By Mike Simpson
If you have your sights set on a Chick-fil-A job, there’s one thing you need to do: get ready for the Chick-fil-A interview questions.
After all, Chick-fil-A is a culture-driven company. Its mission and values mean the company, at times, makes choices that other restaurants (like McDonald’s or Chipotle, for example) don’t, like closing every Sunday and putting an emphasis on community. That’s what makes working at Chick-fil-A such an attractive option for job seekers.
Not only can any interview can be incredibly stressful, the higher level of interest means competition for Chick-fil-A jobs can be surprisingly fierce. If you don’t prepare, your odds of landing the position go down dramatically.
If you’re hoping to become one of this fast food giant’s 120,000 employees, tackling the Chick-fil-A interview questions like a boss is a must. Not sure how to do that? Don’t panic. Instead, come with us as we explore the ins and outs of nailing a Chick-fil-A interview.
How to Answer Chick-fil-A Interview Questions
Before we hop into the Chick-fil-A interview questions and example answers, let’s spend a minute talking about how to approach the questions. In the end, having a reliable strategy by your side is important. It means you’ll be able to handle anything the hiring manager may ask, including questions you don’t expect or didn’t practice.
If you really want to nail any job interview, your first step needs to be handling some research. Begin by really taking a close hard look at the job description. That way, you’ll know the skills and traits the hiring manager is after, giving you some solid talking points.
After that, it’s time for more digging. As we mentioned above, Chick-fil-A is a culture-driven organization. Why does that matter? Well, if you aren’t prepared to show how you’re an excellent fit for that culture, you might not land the job; that’s why.
So, take a trip to the Chick-fil-A website and review the company’s mission and values. Next, wander over to the company’s social media pages for more insights. Then, do a quick online search and see if there’s any recent news about Chick-fil-A, as that may give you some more helpful tidbits.
Finally, if you aren’t a frequent customer, go back to the Chick-fil-A website and get to know the menu a bit. Along with reviewing any current special promotions, take a look at the restaurant’s core offerings. Read over the main ingredients to get a feel for what the company sells.
At this point, you’re pretty squared away on the research front. That means it’s time to talk strategy.
Ideally, you want a reliable method for answering job interview questions. First, when it comes to straightforward ones – the kind you can answer with a “yes” or “no” – you want a formula to make sure your answers stand out.
Wait, can’t you just say “yes” or “no?” Well, you could, but that would be a mistake. Instead, it’s best to go a bit further.
If your answer would be a “yes,” follow it up with an example. For instance, if the question was about whether you have a skill, tell the hiring manager where you got that skill or how you used it previously.
If your answer is “no,” you still need some follow-up. For any skill that you lack, talk about your willingness to learn or any supporting skills that would make developing this one easier for you.
Second, for behavioral interview questions, you’ll need a different strategy. These can be surprisingly tricky, mainly because there isn’t a set “right” or “wrong” answer. Plus, they tend to be open-ended, meaning you have to talk more to really nail them.
So, how do you prepare to do battle with behavioral interview questions? Well, start by learning the STAR Method. With the STAR Method, you get a formula for creating compelling, story-driven answers for behavioral interview questions you might encounter during your Chick-fil-A interview.
After that, it’s time to put the secret sauce on your answers. By getting to know the Tailoring Method, too, you’ll be able to create ridiculously relevant responses to any Chick-fil-A interview questions you face.
By mixing the Star Method and Tailoring Method, you really end up with a winning combination.
We also wanted to let you know that we created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview. After all, hiring managers will often ask you more generalized interview questions!
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Top 3 Chick-fil-A Interview Questions
Alright, now is the moment you’ve been waiting for. It’s time for some Chick-fil-A interview questions and answers.
By reviewing these questions and answers, you can get some insights that make help you shine during your Chick-fil-A interview. So, without any further ado, here are the top three questions you might encounter, as well as example responses.
1. What does “going the extra mile” mean to you?
Chick-fil-A has a reputation for exceeding customer expectations. That means, when it comes to choosing people to work at Chick-fil-A, they favor candidates who share that value.
With this question, you simply need to help the hiring manager understand how you view the concept of going the extra mile. There isn’t a right or wrong answer, necessarily. Instead, it’s more about showcasing your desire to always exceed expectations.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
“To me, ‘going the extra mile’ means doing that little something extra that someone isn’t expecting. It’s about making an effort to do something genuinely special, ensuring the experience stands out from the norm in a meaningful and memorable way.
