Chipotle Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

Are you passionate about food? Do you find yourself constantly ordering burritos from Chipotle? Do you want to get your foot in the door in the restaurant industry? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you might want to consider applying for a job at Chipotle.

The famous Mexican fast-casual restaurant has locations across the US (and even international outposts) that are always looking to add to their team. Working with Chipotle means great opportunities for advancement, gaining training and knowledge about their products, working with great team members, and helping them fulfill their mission to make high-quality, all-natural fast food.

Landing a job at Chipotle isn’t difficult with a little bit of preparation and practice. We’ll walk you through the process of applying, interviewing, and getting a job with Chipotle with this guide.

Key Takeaways:

• Expect both Chipotle specific and general customer service interview questions.

• Be prepared for your interview by reading the job description, updating your resume, and dressing relatively professional.

• Your answers you be direct to the point and highlight why you would be a good fit for Chipotle.

• If this is your first job, empathize your willingness to learn.

Interview Questions at Chipotle Mexican Grill

Many of the interview questions you’ll get at Chipotle are common interview questions that you’d get at any other entry-level job interview. Since the hiring process is geared toward entry-level job seekers or people trying to land their first job, the interviews aren’t meant to trick you. Your interviewer just wants to see if you’re a good skill and personality fit for the position.

Still, it’s a good idea to go over the basic interview questions as well as Chipotle-specific ones, so you’re prepared for whatever the interviewer asks you. Here are some of the questions you might have to answer during one of your interviews with Chipotle:

1. Can you see yourself building a career with Chipotle?

2. What does great customer service mean to you?

3. Why do you want to work for Chipotle?

4. Do you have any previous restaurant or food service experience?

5. How do you handle stressful situations?

6. How do you work in a team environment?

7. What are your best skills that you can bring to the team at Chipotle?

8. Tell me what you know about Chipotle.

9. Can you work in a fast-paced environment?

10. Have you worked with point-of-sale or cash registers before?

11. How familiar are you with the Chipotle menu? [Note: you might get this question phrased in another way, like “What’s your favorite dish on the menu?” to test your knowledge.]

12. Do you have any experience with customer service?

13. Can you tell me about a time you had to teach someone how to do something?

14. How would you handle an unhappy or rude customer?

15. Imagine your shift is coming to an end, but your coworker who’s supposed to replace you hasn’t arrived yet. What would you do?

16. When are you available to work?

17. What is your biggest weakness?

18. Can you tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you fixed it?

19. Where do you see yourself in five years?

20. Are you comfortable with multitasking?

Example Answers to Chipotle Questions

Now that you have seen some potential Chipotle interview questions, you might be wondering how to answer them. Lets take a few examples to show you how it is possible to answer an interview question that gets to the point, highlights your professionalism, and shows that you are the right fit for the job.

1. Why do you want to work for Chipotle?

   “I want to work at Chipotle because I think it would be a perfect fit with my interests and skills. I’m great with people and I love interacting with new faces everyday. I have a lot of experience helping my school run bake sales. Usually I am the one sitting at the table handing out treats and talking with everyone who passes by.

   I would love to take these skills further and I think Chipotle would be a great place to do to grow. Plus, I love the food.”

2. Tell me what you know about Chipotle.
   

   “I know that Chipotle prides itself on its quality service. Chipotle is more than just a fast food restaurant. Chipotle caters to people who want good food and good atmosphere. Chipotle wants to strike a balance between convenience, comfort, and quality.”

3. How would you handle an unhappy or rude customer?
   

   “First, I would validate their emotions. I would say something like, ‘I understand you are upset right now.’ Then, I would see if there was anything reasonable I could do to help them. I might try to offer them different solutions to their problems. If that all didn’t work, I would then go get my supervisor.”

Interview Tips for Chipotle Mexican Grill

Knowing the questions you’ll be asked isn’t the only thing you can do to prepare for an interview with Chipotle. Here are a few more tips to help get you hired:

• Update your resume. Ensure you have a copy of your resume that’s recent and highlights specific skills that the job description asks for. Taking the extra time to do this will almost guarantee that you get an interview and an opportunity to explain why you’re perfect for the job.

• Research the company. Knowing the core values and goals of Chipotle is key to nailing the interview questions. Find ways to relate your answers to the company’s values, like inclusivity, diversity, authenticity, and standing up for what’s right.

  The more you can show that you understand the company’s goals and motivations, the better you’ll look in the interview.

• Practice your interview answers. While you go over the most common Chipotle interview questions, you should think of how you would answer them. Practicing ahead of time will help you think of answers ahead of the interview, so you don’t have to scramble for a response during the interview.

  It will also ease some of the pressure, so you don’t panic while interviewing since you have thorough answers ready to go.

• Dress professionally. Chipotle interviews their candidates in-person, so make sure you have a professional outfit ready to go. Business casual should be appropriate, and you can keep your style relaxed; just don’t show up in sweatpants.

• Bring a resume. When you’re in the interview, make sure you bring a resume. It could be a useful reference for your interviewer just if they didn’t have a chance to review your qualifications. You can also use it to stay on track and remind yourself of what relevant experience you should highlight as you answer questions.

• Emphasize your willingness to learn. Chipotle is an excellent place for first-time job seekers to work, and they know a lot of employees don’t have extensive customer service or restaurant experience. The company is willing to train employees, but you need to show that you have the skills and desire to learn. Try to emphasize skills you’ve picked up or things that you’ve taught yourself, so they know you’re a quick learner.

• Ask questions. You should always ask the interviewer questions at the end of an interview. It shows that you’re engaged and invested in the job opportunity. Think of a few questions you can ask, either about the job itself or the company culture, and you’ll stand out to your interviewer.

• Build rapport. Try to engage your interviewer and create a friendly relationship with them. You’ll have the opportunity to start a little small talk before and after the interview, so use it to learn more about the interviewer as a person and let them get to know you.

• Practice some more. If you get invited for a second interview, you should repeat your prep process to ensure you have good answers prepared. Typically the second interview is with a higher-up manager or hiring manager, so you want to make sure that you impress them. Going through another round of prep is the perfect way to wow your next interviewer.

Author

Amanda Covaleski

Amanda is a writer with experience in various industries, including travel, real estate, and career advice. After taking on internships and entry-level jobs, she is familiar with the job search process and landing that crucial first job. Included in her experience is work at an employer/intern matching startup where she marketed an intern database to employers and supported college interns looking for work experience.