Preparing for Your Zaxby’s Interview: 15 Common Questions and How to Ace Your Responses

Interviewing at Zaxby’s? Awesome! Their delicious chicken fingers and wings are hard to resist But before you start daydreaming about free meals on your break, you should prep for the Zaxby’s interview questions that might come your way

Interviewing for any job can feel intimidating. But if you prepare well, you can be ready for that Zaxby’s interview and do great, which will help you get the job!

I applied and interviewed at Zaxby’s restaurants in the past. And trust me, the managers will ask you some pretty typical interview questions – but also some tricky scenario-based ones. So I wanted to write this blog post to help other people get ready for their Zaxby’s interview.

These are 15 of the most common Zaxby’s interview questions, along with some great tips on how to answer them. I’ll also tell you what made my Zaxby’s interviewers say “yes,” so you can do the same.

Let’s get started!

1. Tell Me About Yourself

The “tell me about yourself” question is probably the most common opening interview question. Zaxby’s interviewers use it as an icebreaker to get to know you.

• Keep your answer to under 2 minutes. Focus on highlights from your background that make you qualified.
• Start with basics – where you went to school, your major or degree, where you currently work.
• Share 1-2 of your top skills or experiences that would enable you to excel in this role.
• Close by stating you’re excited for the chance to bring your skills and passion for great customer service to the Zaxby’s team.

2. Why Do You Want to Work at Zaxby’s?

Hiring managers want to know why you applied to Zaxby’s over another restaurant. Do you just need a job, or are you passionate about working there?.

• Research Zaxby’s brand and culture before your interview. Mention something specific that excites you about their company.
• Talk about being enthusiastic about Zaxby’s high-quality food and fun, welcoming environment.
• Share that you frequently eat at Zaxby’s restaurants because you love the food and atmosphere – it’s your favorite fast casual spot!

3. Why Should We Hire You?

Of course they’re going to ask why they should hire you over other applicants! Here are two tips for a stellar answer:

• Pick 2-3 key skills or traits that make you uniquely qualified, and back them up with specific examples. Like if you say you have great customer service skills, share a story of providing excellent service.
• Once you finish your main answer, ask what qualities they look for in a strong candidate. Then mention one or two of those key traits apply directly to you.

4. What Are Your Biggest Strengths?

Zaxby’s wants friendly people with a service mentality on their team. Play up strengths like:

• You’re very outgoing, upbeat, and love engaging with customers. Give an example of bonding with a customer or exceeding expectations.
• You’re reliable and a hard worker. Mention a time you went above and beyond at work or powered through a tough situation.
• You thrive under pressure. Describe a busy day you handled flawlessly.
• You love being on a team and will contribute wherever needed – even if it’s not “your job.” Give a time you stepped up when your team needed help.

5. What Are Your Biggest Weaknesses?

This is a tricky question! Don’t actually list your weaknesses. Instead:

• Pick a small trait you can phrase positively, like wishing to gain more experience in a certain area. Then share how you’re actively working to improve it.
• Say you don’t have tolerance for people who don’t pull their weight on a team. But explain you believe cooperation and understanding is better, and you’re working on leading by example.
• Say you sometimes focus too much on small details to ensure everything is perfect. But mention you’ve learned how to prioritize key tasks first before spending time on minor issues.

6. Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

For entry-level roles, hiring managers don’t expect you to stay forever. But they do want to see you have ambition.

• Say you hope to keep learning and getting promoted. You envision yourself in a supervisor or management role.
• Mention longer-term career aspirations in the hospitality or restaurant industry. Share how this role can help you gain skills and experience to reach those goals.
• Talk about being excited about growing your career with Zaxby’s if you’re still with them down the road.

Just don’t say you have no idea, or expect to jump industries! They want driven, promoting-minded folks.

7. How Do You Handle an Angry Customer?

Zaxby’s gets a fair amount of hangry customers with unrealistic expectations. Share how you would politely handle an unreasonable complaint:

• Stay calm and listen closely without getting defensive. Repeat their concerns back to show you understand.
• Apologize sincerely that they had a negative experience. Assure them you’ll do whatever you can to make it right.
• If you can’t resolve it yourself, get a supervisor right away. Explain you want the guest to leave happy, even if you can’t give everything they asked for.

Emphasize that keeping your cool and making each guest feel heard is most important.

8. A Customer Orders a Meal You Know Will Take Longer to Prepare. What Do You Do?

Be honest, while emphasizing great service:

• Let the customer know their order will take a bit longer to prepare fresh, and confirm if they still want to place it.
• Offer to get their drink and a side for free while they wait so they’re not sitting there hungry.
• Check in frequently and thank them sincerely for their patience. Offer a coupon for a free dessert on their next visit for the inconvenience.

Admitting the realities while going above and beyond to make up for it will win their trust.

9. Your Manager Asks You to Do a Task You Don’t Know How to Do Yet. What Do You Do?

They want to see you can handle uncertainty on the job. Say:

• You’d ask your manager to explain the task, goals, and any key details so you understand what successful completion looks like.
• Ask who the experts are and if someone can show you how it’s done the first time before attempting it yourself.
• Assure your manager you love learning new skills and won’t let them down. Share an example of mastering a new task fast in the past.

Childish responses like getting upset or refusing to do it will cost you the job!

10. A Team Member Keeps Making Errors that Impact Your Work. How Do You Handle It?

Zaxby’s works hard to build supportive, drama-free teams. Share that you would:

• Speak to them politely in private to understand why it’s happening. There may be training gaps you don’t know about. Listen openly.
• Offer to partner together to solve the issue, like working side by side for more coaching. Suggest involving the manager so all can get aligned.
• Make the interaction positive. Thank them for their efforts, and say you just want to help them and make the team stronger.

Avoid complaining about others behind their back or answering in any way that puts them down.

11. Tell Me About a Time You Went Above And Beyond for a Customer.

Have a great example ready that shows the impact of your actions. Share:

• The situation – maybe a huge catering order came in 10 minutes before close.
• Your response – stayed late to personally prepare it beautifully and deliver with a smile.
• The outcome – the customer was so thrilled, they sent a glowing review to corporate praising your effort.

Actions that seem small to you make a huge impression on customers when you go the extra mile.

12. Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?

If you quit without another job lined up, be honest but avoid badmouthing your past employer. Explain the circumstances positively:

• Your family relocated recently, so you had to resign due to the distance.
• COVID uncertainty led to your hours getting cut. You enjoyed your role but needed more income security.
• You’re looking for opportunities with more advancement potential. While you valued your last position, it was mostly static without chances to take on more responsibility and grow your skills.

Even if you have a rough story, put a good spin on it. Bashing past bosses or companies is a red flag for interviewers.

13. When Can You Start Working?

Zaxby’s needs reliable team players who show up consistently. Let them know:

• You can start immediately and have open availability if offered the job.
• Share that you’re excited to get started – just ask when they need you there!

The sooner you can begin, the more eager they’ll think you are. But if you need to give notice at your