Looking for In-N-Out Burger interview questions?
We’ll get you prepared for your interview, cover the most common interview questions, and provide some fleshed-out sample answers you can use to build your own answers.
In-N-Out Burger Interview Tips: How to Prepare for the Interview
Before attending your interview, you should take some time to research the company background, what to wear, and what to expect throughout the interview process.
Don’t need any In-N-Out Burger job interview tips? Skip to the questions.
What to Research (In-N-Out Burger Facts)
This will help you navigate some of the common research-based questions. Try to memorize as many of the facts below as possible:
- They were founded in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder.
- The company does not franchise and is not publicly traded.
- The restaurant’s current owner is Lynsi Snyder, Harry and Esther’s only grandchild.
- They currently operate in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, and Texas.
- The original In-N-Out was the first drive-thru hamburger stand in California.
- They opened their 300th location in 2015.
- All In-N-Out’s have several ‘off-menu’ items available at every location.
Sources: In-N-Out ‘History’, Wikipedia
What to Wear (In-N-Out Burger Dress Code)
The best way to dress for the interview is to closely mimic the In-N-Out Burger staff dress code for the position you’re applying for.
For an entry-level role such as a cook, cashier, or store associate wear a white polo shirt or short-sleeve button-down tucked into white pants. Make sure to cover all tattoos, remove piercings, and only have ‘natural’ hair colors.
For a supervisory or managerial role such as an assistant manager or store manager, wear a white button-down shirt tucked into black pants.
Sources: In-N-Out ‘Employment’, Indeed
What to Expect (In-N-Out Burger Hiring Process)
The hiring process starts with an in-person or online application.
After that, a manager will contact you to set up an in-person interview. Some applicants report wait times of up to a month between their application and their interview.
Often, the in-person interview will be a group interview with a manager and one or two crew members.
Most interviewees hear back within a week following their interview.
Sources: In-N-Out ‘Employment’, Indeed
In-N-Out Burger Interview Questions and Answers
These are the most common interview questions and example answers for interviewing with In-N-Out Burger:
1. Why Do You Want to Work at In-N-Out Burger?
The interviewer wants to know why you’re interested in working for In-N-Out and how that fits with your larger career goals.
Sample answer:
“One of the biggest reasons I want to work at In-N-Out is the fact that even after all of its success, it’s a family-owned company.
That commitment to consistent quality is really important to me. Eventually, I want to work my way up into management with a company I can trust to remain committed to its values. In-N-Out strikes me as that sort of company.
One day, I’d like to hold a management position with In-N-Out. But to do that, I need to put in my time on the restaurant level and gain a deep knowledge of operations. This position is a great place to start.”
Related: How to Answer: Why Do You Want to Work Here?
2. What Can You Tell Us About In-N-Out Burger?
The interviewer wants to know if you’re invested in the interview process and if you’ve done your research.
Sample answer:
“I know a few things about the restaurant. For example, I saw that it was the first drive-thru restaurant in California, and of course, I know about the not-so-secret menu.
I really love the idea of the secret menu because it’s so iconic and because it helps create a sense of community for In-N-Out customers. You know a loyal In-N-Customer by their secret menu order.
I know there’s a lot I need to learn, though. Can you tell me about some of the exciting things on the horizon for In-N-Out?”
Related: How to Answer: What Do You Know About Us?
3. Can You Give an Example of Good Customer Service?
The interviewer wants to know if you can think on your feet and stay positive while solving problems.
Sample answer:
“In my last job, I worked as a barista in a coffee shop. Many of our orders came through our online order system. However, one day the online system malfunctioned.
Solving that problem required me to think on my feet. First, I called my manager and let her know what was wrong. Then, I made sure to communicate the issue to customers and get all of the missed orders filled.
It took a lot of work, but we managed to get everyone their drinks. I believe the biggest reason I succeeded was my ability to communicate with customers. In the end, that’s what I think a lot of good customer service boils down to–putting the needs of the customer first.”
Related: How to Answer: Can You Give An Example Of Great Customer Service?
4. What Work-Related Tasks Do You Least Enjoy?
The interviewer wants to know if you can give an honest answer and not sidestep the question.
Sample answer:
“I hate to say it, but I’ve never really enjoyed answering the phones, especially during lunch or dinner rushes.
Mostly, it’s just that I’m a very hands on-person, so I enjoy being in the thick of things rather than answering a ringing phone.
That being said, I wouldn’t hesitate to answer phones if that was what my manager and coworkers needed from me. Sometimes, being part of a team means rolling up your sleeves and doing things you don’t necessarily enjoy.”
Related: How to Answer: What Tasks Do You Least Enjoy Doing at Work?
5. What Does Quality Mean to You?
The interviewer wants to know what ‘doing a good job’ means to you and if you’re reflective enough to learn from your experiences.
Sample answer:
“For me, quality really boils down to consistent, reliable products and friendly, attentive service. It’s all about having high standards for yourself and measuring up to those standards.
Quality work is always important. It means happy customers, good word of mouth, and success for the company. It also means you’re doing a good job for the rest of your team, which is important to me.
In my last job as a server, I always liked to check in with customers about their dining experience. Their feedback really helped me learn and improve myself so that I could offer the highest-quality service possible.”
Related: How to Answer: What Does Quality Mean to You?
Other Questions to Expect
Every job interview has a mix of questions, meaning not all of them will be directly related to the company or the role.
Here are a few to watch out for:
- How do you handle stressful situations?
- Describe your cash-handling experience.
- What’s a word that describes your personality?
- What’s a skill you’d like to improve?
- Who would you talk to about confidential information?
- How would you deal with a disgruntled customer?
- What appeals to you about this position?
- Do you have any food service experience?
- What are your expectations in terms of salary?
- What’s your favorite menu item?
Don’t Give Up!
Memorizing the most common In-N-Out job interview questions doesn’t always mean that you’ll get the job.
Luckily, however, many similar fast-food restaurants such as Subway, Chick-fil-a, Taco Bell, and Jack-In-The-Box have available opportunities.