El Pollo Loco Interview Questions
El Pollo Loco Interview Questions

Congratulations on getting an El Pollo Loco Interview.

We all know interviews are stressful and competition is intense.

However, with a small amount of preparation you can ace the interview.

Here you will find how to successfully answer interview questions for El Pollo Loco.

Note it is recommended you read the general interview questions section first but you can skip ahead and view by role by clicking the link below.

Interview Questions by Role:

General El Pollo Loco Interview Questions

Can you tell us about yourself?

  • It’s okay to discuss your hobbies and interests; but, keep it brief. Try to focus on relevant work experience. Remember that having relevant work experience will put you ahead of the competition.

What can you tell us about El Pollo Loco?

  • El Pollo Loco is a Mexican restaurant that is known for chicken, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more.
  • El Pollo Loco stands for the crazy chicken.
  • The restaurant began in 1975 in Guasave Mexico.
  • El Pollo Loco Charities is run by volunteer employees of El Pollo Loco. The charity supports a wide variety of causes.
  • The restaurant offers a loyalty program called loco rewards.  Earn 1 point for each $1 spent on qualified purchases and currently 100 points = $10 Reward.
  • Video: About El Pollo Loco

Why do you want to work for El Pollo Loco?

  • State you love the product and the service you get and because of this, you would be proud to work for them.
  • Say you are passionate about food and the restaurant industry in general and feel El Pollo Loco would be a great place to grow and learn your career.

What is your greatest strength?

  • I am a quick learner (this is a great answer because they will have to spend less time training you) or
  • I work well under pressure (this is a great answer because all restaurants have their rush hour and you need to stay focused during this time)

What is your greatest weakness?

  • It would help if you did not deny you have a weakness or state strengths as a weakness. For example, do not say “I am a perfectionist” or “I work too hard and neglect my friends and family”. State a fault required for the role but not a dealbreaker if you don’t have it.
  • When you state your weakness, make sure you say what you are doing to overcome that weakness. For example, I have a fear of public speaking and enrolled in a public speaking class to overcome my fear.

How would you deal with an upset customer?

  • Listen and let the customer vent.
  • Show the customer you care.
  • Don’t blame the customer or the company.
  • Try to solve the problem or find someone who can.
  • Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
  • Finally, one must not take it personally.  If you get upset, you will take it out on future customers.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

  • If going to college or university state what you would like to be doing after you finish.
  • If you would like to stay in the restaurant industry why not look at future positions at the restaurant? This way you will appear you are willing to work at the company for the long haul and not just a few months. At this restaurant, you first start off in a crew position, then shift leader, then assistant manager, then general manager, and finally the area leader.

Why should I hire you?

  • Have a second read of the job description and find the skills and experience required for the position.
  • Next, match the skills required for the job to your skill set.
  • Finally, reassure the interviewer you have the right skills.

Do you have any questions for us?

  • What do you like best about working here?
  • How do you describe your ideal candidate for this position?
  • What about this position is the most important?
  • How do you measure my success, and what could I do to meet your expectations?
  • Which part of the position has the steepest learning curve? What can I do to get up to speed quickly?
  • What opportunities will I have to learn and grow?

Interview Tips

  • Tell the interviewer if you know Spanish as the restaurant is located in states where there is a large Spanish-speaking population.
  • Don’t speak too fast as you will sound nervous.
  • Don’t speak too slowly as you will sound boring.
  • Make sure you make good eye contact throughout the interview.

How to dress for an El Pollo Loco Interview

  • If you are interviewing for an entry-level position then dress business casually.
  • If you are interviewing for a management position then dress formally.
  • Remember you will work in a restaurant so you will want to look like someone who serves food. Don’t wear any jewelry and if you have long hair be sure to wear it back.

El Pollo Loco Second Interview

  • If you have a second interview it is more than likely to be with someone higher up in management.  Just study the questions above and you will do fine.

El Pollo Loco Cashier Interview Questions

Why do you want to be a cashier?

  • Mention you love working with people.
  • State you love working as a team.
  • Say you are a quick learner and will not have any issues learning a point of sale system.

Why should I hire you?

For this question, you need to reread the job description and find the key skills they are looking for. After rereading the job description here is what I found.

Do you love to smile and provide great customer service? Then Cashier is the position for you! As a Cashier, you will provide friendly and courteous service by greeting each guest with a smile and making them feel welcome. You may be asked to run the drive-thru station and work with a team to deliver fast and efficient service. Either way, your job will be to ensure great guest service 100% of the time!

So when asked why should I hire you state:

  • Say you have great customer service skills and will always make the customers feel welcomed.
  • Mention you pay great attention to detail and work well under pressure (all restaurants have their rush hour).
  • State you are a team player and will work well as a team member.

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