but you learned to handle them. You can say that breathing techniques help you stay calm. Or that you use humor to lift your spirits and help people around you feel better too.

Get Ready to Answer Job-Specific Questions

Although Subway hiring managers use more or less the same lists of interview questions, what they ask may somewhat differ depending on what position you’re applying for.

Sandwich Artists

10. Do fast-paced environments work for you, or do you prefer calmer places? Keeping in mind that Subway is a quick-service restaurant (QSR), it would be a big mistake to come to work there and not be able to withstand the hustle and bustle of a lunch hour. Say that you thrive in a fast-paced environment as deadlines and rush hours invigorate you.

11. Do impatient and even angry customers throw you off your game? Angry customers definitely add to your stress, but you are learning (or have already learned) to handle stress. Seeing a deadline or a demanding customer is a challenge for you, and you look for ways to deal with it with humor and positivity. Say that if you have a major setback, you will discuss it with your manager briefly. In some cases, you may take a breather outside for a few minutes. But overall, your coping skills are on par.

12. What does BMT stand for? Biggest, Meatiest, and Tastiest. Look through Subway’s website and menu to know the main names and definitions.

Shift Supervisor

13. A customer starts yelling at one of your team members. What will you do? Say that you will approach the customer and offer your apologies for the situation. Then you’ll try to understand the problem and offer a solution. Mention that you will handle it according to Subway’s policy for such scenarios.

14. Why do you want to work as a Subway shift supervisor? Say that Subway offers a superb environment for honing leaders. Mention that you would like to become a manager one day, and that is your nearest goal.

Assistant Manager

15. What are your interviewing strategies for job applicants? Say that in your experience, you always look at how enthusiastic a candidate is. A strong interest in the company is a good predictor of one’s serious approach and intention to stay long. Mention that you ask situational and behavioral questions.

16. Are you customer-minded? How? Explain what customer service means for you for a QSR. Make an emphasis on your ability as an assistant manager to look at a restaurant from the customer’s perspective. And if you see something is unpleasant, you know what changes should be made.

Questions to Ask at a Subway Interview

Whether to ask anything from a hiring manager is absolutely up to you. If you don’t know what exactly to ask, but you believe that asking questions will enhance a good impression from your interview, here are a few suggestions about what you can ask:

1. What are the next steps in the interview process?
2. What do you expect of me in this position apart from the job duties?
3. What can I get promoted to from this position?
4. What characteristics do you look for in employees to represent Subway’s values?
5. Who will I be working most closely with?
6. What are the most challenging aspects of this position?
7. Is there anything about my background or resume that makes you doubt my fitness for this job?

Subway Interview Tips: On the Day of An Interview

Here are a few quick tips about getting ready and what to wear for a Subway interview right on the day of an interview.

• At Home. Get dressed smartly. You are not expected to sport a three-piece suit for a Subway interview but anything that gives a vibe that you mean business will do. It can be a button-up shirt and dark jeans or a jacket over any outfit. Just try to look formal.
• On the Way. Have a brisk walk. Get off a bus one stop earlier or park your car one block away. Walking will help you clear your head and get in the mood for a serious conversation. Plus, brisk walking dials down agitation and anxiety.
• On the Spot. Be polite. It is a fundamental piece of advice but an effective one. Remember that your interview starts the minute you step your foot in the door. You are judged by the little details: whether you greet people around you, whether you take off your headphones when you ask your way to a hiring manager, whether you look people in the eye when you shake their hand and during the interview.

The Bottom Line

Try not to wind yourself up before an interview. You most likely will not be asked all the questions on the list. It largely depends on how urgently a Subway establishment needs a fresh pair of hands. Subway is a friendly organization, and their interviews are often pretty informal. If you spend some time getting ready, you will feel much more confident.