However, while ‘going the extra mile’ seems like something you only do on occasion, I make it a core part of everything I do. Exceeding expectations is always my goal, both for my employer and the customers the company serves. By maintaining that mindset, it’s easier to deliver amazing experiences and results, ensuring everyone is thrilled along the way.”
2. Are you involved with any charitable or community organizations?
Chick-fil-A is very community-focused. The company values charitability and giving, as well as forging a culture based on those ideas.
When hiring managers ask this question, they are trying to see if you have a similar mindset. If you do, that could indicate you are an excellent match for the company’s culture, making you a better candidate for the job.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
“Currently, I volunteer with an after-school tutoring program at the local middle school. The program gives kids a safe place to go when school lets out and ensures they have critical academic support, increasing the odds that they’ll thrive and be ready for high school.
During the summer, I also volunteer coach for a city-run youth sports league. Again, it ensures kids have amazing activities and a place to go. Plus, it helps create an emphasis on fitness and fun, making our community a brighter place.”
3. What traits do you think make a successful Chick-fil-A employee?
With this question, the hiring manager gets a better idea of what you know about the job and how you view the role. Additionally, it usually gives them insights into your perceived strengths, as most candidates focus on traits they bring to the table.
Technically, there aren’t any right or wrong answers. However, it wouldn’t be a great idea to just give the hiring manager a list of traits and end your response at that.
Instead, spend a moment justifying your choices. Let the hiring manager know why you think those traits matter. That really is crucial for this question, making your answer more relevant and meaningful.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
“Overall, I think the most important traits are teamwork, communication, and perseverance. Ultimately, each employee needs to be able to rely on each other, making teamwork essential. With strong communication skills, the team dynamic and customer experience are both strengthened, making it crucial.
Finally, every job comes with challenges. With perseverance, obstacles won’t hold you back. Instead, you’ll be able to dig in, ensuring you can find a solution and keep moving forward.”
17 More Chick-fil-A Interview Questions
Here are 17 more Chick-fil-A interview questions you might encounter:
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- Why do you want to work at Chick-fil-A?
- What can you tell me about Chick-fil-A?
- Can you tell me about your proudest moment?
- What’s your favorite Chick-fil-A menu item? Why is it your favorite?
- How many hours are you hoping to work each week?
- Describe a time you stepped up as a leader.
- Do you have open availability?
- Can you tell me something unique that you would bring to the team?
- If you saw a college struggling, what would you do?
- If a customer is dissatisfied, how would you make it right?
- During peak meal times, this location can get incredibly busy. Do you do well in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment?
- Sometimes, parts of the job can be a little repetitive. How do you stay motivated when during monotonous tasks?
- Do you have cash handling or cooking experience?
- If the person relieving you at the end of your shift called in sick, what would you do?
- During non-peak times, the number of customers falls, at times dramatically. What would you do to make sure that you stayed busy and productive when there aren’t a lot of orders?
- If you saw a customer acting aggressively toward a coworker, what would you do?
- Why did you choose to apply at Chick-fil-A instead of other fast food restaurants?
5 Good Questions to Ask at the End of a Chick-fil-A Interview
When your Chick-fil-A interview starts to draw to a close, the odds are high that you’ll get a chance to ask the hiring manager at least a few questions. This is an incredibly important moment. Not only does asking smart questions help you gather additional information about the role, but it also makes you look like an enthusiastic candidate. That’s all good stuff.
If you aren’t sure what to ask, here are five questions to keep in your back pocket:
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- Can you give me an overview of a typical day in this job?
- Did anything about working at Chick-fil-A take you by surprise when you first started in your role?
- How do you measure success for this position?
- Can you describe the biggest challenge this Chick-fil-A location experiences? How can this role help solve that challenge?
- If you had a chance to give every new hire one piece of advice, what would it be?
Putting It All Together
Ultimately, heading into any job interview can be a little scary. Luckily, you have all of the tips above, including an overview of some of the Chick-fil-A interview questions you might face.
Use that all to your advantage. That way, your odds of landing one of the exciting Chick-fil-A jobs can go up, and your dream of working at Chick-fil-A can become a reality.
Good luck!
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Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.
His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan, Penn State, Northeastern and others.
Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page.