40 Most Asked Subway Interview Questions with Answers

Here are the top 10 most asked Subway interview questions along with suggested answers that will help prepare for your interview. Being prepared for your interview will give you the greatest chance for success in landing the job.

1. What do you know about Subway?

You could answer this question in a few different ways. You could jump into a list of facts about the company, but that won’t necessarily be the best fit for the position you’re interviewing for. Think about the reputation of the Subway brand. What is it known for? How do you think the general public thinks about it? What kind of foods does it sell? It’s okay to go high-level, so long as you prove that you have some understanding of who it is and what it does.

Answer:
I know that Subway was founded over 50 years ago and is one of the biggest fast-food chains in the world. It focuses on sub sandwiches, with deals like the $5 footlong. Customers can choose whatever they’d like on their sub, and Subway offers healthier options than other fast-food chains. Subway also does catering trays for groups or events.

2. Tell me about your previous work experience.

If you have previous work experience, just give a high-level overview of what you’ve done before applying for this job. Don’t worry if you are applying as your first job – just be honest and tell the interviewer so, and be honest about why you’re applying to Subway.

Answer (if you’ve held other jobs before):
I worked for a Chick-fil-A last summer, which was a great job. I also helped out at my dad’s hardware store after school. He had me stocking shelves, sweeping up, and showing customers where certain products were.

Answer (if this would be your first job):
This would be my first job if I am selected. I’ve been looking to get some work experience and earn some extra money, and I think making sandwiches would be a fun way to do that.

3. What do/did you like most about your current/previous job?

This question only applies if you’ve held jobs before, but it’s still very important. The interviewer is not just looking for your job duties here with this question. They’re trying to find out what kind of employee you’re likely to be. Keep your answers positive, and talk about what you enjoyed and how you were successful on the job. This is an opportunity to brag about yourself (which is fine within reason).

Answer:
My last job was working at a local restaurant, and I covered three key roles, which were busser, host, and waiting on tables. I liked the variety, and my managers could tell I did a good job with whatever they assigned me. My favorite days in that job were days when I cleaned tables off quickly, got everyone’s order right, and got good feedback from customers. My coworkers were always glad when I got a shift with them, and my manager even named me “employee of the month” a few times.

4. Why do you want to work for Subway?

This is usually one of the biggest questions an interviewer will ask, but don’t let it scare you. They’re just looking for an honest answer of why you turned in an application for this position. If you’re looking to get restaurant experience so you can open your own store someday, that’s a great way to start the interview off on the right foot. On the other hand, there’s no reason you can’t say you want to earn some extra cash, but make sure you are clear that you’ll take the job seriously. Even if you just think this is a summer job, hiring decisions are no joke and managers will want to make sure they have the very best people on their team.

Answer:
I’ve worked in a couple of restaurants before, and Subway seems like an interesting place to go next. I like its subs, and I know that it tries to offer healthier options than burger or pizza places, and I think that’s a great way to serve customers. I feel like it would be a fast-paced work environment, and I thrive under that kind of pace. Plus, it would be cool to meet lots of different people.

5. What does BMT stand for?
This is a great chance to prove that you’ve done your homework. The BMT is the Subway equivalent of Burger King’s Whopper or McDonald’s Big Mac. It’s a menu item with a name that’s tied closely to the brand. Knowing the right answer to questions like this proves that you are paying attention to what makes Subway unique, and an interviewer will appreciate this kind of attention to detail.

If you don’t know the answer, don’t feel bad – there’s no harm in saying, “I don’t know.” If the interviewer asks this, it’s not meant to be a pass/fail question. They’re just checking to see how much you may already know.

Answer:
BMT stands for “bigger, meatier, tastier.” It’s the Italian sub made with salami, pepperoni, and ham.

6. How do you greet a customer?

Restaurants are usually known for how they greet folks that walk in the door. For any kind of service position, greeting customers is one of the most important ways to get their experience off on the right foot. Proving that you will greet customers with a cheerful attitude is key to being a good representative of the company. If you know of a particular way that you’re always greeted when you go into a Subway (if it has a catchphrase or a special way of welcoming customers), you can say that as well.

Answer:
I would say, “Welcome to Subway,” to everyone who comes in, unless I’m currently speaking to another customer. I feel like everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and we should be glad that they’ve chosen to eat at our store. So even if I’m in the process of making a sandwich and I can’t look up at the door, I can still welcome someone when I hear the door chime. I always like when they do that if I walk in the store.

7. What does customer service mean to you?

This is another highly important question. Even though there’s no single “right answer,” you need to make sure you talk about how you will deliver excellent customer service. People have lots of choices for fast food, and sometimes they will remain loyal to a restaurant (or even a specific location) based on the service they receive or the staff that takes care of them.

