I work at La Madeleine about 30 hours a week. I had to ask my General Manager for this interview, and I wasn’t working during this meeting. I asked him about my job and what would happen to La Madeleine in the future if I wanted to work there full-time.
Prior to the interview, I know how to open, run, and close cashier and bakery. I know how to run salads, sandwiches, and saute. The General Manager of La Madeleine has a degree in Psychology. He focuses on the interactions and balance of employees inside of the restaurant. I asked him questions about myself as an employee specifically. I asked about the recommended path to becoming a manager or a catering specialist or certified CAT trainer.
Catering is a personal relations job. As a catering specialist one gets paid both hourly and gratuity per order. The most important part aspect of a potential catering specialist is their personality. They need to be outgoing and welcoming. After speaking with Robby, La Madeleine GM, I know that catering would not be for me. I do not like talking to people anI am not very outgoing. I am very introverted.
To become a manager, I would have to do pretty much the same things I do now, like being driven to make the company better and help it grow.
At La Madeleine, you can not be a manager until you are 21 years of age. I wasn’t interested because I’m only 17 and don’t want to have to do the same thing for four more years before I can move up in the company.
He said I should go to college and get a degree, but you don’t need a degree to be a manager. But without a degree General manager is as high as one can go within La Madeleine.
I know I do not belong at La Madeleine, especially for the rest of my life. After this interview I know I need to leave even though I do not dislike working there. To be able to come back to La Madeleine and work at a corporation or as a manager, I need to finish college.
Got an interview coming up with La Madeleine? Congratulations! With a bit of preparation, you can feel confident and ready to put your best foot forward. In this article, we’ll overview what to expect during the La Madeleine interview process and provide sample responses to 7 of their most frequently asked interview questions.
About La Madeleine
First, let’s do a quick overview of La Madeleine for context. La Madeleine is a popular French-inspired bakery café chain with over 80 locations, primarily across Texas and the southern United States. Founded in 1983 by Patrick E. Schoettmer, La Madeleine specializes in freshly baked breads, pastries, sandwiches, salads and more. Their mission is to provide guests with high-quality, authentic French food in a welcoming atmosphere. The company culture focuses strongly on providing excellent customer service.
Now let’s look at what to expect in a typical La Madeleine interview and how to prepare stand-out answers to common questions:
The La Madeleine Interview Process
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For front of house roles like hosts. servers baristas and cashiers. the process typically involves
- A short phone screening with the hiring manager
- One in-person interview at the restaurant
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For bakery production roles, there may be:
- A hands-on tryout or working interview
- Questions focused on your baking skills and attention to detail
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Interviews are conducted in a conversational style but will involve a mix of traditional and behavioral questions
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La Madeleine places a strong emphasis on assessing customer service orientation. You can expect scenario-based questions about dealing with guests.
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Come prepared to talk about your availability and commitment to reliable scheduling.
Below we walk through examples of responding to 7 common La Madeleine interview questions:
7 La Madeleine Interview Questions and Answers
1. Tell me about yourself.
This open-ended question is commonly used by La Madeleine interviewers to kick off the conversation. Use it as a chance to introduce your background and experience.
Tips:
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Keep your answer to under 2 minutes. Don’t ramble.
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Focus on your customer service experience and skills relevant to the role.
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Share a quick personal detail to help the interviewer relate to you.
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Conclude by expressing your enthusiasm for La Madeleine.
Example response: “I’m a hospitality professional with over 5 years of experience providing excellent customer service in fast-paced restaurant environments. In my last server role at ABC Bistro, I was actually named Server of the Month multiple times for my attention to detail and ability to connect with guests. I love the lively atmosphere and fast pace of the service industry. In my spare time, I enjoy experimenting with new French recipes, which drew me to La Madeleine. I’m very excited for the chance to create exceptional dining experiences for guests while being part of the warm, welcoming culture you’ve built here.”
2. Why do you want to work for La Madeleine?
With this question, interviewers want to understand why you are interested in the company specifically. Show you’ve done your research!
Tips:
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Review La Madeleine’s website and be ready to speak to their mission, values, and culture that resonate with you.
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Tie their priorities back to your own strengths, passions, and goals.
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Share specific menu items or offerings that appeal to you.
