Pret A Manger Interview Questions & Answers

Introduction

Pret A Manger hires for personality first and trains everything else. That's not a slogan—it's built into the process: at many shops, part of the decision rests with the team you'd actually be working with, often after a short trial shift on the shop floor. You can't revise your way past that, but you can absolutely prepare for it, and candidates who understand what Pret is looking for walk in with a real advantage.

This guide covers how the Pret hiring process typically works, the interview questions that come up again and again, example answers with the right tone, and what to do during a trial shift to make the team want you back.

Table of Contents

About Pret A Manger

Pret A Manger is a food-to-go chain founded in London in the 1980s, known for freshly made sandwiches, salads, and organic coffee. Food is prepared in shop kitchens each day, which means every location runs a genuine kitchen operation alongside fast-moving counter service. Pret is also known for paying competitively for the sector and for a famously sociable, high-energy shop culture.

The qualities Pret consistently looks for:

  • Genuine friendliness—not scripted service, but real warmth with customers
  • Energy and pace, especially through the breakfast and lunch rushes
  • Team spirit; shops are small, close-knit crews
  • Reliability and punctuality, because a missing person at 7am is felt immediately
  • A positive attitude towards feedback and learning

One thing worth knowing: many Pret shops use mystery shopper visits that can trigger team bonuses, so service standards are taken personally by the whole crew. Show that you'd protect that standard.

The Pret Hiring Process

The process is refreshingly fast compared with most retailers, though details vary by shop and country:

  1. Online application – A short form through the Pret careers site with your availability and basic details.
  2. Interview – Usually an informal face-to-face conversation with the General Manager or an assistant manager in the shop, sometimes preceded by a brief phone chat. Expect 20–40 minutes of mostly behavioural and motivational questions.
  3. Experience day (trial shift) – The distinctive Pret step. Shortlisted candidates are often invited to work alongside the team for a few hours—helping with simple tasks, chatting with the crew, seeing the pace first-hand. Afterwards, the team typically gives feedback or votes on whether you should join. Not every shop runs this identically, but some form of on-the-job trial is common.
  4. Offer – Decisions often come quickly, sometimes within days.

There is no formal aptitude test for Team Member roles at most shops. Management and head office positions can involve additional interviews and, in some cases, assessments—check your invitation for specifics.

Most Common Interview Questions

Why do you want to work at Pret?

Example answer:

Two things attract me: the pace and the people. I've been a customer, and the teams always seem to genuinely enjoy working together—it doesn't feel like forced service. I also like that food is made fresh in the shop each day, so the work is varied rather than just standing at a till. I want a job with energy, and Pret clearly has it.

How would you describe great customer service in thirty seconds?

Example answer:

It's making someone's day slightly better in a very short interaction. At Pret that means eye contact, a genuine hello, remembering regulars, and getting the order right at speed. Most customers have ninety seconds—great service fits inside that window without feeling rushed.

Tell me about a time you worked in a fast-paced environment

Example answer (STAR method):

Situation: I worked weekend shifts at a busy café where the Saturday brunch rush regularly overwhelmed the kitchen.

Task: My job was to keep the front counter moving while supporting the kitchen during peaks.

Action: I learned to spot the rush building and act early—clearing tables before they were needed, prepping takeaway cups, and calling orders clearly so the kitchen could batch similar items. When a colleague fell behind, I switched stations without being asked.

Result: Our average wait time stayed manageable even on the busiest days, and the manager started scheduling me on every peak shift because I kept things calm.

How would you handle a customer complaining their order is wrong?

Example answer:

Apologise quickly and fix it faster—no debate about whose mistake it was. I'd replace the item straight away, offer something small if they'd been kept waiting, and thank them for flagging it. In a lunch rush, a complaint handled well takes thirty seconds; handled badly, it costs a regular customer.

What would you do if a teammate was struggling during the lunch rush?

Example answer:

Step in first, talk later. If the coffee station is drowning, I'd jump on it or redirect myself to whatever unblocks them fastest. Afterwards, I'd check they're okay—sometimes people are having a rough day, and a small kindness keeps the team tight. What I wouldn't do is carry on with my own task while the line builds.

How do you feel about early morning starts?

Example answer:

I'm honest with myself about this: early starts only work if you organise your life around them, so I do. In my last job I opened at 6am twice a week and was never late—I plan my evenings and my journey with a buffer. I'd rather be the person the manager doesn't have to worry about.

