Acing Your sweetgreen Interview: The Top 15 Questions and Expert Tips

With its mission to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food, sweetgreen has redefined the fast casual dining scene since its founding in 2007. The rapidly growing salad chain now operates over 140 locations across the U.S. and is renowned for its fresh seasonal ingredients and sustainability-driven business model.

As sweetgreen continues to expand, competition for jobs is stiff Preparing for the interview process can help set you apart. We reviewed current employee feedback to compile a list of 15 commonly asked sweetgreen interview questions along with tips to ace your responses

1. Why do you want to work for sweetgreen?

This fundamental question allows interviewers to assess your interest in the company and alignment with its values. They’ll look for evidence of passion for the brand.

Tips: Convey genuine enthusiasm for their mission. Reference specifics like locally sourced ingredients, carbon-neutral practices or community-building events that resonate with you. Avoid generic answers – make it personal.

Example: “I’m excited by sweetgreen’s commitment to sustainability and creating community around healthy food. Things like carbon accounting for deliveries and hosting local events are really innovative ways to practice those values daily, beyond just serving good food. I want to contribute to a forward-thinking brand making real impact.”

2. What does “win win win” mean to you?

One of sweetgreen’s mottos is “win win win” – the idea that a decision should be mutually beneficial for the customer, the company, and the community/environment. This question tests if you understand this core philosophy.

Tips: Explain how you can create “win win win” situations through your role by delivering excellent customer service, driving sales/efficiency for the company, and supporting sustainability initiatives.

Example: “To me, ‘win win win’ means finding solutions where customers’ needs are met, business objectives are fulfilled, and the broader community benefits. As a team member, I can achieve this by providing fast yet personalized service, following processes that reduce waste, and helping customers feel good about eating at sweetgreen because of our values.”

3. How would you handle an unhappy customer?

Customer service skills are critical in the restaurant industry. This question gauges your ability to deal with complaints professionally and leave guests satisfied.

Tips: Discuss listening without interruption, empathizing, resolving the issue, and thanking them for feedback. Stay calm and constructive. Give an example of successfully pacifying an unhappy guest.

Example: “First, I would let them fully explain their dissatisfaction without interrupting. I’d then apologize sincerely and promise to make it right. If it’s an issue with their order, I would have the kitchen immediately redo it. If they’re upset about wait time or other factors, I’d explain the situation respectfully and thank them for bringing this to my attention so I can improve for the future.”

4. How do you ensure great guest experiences while also sticking to food safety rules?

Food safety and prep procedures are strict at sweetgreen. Yet hospitality remains a priority too. This question tests if you can balance both.

Tips: Affirm your ability to follow all safety protocols precisely. Discuss techniques like frequent hand washing, changing gloves between tasks, making guests feel cared for during long wait times, and apologizing for any inconvenience.

Example: “I understand food safety is non-negotiable. I would adhere strictly to all prep and sanitation protocols. To still deliver excellent guest experiences, I would maintain our standards for friendly service no matter what – smiling, making conversation, checking on guests if wait times are long, and thanking them sincerely for their patience.”

5. Tell me about a time you gave excellent customer service. What did you do and why?

Expect behavioral interview questions like this one to assess your past customer service performance. Come prepared with relevant examples.

Tips: Choose a specific example of a time you went above and beyond. Explain the situation briefly, your actions, and the positive outcome. Focus on how you made the guest feel valued.

Example: “When I was working as a server, a couple celebrating their anniversary had reservations but the kitchen was backed up. Since they seemed dressed up for a special night, I invited them to have their appetizers in our lounge area while they waited. I comped them a round of drinks for the inconvenience and continued checking on them until their table was ready. They were very grateful for the extra effort to make their evening enjoyable despite the delays.”

6. What ingredients would you use to make the perfect sweetgreen salad?

This creative question aims to gauge your knowledge of fresh ingredients. Be ready to think on your feet.

Tips: Name several sweetgreen seasonal offerings like kale, arugula, quinoa or warm wild rice. Emphasize fresh, healthy options that show you understand their appeal to customers seeking nutritious fast casual.

Example: “I’d make a power salad with kale, roasted sweet potatoes, avocado, chickpeas, fresh mozzarella, and warm quinoa. For dressing, I’d choose an apple cider vinaigrette. This has hearty flavors and textures from seasonal vegetables and whole grains balanced with creamy cheese and citrusy dressing. It provides nutrition while still feeling indulgent.”

7. How do you stay energized and focused during a long shift?

Working at sweetgreen requires stamina. This question reveals your preparedness for a fast-paced, physically demanding role.

Tips: Demonstrate you understand the realities of the work and have strategies to maintain high energy like getting adequate sleep, staying hydrated, eating well before shifts, and taking short breaks when possible.

Example: “I make sure to be well-rested and nourished before each shift. During long days, I snack on something like fruit or veggies when I can to keep my blood sugar and energy up. I drink plenty of water. During rare slower moments, I’ll take 30 seconds to catch my breath and regroup. Having strategies to keep myself balanced allows me to stay focused and deliver great service, even on busy shifts.”

8. What would you do if you noticed a team member violating food safety protocols?

Your response shows whether you’ll Prioritize safety standards over collegiality. Be ready to address this ethically.

Tips: State you would politely but directly inform the co-worker of the improper procedure witnessed. Discuss reporting significant issues to a supervisor while still maintaining team rapport.

Example: “If I noticed a colleague forgetting to change gloves between tasks, for example, I would politely remind them of the proper protocol. We all make occasional mistakes, so no judgment. But I would flag more serious violations for a supervisor to ensure we maintain food safety standards. I understand it’s nothing personal, just looking out for our guests’ wellbeing.”

9. Tell me about a time you successfully collaborated with coworkers to achieve a goal.

sweetgreen values cooperative teamwork. Reflect on examples that demonstrate your collaborative spirit and problem-solving abilities.

Tips: Choose a specific scenario where collaboration was key. Explain the goal, your unified approach, and the end result achieved through leveraging everyone’s input.

Example: “When launching a new seasonal menu, our manager asked the entire team for input on recipes and ingredients. We had several brainstorming sessions together and chose menu items democratically. I helped gather consensus around the final selections. Our collaborative menu ended up being a huge success, with several items becoming customer favorites. It made the rollout smooth and gave us all a sense of ownership.”

10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Interviewers want to understand your career ambitions and likelihood of sticking with the company long-term. Be thoughtful in your response.

Tips: If interested in advancement, discuss hopes to take on more responsibility after mastering your core role and learning the sweetgreen business. Alternatively, simply convey you hope to continue growing with the company.

Example: “In 5 years, I hope to be in a supervisory or management position, leveraging the breadth of knowledge I’ll gain from being part of the sweetgreen team. I’m very interested in helping shape the future direction of the company. Of course, I know that depends on proving myself and adding value in my initial role here.”

11. How do you respond to pressure or stressful situations?

sweetgreen’s fast-paced setting can be stressful. Share how you stay cool under pressure.

Tips: Emphasize remaining calm, focused, and solution-oriented in stressful moments. Share an example of overcoming a high-pressure situation successfully in the past.

Example: “I’m quite level-headed in stressful situations – I don’t get flustered easily. When things get hectic, I take a breath, prioritize what needs immediate attention, and address challenges one by one. For example, when we were short-staffed during a huge catering order, I spearheaded dividing up tasks, ensuring everyone knew their role, so we got it done efficiently despite the tight deadline.”

12. What are your career goals?

With this common question, interviewers look to understand your professional aspirations and desire for growth. Tailor your answer to the sweetgreen environment.

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