Caribou Coffee Retail Associate Interview Questions
& Process

After I applied, I got an email about an interview within a week. I went in, they asked me some questions, and said they'd email me back in a week. Two days later, I got a follow-up email asking me to start training as soon as possible. I scheduled a start date with my manager, and began working about two days after that email.

I applied online for a few places nearby and it was easy, I liked that I could check a box to apply to multiple locations at once. About four days later, a manager called me saying they found my application and wanted to interview me in a few days. I got there 10 minutes early, was given a free drink, and told to wait. The manager was late returning from the bank, and even when they got back, employees had to tell them I was there. The interview itself was weird; they barely asked about me. Instead, they asked about how the team works together (even though I'd never met them) and my thoughts on customer care based on my wait time. They also asked about the store's product display and cleanliness. The manager interrupted the interview twice to talk to people and help an employee. For the remaining 35 minutes, it was all 'Tell me a time when you...' questions, which was annoying, and the manager seemed less interested as I answered. The questions didn't seem to test my skills or interests, so I had to bring up my own strengths and values. It felt like the only things that mattered were what animal or drink I'd be and how I eat an Oreo. At the very end, they made me a job offer, saying they did this to see reactions, which I don't think is a good reason to offer someone a job.

The interview was pretty straightforward. It involved typical questions about situations you've encountered. The interview process has two parts: either you interview with the manager of that location and a supervisor, or you'll be sent to a different location for your follow-up interview.