Oh Panera. Where do I even begin.
I started applying to my local Panera Bread in late 2012. I was very eager to work for Panera as I love their food and i'm there all the time. I filled out my first application in december. No reply. I applied a second time. No reply. I applied a third time. No reply. Well, I had ended up applying a total around 5 times. Every time I went into the store there was a line out the door; many times the manager would be working the line and cashier! I became very upset because it was very clear that they were in need of people to work and they stated that they were hiring.
Well, I was very eager to get this job.
I was at the restaurant every week for a month at least once a week giving my name and phone number. I was told I would get a reply. I never did, until the 4th time. I walked in and asked to speak to a manager (the usual drill). A very kind and sympathetic woman walked out and was appalled that I had never gotten a call back. She scheduled me my first interview for the week after. Woohoo!
I showed up to my interview prepared and feeling confident and comfortable. The first woman I talked to was VERY kind, we had so much in common! There were no hard questions asked, only "getting to know me" questions. She said that she really liked me and that I would receive a call that friday to schedule my next interview. It was scheduled for the week after.
The second interview was just as relaxed as the first. The woman was extremely kind, and we also had a lot in common. Harder questions were asked, questions where you were put in situations and asked how you would handle it. This was harder because I have no work experience. I was feeling kind of bummed after this interview because I felt as if I didn't know some answers. I never received a call within the next days so I got very nervous. I hand wrote thank you cards for the two women that interviewed me and dropped them by the restaurant. I received a call the next day, they were so happy to get the cards and scheduled my last interview for a few days later. There are a total of 3 interviews, and if you get to the third, that means they are very interested in you and liked you a lot.
I walked in for my third interview and was greeted with a warm hello (she knew exactly who I was and addressed me by my first name without having to introduce myself!) and was offered something to drink. The woman who interviewed me this time was the one I previously talked to who initially set up my interviews, so I was feeling VERY comfortable. Many questions were repetitive, and I found myself feeling tired of answering the same few questions. But, I was asked "where do you see yourself working here? (line, bakery, cashier, etc.) I told her that I was open to trying it all. It was clear that she really liked me and I really liked her too. I actually loved all of them, they were so friendly and made me feel at home. I asked a few questions about the uniform and training, and then was told I would receive a call the next day to say if I got the job or not.
The next day arrived, I waited and waited and waited for that phone call. I had worked SO hard for this job. I began getting nervous as the day started to end becuse I knew there were a few other people that had made it as far as I did. I received a call at 5:00 pm. I GOT THE JOB! I was so excited! I was told that orientation was the week later and that I would start training the same week as that. (orientation is in a few days! can't wait.)
All in all, it's important that you are persistent. Don't give up. I would suggest calling to check on the status frequently as well as hand writing thank you letters to those who interviewed you, they love that and you will stand out.
You may be thinking "Wow, this girl had a horrible experience." That's not true at all. I enjoyed every single minute of it because I wanted to work there so badly. And to finally get the job and see all my hard work pay off, that is priceless.