40 Most Asked Taco Bell Interview Questions with Answers

Here are the top 10 most asked Taco Bell interview questions along with suggested answers to ace your interview. By practicing your answers to the likely interview questions, you will be able to relax in your interview, show off your great personality and land the job.

1. What do you know about Taco Bell?

The interviewer is looking to see if you have researched Taco Bell before the interview. Plain and simple, you need to show that you have done this and have knowledge about the brand.

Answer:
Other than having outstanding food, I know that Taco Bell was started in 1962 by Glen Bell in California. In 1978, it was purchased by PepsiCo (which is why Pepsi and not Coke is offered on the menu). It serves over two billion customers each year.

Taco Bell is at the forefront of its industry. For example, in 1988, it became the first quick-service restaurant to offer free refills. Now free refills are the norm everywhere. More recently, in October 2020, Taco Bell showed that it is a digital innovator by launching “Taco Gifter,” a taco e-gifting service so fans can gift tacos via the Taco Bell app or website. 

2. Why do you want to work for Taco Bell?

When the interviewer asks you this question, they are looking to see what drives you, what your values are, and if you would be a good fit for the team. All employers want to hear you say good things about them, so you should talk about the aspects of the role or company you find most appealing.

Answer:
I want to work for Taco Bell because its culture seems fun and energizing. People look like they are working really hard as a team to provide great customer service. I would love to be a part of a team like that.

A second reason is I read that Taco Bell has a famous craveable culture that is uniquely passionate and creative. 

The last key reason is that I feel my values align with the company’s values. I am particularly impressed with the support the Taco Bell Foundation gives to young people to pursue their education. 

3. What do you think is required to become a successful member of the Taco Bell team?

The ability to work well within a team is essential for any fast-food employee. When asking this question, the interviewer wants to learn about how you define teamwork success. He/she also wants to hear that you: handle pressure well, learn quickly, communicate well, and are a team player. Demonstrate your ability to work well with others and discuss the strengths you will bring to the team. If you have previous experience from another job, community, or sporting activity where you have been in a successful team, use that as an example in your answer.

Answer:
I believe that to become a successful member, I need to work well under pressure, get up to speed quickly on my duties, have excellent written and verbal communication, and be a team player.

One example that shows that I have these qualities is from school. I was assigned a complicated group project where several students had to work together to quickly understand what we needed to do, how we would accomplish our goal, and who was going to do what. We communicated effectively to divide up the workload according to our strengths and proceeded in a unified and organized way. 

4. How will you ensure you can make all shifts for which you have been scheduled to work?

Reliability is very important for any prospective employer. In the fast-food industry, this can be even more so. The interviewer wants to make sure you have a reliable mode of transportation and will be able to get to work on time, all the time. Be honest and explain how you will be getting to work.

Answer:
I realize how important it is to be reliable. I am a punctual person and will make sure that I arrive on time, every time. I have my own car and have already looked into the best routes to drive to work. I have also researched the local bus service, so in the event of a breakdown, I am still able to get to work.

5. Do you have any previous experience in the fast-food industry?

This question is straightforward. The interviewer wants to know if you have done any similar work previously. If you have worked for another fast-food company, let them know all about it. Explain the positions you held, what your duties were, and what you enjoyed about them. Do not say anything negative. If you have instead worked in a different industry, talk about skills that may be transferrable. If this is your first job, discuss volunteer or community work you have done, such as for your church. Alternatively, explain that you do not have experience but believe you have the right attitude to be successful.

Answer:
I do not have experience in the fast-food industry, but I believe I have the right attitude and some solid transferrable skills that will help me be successful. I have been involved in fundraising events for my school and have volunteered to help it at sporting events. For these activities, I did a number of things including interacting with people, collecting money, giving change, and cleaning up after the event. I enjoy learning new things and I get up to speed really fast. If given this opportunity, I know I will quickly become a high-performing team member.

6. How do you perform in stressful environments?

Fast food operations are extremely fast-paced and can be quite stressful. The interviewer wants to make sure that you can handle that environment. When answering this question, if you have previous experience, you can give an example of how you dealt with stress in your previous role. If you do not have the experience, explain why you believe you will be able to handle it.

Answer:
I thrive in fast-paced environments and am at my best when I am busy. I do not fluster easily and enjoy being challenged. I like it when there is a lot to do and a lot going on. It is in these times I feel like I am contributing and adding value.

7. Have you used a cash register in a previous role?

Taking orders and collecting money from customers is a key competence of working in fast-food. If you have previous experience with a cash register, explain that to the interviewer. If you have not used one before, explain that you are comfortable with counting money and taking orders.

Answer:
I have not operated a cash register before, but I am good with machines and have confidence I could master it quickly. I am good at math and am able to calculate change easily. I understand the importance of ensuring customers have a good experience and believe I will provide excellent service when taking their orders.

8. How would you handle a customer complaining about their order?

It is inevitable that some customer will be angry because of a mistake in their order…or maybe just plain angry for no apparent reason. Having the ability to stay calm and help the customer feel satisfied is an important skill in any customer service position. For this answer, talk the interviewer through how you would process, assess, and respond if a customer were complaining. Give the interviewer an example from previous experience if you have one, or explain how you think you would approach it. Always remember to say that you would bring in a supervisor if you needed to during the resolution process.