Tell me about a time you received criticism. How did you react?

Example answer (STAR method):

Situation: My supervisor at a previous job told me I was rushing customer interactions during busy spells and coming across as abrupt.

Task: I needed to keep my speed without losing friendliness.

Action: I asked her for a concrete example, which helped—I could hear how I'd sounded. I practised keeping a warm tone even when moving fast, and asked her to tell me if she noticed it again.

Result: A month later she mentioned the difference without me asking, and I've kept that habit since. I'd rather hear criticism early than repeat a mistake for months.

What does teamwork mean in a small shop?

Example answer:

In a small team there's nowhere to hide—if one person coasts, everyone feels it. Teamwork means noticing what needs doing before being asked, covering for people without keeping score, and keeping the mood up when it's stressful. It also means being straight with each other; small teams work best when people can say "I need help" without embarrassment.

What's your availability?

Example answer:

I can cover the full range of shifts including early starts and weekends, as listed in my application. I understand rotas in food-to-go change with trading patterns, so I'd rather be flexible and agree any fixed commitments upfront than cause gaps later.

Do you have any questions for us?

Example answer:

Yes—what separates the Team Members who get promoted quickly here from the ones who don't? And how does the team celebrate when a mystery shopper visit goes well?

How to Impress on the Experience Day

If you're invited to a trial shift, remember: the team is assessing attitude, not skill. Nobody expects you to make a flat white on day one. What gets people hired:

  • Smile and introduce yourself to every team member early on
  • Ask for tasks the moment you finish one—standing idle is the worst signal
  • Talk to customers if you get the chance, even just a warm greeting
  • Show pace—walk with purpose, match the team's energy
  • Take instructions cheerfully, including corrections

Treat the trial as a working interview where every teammate is an interviewer, because at Pret, they effectively are.

Assessment Preparation

Most Team Member applicants face no formal testing, but preparation still pays. Rehearse three or four stories using the STAR method—one about pace, one about teamwork, one about handling feedback—so you're not improvising under nerves. Skimming a broader list like these 50 common interview questions helps you avoid being surprised.

If you're applying for management, head office, or graduate positions, you may encounter aptitude or situational tests. Practising situational judgement tests and numerical reasoning tests in advance means the format costs you nothing on the day. Candidates comparing coffee-chain employers may also find our Starbucks interview guide useful.

Salary and Job Expectations

Pret has a reputation for paying above much of the food-to-go sector, though exact rates vary by location and change regularly:

  • Team Member: typically at or above the National Living Wage, with London rates higher
  • Barista: usually a step up once you've passed barista training
  • Team Leader and Manager roles: salaried, varying with shop size and location

A distinctive feature is the mystery shopper bonus: when a shop passes its weekly mystery shopper visit, the team can earn extra per hour for that week. Free food on shift and substantial discounts are standard. Check current job adverts for exact figures, as pay rates are reviewed often.

FAQ

What is the Pret A Manger experience day?

A short trial shift—often a few hours—working alongside the team. You handle simple tasks while the crew gets a feel for you, and their feedback influences the hiring decision. It tests energy and attitude, not technical skill.

Do I need experience to work at Pret?

No. Pret trains food prep, coffee, and service from scratch. Warmth, pace, and reliability count for far more than your CV.

How long does the Pret hiring process take?

Often quick—some candidates move from application to offer within a couple of weeks, particularly in busy city shops. Timing varies by location.

What should I wear to a Pret interview?

Clean, casual, practical. For a trial shift, comfortable shoes are essential and long hair should be tied back.

What questions does Pret ask in interviews?

Why Pret, teamwork stories, handling rushes and unhappy customers, and availability. Informal in tone, but genuine warmth and energy are being assessed throughout.

Conclusion

Pret's process is less about polished answers and more about whether the team can picture working a 7am shift with you. Prepare STAR stories about pace, teamwork, and feedback; show real energy in the interview; and if you get a trial shift, treat every minute as the interview it is. Ask for tasks, smile at customers, and match the crew's tempo.

If your route includes any testing—or you simply want sharper answers—practise with realistic interview and test preparation before the day.

About the Author

Ingmar van Maurik is a career coach and assessment test expert who helps candidates prepare for job interviews and assessments worldwide. He is the founder of Assessment-Training.com, a platform used by over 1,000,000 job seekers to practice for aptitude tests and interview questions.

References