Answer:
To me, great customer service is about keeping a positive attitude, listening when customers are talking, and getting their order right the first time, and every time. It means paying close attention to every order and asking questions if I’ve missed something. It also means making sure our counter is stocked with the meats and sides I’ll need and keeping the store clean and safe for everyone to eat in.

8. How well do you perform under pressure?
Fast food is fast-paced. Managers need to know that they can rely on you when rush hour hits.

Answer:
I would treat every customer like they’re the only one in the store when I am working with them, but I would also make sure that I do my best to keep the line moving. I would also try to rely on my teammates if possible to have them help me out if there are lots of customers waiting.

9. How would you handle a difficult customer?

Sometimes customers are in a rush, or sometimes they’re very picky about what they want. The mantra “the customer is always right” still holds true for most industries, so the interviewer will want to know how you would handle someone who takes longer or is more difficult to deal with.

Answer:
The most important thing is to tell myself not to lose my cool. I need to make sure I’m doing my best to give the customer what they want, even if something sounds unusual or seems like it’s taking too much time. What the customer wants is important, and if it becomes a real problem, I can offer to bring my manager over to answer their questions.

10. What hours are you available to work?

Managers want to make sure their stores are staffed at all times, and they will likely not want to hire too many people at once. You’re allowed to set your own availability, but remember that if you’re available for more time out of the week, that can boost your chances against someone who has more limited scheduling options. Try to make yourself as available as possible. You can start thinking about your available hours by noticing when the store is open (the hours are usually posted by the entry door).

Answer:
I will need to take Wednesdays and Fridays off for classes, but I’m available any other day. I am happy to open or close the store, or work whatever hours you need me.

Next 30 Most Asked Subway Interview Questions

  • How do you think Subway stands out above the competition?
  • Tell me your thoughts on Subway as a long-term career opportunity.
  • What is your favorite Subway sub?
  • Tell me about how you multi-task.
  • How do you handle directions from a supervisor that you do not agree with?
  • Talk to me about your attention to detail in the workplace.
  • What does the title “Sandwich Artist” mean to you?
  • What do you think is the right balance between working quickly, efficiently, and carefully?
  • What is your greatest strength?
  • What is your greatest weakness, and how are you working to improve it?
  • This job can get repetitive. How do you motivate yourself to excel in that kind of work?
  • You will need to remember our menu and specials as they change. How do you think you would do with that?
  • How would you handle long lines of customers?
  • How would you handle a slow day?
  • Do you consider yourself a “people person”?
  • How can you deliver excellent customer service in this job?
  • A customer is indecisive about their selection. What would you say?
  • Have you ever had a customer experience that was not resolved well, and what did you learn from it?
  • What previous restaurant experience do you have?
  • Please discuss your experience with cleaning and sanitation.
  • How would you handle conflict with another employee?
  • If you saw another employee breaking company policies, what would you do?
  • What part of this job excites you most, and why?
  • What is your availability (what days/hours are you available to work)?
  • How do you feel about our uniform standards?
  • If I were to ask your current/previous boss about you, what would they say?
  • Tell me about an experience in the past where you had an issue with a company policy.
  • How many days of work have you missed in your current/previous job?
  • What do you do in your spare time?
  • What motivates you?

10 Best Questions to Ask in a Subway Interview

Interviewers typically end an interview by asking if you have any questions for them. This can be a great way to discuss anything that wasn’t already covered by the interviewer and to show that you are not only prepared for the interview but genuinely interested in the job. Your questions can also help you gauge whether or not the company is a good fit for you.

  • What was your career path with Subway (how did you get to your current role)?
  • What do you like most about working for Subway?
  • How, as an employee, can I provide good value to your customers?
  • What part of this job has the steepest learning curve, and how can I best prepare for that?
  • What are the biggest challenges at this particular Subway?
  • Who will I report to, and who will I be working with?
  • What are some common mistakes that new people in this role make?
  • What would a typical day be like for me in this role?
  • What opportunities for promotion and advancement are available?
  • Is the schedule fixed, or does it vary week to week?

Subway is one of the biggest fast-food chains and continues to grow as time goes on. It needs the right people to help it promote healthier eating to its customers through friendly service and delicious food. Preparing for these kinds of questions will help you nail your interview and send you on your way to becoming the next Subway “Sandwich Artist.”

Author Biography
Keith Miller has over 25 years of experience as a CEO and serial entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, he has founded several multi-million dollar companies. As a writer, Keith's work has been mentioned in CIO Magazine, Workable, BizTech, and The Charlotte Observer. If you have any questions about the content of this blog post, then please send our content editing team a message here.

---