Answer:
If I had a customer complain about their order, I would listen carefully and make sure I understood the issue. I would repeat things back to them or ask for clarification to ensure I am the appropriate person to help them. Once I had enough information, I would decide on how to resolve the issue. If it were something I could fix myself, I would do so. For example, if the customer complained about the food being cold or the order being wrong, that would be a quick fix. I would replace their order for free (if that were in line with Taco Bell’s policy).

If the issue was one in which I could not help, I would calmly explain that I needed help from my supervisor to fix the issue. I would make sure that the customer felt that their concern was valid and they would receive a positive outcome.

9. What availability to work do you have?

Taco Bell employees are often required to work irregular hours. You can expect to have shifts rostered at night and on the weekend. You may also be required to work at very short notice. Advise the interviewer of your availability and of any external commitments you may have. If the interviewer knows in advance when you can or cannot work, it will make it easier for them to write rosters. Being flexible will also help increase your chances of getting the job.

Answer:
I am very flexible and open with my availability. I do not currently have any other commitments and can dedicate myself entirely to this role. I am happy to work nights, weekends, or on short notice if required.

10. What would you consider to be your greatest weakness?

This question is all about your ability to admit shortcomings and determine the areas that you will require extra support or training in. You should answer honestly and give an answer that you can work on addressing. Avoid giving a strength-based answer, such as I am too hard of a worker. The interviewer wants to see that you can honestly identify your own areas of improvement.

Answer:
My biggest weakness is going to be product knowledge. The Taco Bell menu has a lot of options, and I tend to stick to a few items that are my favorites on the menu. I am going to need to become familiar with everything on the menu, including the variations or options for that menu item. I would enjoy trying different items on the menu and committing the menu to memory.

Next 30 Most Asked Taco Bell Interview Questions

• Which Taco Bell menu item do you like most?
• Would you consider yourself to be good at multitasking?
• What do you consider your greatest strength?
• What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
• What aspect of this role do you think you will need the most training in?
• Where do you see yourself 3 years out and 5 years out? Longer-term?
• Can you please tell us a little about yourself?
• What does exceptional customer service mean to you?
• Are you able to follow directions? Give an example of a time you needed to follow a series of directions and what you did to ensure your success.
• What excites you most about this position?
• How will you contribute to maintaining a high performing team?
• Do you have any cooking experience?
• What do you know about Mexican cuisine?
• Can you quickly add and subtract? Tell me about how you use math in your life.
• Do you consider yourself to be a quick learner? Why?
• Why do you think cleaning is important?
• What would you do if you noticed a fellow employee not following the rules?
• What would you do if you noticed a customer stealing?
• If you are unable to make your rostered shift, what would you do?
• How would you deal with a customer complaining about you?
• How do you seek out feedback? Give an example of how you did this in the past.
• Why do you believe you are the best applicant for this role?
• How would you handle a supervisor asking you to do something you disagreed with?
• What are you looking for in your next work environment?
• What has attracted you to working in the fast-food industry?
• How did you hear about this opportunity?
• What makes you a good fit for this job?
• What would you do if you thought you might be late for work?
• Can you tell me something interesting about yourself?
• What do you think is more important, the quality of the food or the service?

10 Best Questions to Ask in a Taco Bell Interview

Once the interviewer has asked you all their questions, they will usually give you the chance to ask questions in return. By utilizing this opportunity to ask questions, you can further increase your chances of success. Asking well-thought-out questions will demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role, interest in the company and be an opportunity to show your personality. It is also giving you the chance to learn more about the people interviewing you and the company, so you can decide if it is the right fit for you as well. If the interviewer asks you if you have any questions, you MUST ask some questions unless you are completely uninterested in the job. If you do not ask questions, you look like you are not prepared for the interview or just not thinking.

• What do you enjoy most about working for Taco Bell?
• How quickly do you think I can learn the ropes and become a high-performing team member?
• Is there comprehensive training and induction given to new staff?
• Are there opportunities to grow within the business?
• What would you say is the most common attribute of high performing team members?
• If I am performing well in one role, would there be the opportunity to learn other roles and further develop professionally?
• How many team members work on a standard shift, and what are their various roles?
• What is the one thing you really want the person you hire to bring to this role?
• Why has this position become available?
• If I were successful in being offered this job, what would you expect my first few shifts to look like?

Congratulations on getting an interview with Taco Bell. You have already done the hard part. With the right preparation, you will find that interviews are not only easy, but also enjoyable. Before you go to your interview, practice answering these interview questions with a friend, family member, or even just in front of the mirror. Watch your body language to make sure it is open and friendly. Know exactly where your interview will be held. Have a solid plan of how you will get to your interview, including backup options in case your first one fails.

A word about clothing: you should select appropriate business casual clothing (slacks and collared shirts) in neutral colors, making sure you look neat, clean, and professional. If you are female, you could wear a dress, but there are a lot of ways to go wrong with a dress (too low-cut, too short, too tight, too casual, etc.). The safest thing would be for you to wear slacks, and a nice collared shirt or a simple blouse that does not overly expose skin, and flat or low-heeled dress shoes. If you are interviewing for a management position, dress up more than business casual. Consider possible stereotypes your interviewer might have against tattoos.

Before the interview, take some time to relax and compose yourself. Arrive between 5-15 minutes early, and turn off your cellphone. Remember all the practice you did, and try to enjoy talking with someone new in the interview. If you enjoy the interview, the odds are that the interviewer will also enjoy it and will think you have good people skills. Smile, maintain good eye contact, make sure everything you say is positive (not negative) and be yourself. You can do this!!