Example response: “I’m very aligned with La Madeleine’s commitment to authentic French flavors and providing every guest with a welcoming escape. Having traveled to France, I appreciate the charming European-style atmosphere you’ve created. Your focus on community, quality ingredients, and handmade recipes strongly appeals to me. I’m passionate about customer service and creating memorable dining experiences. With my restaurant background, I know I’d thrive in the fast-paced but lively La Madeleine environment and I’m excited to learn more about your impressive French-inspired menu.”
3. How would you provide excellent customer service?
La Madeleine wants to hire people who live and breathe customer service, so this question allows you to demonstrate that mindset.
Tips:
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Share specific tactics you use to deliver excellent service – greeting guests, being attentive, personalizing interactions, etc.
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Give an example of a time you went above and beyond for a customer.
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Emphasize that you see every guest interaction as an opportunity to build relationships and create a positive experience.
Example response: “For me, excellent service comes down to those small personal touches. I always greet guests promptly, learn their names, and get to know a bit about them to personalize the experience. If I notice a regular guest hasn’t ordered their usual, I’ll check in to make sure they’re happy. A while back, we had a couple celebrating a birthday. Between courses, I surprised them with a small dessert with a candle. They were so appreciative. My philosophy is to treat our guests like close friends that we want to see again and again.”
4. How do you handle a dissatisfied customer?
La Madeleine gets this inside look at your conflict management skills. Stay cool under pressure!
Tips:
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Express empathy for the customer’s frustration or disappointment.
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Outline the steps you take to understand the customer’s specific concerns.
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Share how you aim to find a positive solution – addressing the issue, offering compensation like discounts or free items, involving a manager if needed.
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Conclude by reiterating your commitment to each guest’s satisfaction.
Example response: “When a customer is dissatisfied, I take a step back and put myself in their shoes rather than getting defensive. I listen closely to fully understand where they are coming from. For example, if a meal came out cold, I apologize sincerely and offer to have it promptly remade. I’m always willing to involve my manager when needed to find the right solution. My goal is to turn the experience into a positive one so the guest leaves happy, hopefully feeling even more appreciated because we made it right.”
5. What is your availability?
Since La Madeleine runs on tight staffing, they need people with flexible availability. Be clear and realistic about the hours you can work.
Tips:
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Share your general schedule – days, times, any flexibility, preferences, etc.
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Note any dates you have pre-planned trips or commitments.
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Emphasize you can adapt your schedule as needed to meet business needs.
Example response: “My availability is very open at the moment. I’m able to work full-time hours including nights and weekends. Mondays and Fridays tend to work best for me currently, but I’m flexible. The only exception is that I do have a trip planned over Memorial Day weekend in May that I’ll need to take those days off for. But outside pre-planned commitments like that, you can absolutely count on me to adapt my schedule to whatever is needed.”
6. How do you handle working under pressure?
La Madeleine needs people who thrive under pressure, so draw on examples of staying cool when things get hectic.
Tips:
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Share a story of a time you got into a groove during an extremely busy, stressful shift.
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Emphasize how you prioritize and focus on the most urgent tasks.
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Outline any strategies you use like active listening, breathing, or visualizing success.
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Convey that you enjoy the thrill and fast pace of pressure-filled situations.
Example response: “I actually enjoy working under pressure – the busier the better! For me, it’s about mindset and staying laser focused on accomplishing each small task at hand. For example, this one Friday night we were totally slammed. I took a deep breath, made a plan, and tackled serving each table and processing each order with speed and accuracy. When I paused, I visualized the end result of happy customers. The shift flew by, and I was so energized afterwards. I like being tested and rising to the challenge when things get heated!”
7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Lastly, wrap up by demonstrating this role aligns with your long-term goals.
Tips:
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Share aspirations that show a commitment to growing in the hospitality/restaurant industry.
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Talk about skill-building goals relevant to the specific position you’re applying for.
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Express interest in growing your career with La Madeleine long-term.
Example response: *”In 5 years, I hope to have grown from an entry-level team member into a leadership role, potentially as a shift supervisor, using that time to build my hospitality skills and better understand La Madeleine’s operations. I plan to immerse myself in continuing education – whether through internal training or industry programs – to refine my culinary and service expertise. I see myself being a brand ambassador for La Madeleine and serving as a mentor to new hires. I’m excited by the growth opportunities here and hope to still be delighting guests as part of the La Madeleine family for years
BEST Answers to the 10 Most Asked Interview Questions | Interview Questions and Answers
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