Questions at Caribou Coffee interviews

1. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? top question

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   The answer to the question about animals at the interview is to check how well a person knows himself.

   • Do you understand your strengths and weaknesses?
   • Are you able to objectively look at yourself and see what you actually are?

   The answer must be true and based on reality.

   Before the interview, analyze your internal self and try to figure out all the possible qualities that you possess. If you focus well, you should be able to come up with at least 10 qualities.

   When you are in the interview you can name the animal, and give several of the qualities that you see in that animal that also describe you.

   The question is also a test of your sense of humor. You probably don’t want to choose a giraffe, kangaroo or rhinoceros as these animals might be hard to match to your personal qualities. Also, you really want to stay away from animals like snakes, hyenas, rats or spiders. These animals have negative, off-putting associations.

2. About The Company

   This question during the interview is a creative way of asking you about the kinds of qualities and skills you possess and how you perceive yourself to fit in the company with those qualities and skills.

3. About The Fit

   The objective is to understand the depth of your viewpoint and analytical thinking.

   Once you list down the qualities, figure out the ones that will be helpful in the job that you have applied for. The more relatable the qualities, the better you will be able to sell yourself to the recruiter.

   For example, if you compare yourself to an elephant, which is a strong, intelligent, loyal to the group and unstoppable animal, you will explain your ability to adapt to any new environment and work according to the culture and system of the new place.

   Dolphins are very good communicators, loyal to the group and adaptable to many conditions and can be used as an example to indicate how good you are when it comes to handling team tasks.

   Dogs are seen as Man’s Best Friend, that’s why it might be a good example for someone in a support role. Besides, they have such important qualities as loyalty and devotion which are highly valued in most companies.

   If you compare yourself to an eagle, you will highlight the ability to see the whole picture, sharpness and tenacity of vision. These are good qualities for managers or directors.

   Comparing yourself to a lion you are pointing out that you are a skillful leader and a good team worker.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 81.8x more frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

2. If you could be a superhero, what would your superpower be? Why?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Can you come up with an articulate answer when faced with an unexpected question? If you can, regardless of the superpower you choose, you’ll make a good impression.

   The superpower question invites you to talk about your Key Selling Points.

   • Are there any achievements you’re particularly proud of, or times when you had to overcome obstacles to succeed?
   • Can you identify a particular characteristic that enabled you to do this?
   • What made it possible for you to achieve great results?

2. About The Company

   Make sure to research the company and read the job description thoroughly to identify the key strengths required for the role.

3. About The Fit

   You should use this opportunity to showcase your personality and make yourself stand out from other candidates.

   Outline why your chosen superpower would be an advantage to the employer.

   You need to illustrate your power with an example drawn from your real-life experience.

   Choose a simple but strong and effective superpower, for example:

   • Sensitivity to what other people are thinking and feeling, that will show your emotional intelligence.
   • Observation is attention to detail and the ability to step back and analyze a situation.
   • Efficiency is as valuable to an employer as the power of flight is to a superhero.
   • Time management is an important skill, as is the capacity to spot ways to improve processes and accomplish tasks more swiftly.
   • Agility is being flexible and adaptable in a dynamic business environment.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 28.7x more frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

3. How would you handle a customer with difficult behavior?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Look back on your experience. Have you dealt with a difficult or disruptive customer? Remember how you diffused the situation and how you turned things around.

   • Do you have certain principles, or methodology, to deal with difficult people?
   • Do you have strong people skills, are you good at conflict resolution?
   • Are you high on emotional intelligence? Can you give an example?

2. About The Company

   • What have you found about the company and its culture?
   • What have you learned about how the employees value each other?
   • How do they treat their customers?
   • Knowing their line of business or industry, what can be some examples of difficult customers?

   Do your research.

3. About The Fit

   When a question like this asked in an interview, it is an indication that you will probably encounter difficult customers, or other difficult stakeholders while working for this company.

   This would be an excellent opportunity to use the Present-Past-Present approach to respond to this question.

   Start with the Present. Speak about your “conflict resolution” skills and how you apply these today.

   Next go back to a Past situation - remember your Star Stories to relate a relevant situation that happened in a previous job where you resolved a problem for a difficult customer.

   Finally, come back to the Present, summarizing what you learned from past experiences and how you will apply them to the job you are interviewing for today.

   If you can give an example of how you handled a difficult person in the past in a situation similar to what this company may require from you, this will strongly increase your chances of showing yourself as a good fit.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 3% more frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

4. What is your greatest weakness?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   No one is perfect and your interviewer doesn't expect you to be perfect either.

   While it is good to be honest and open, it will not help you to put yourself down.

   What's important is to find a weakness that you have overcome. How you turned what might be considered a negative into a positive.

2. About The Company

   Research the company (website, social media, etc) to learn about the company culture.

   What personal and professional qualities do they value?

3. About The Fit

   This is the time to clearly state a true weakness that you have overcome.

   Be as specific as possible and stay away from vague cliches like “I work too hard.” It would be difficult for anyone to try and explain how they overcame a weakness like that

   Mr. Simon emphasizes the Present-Past-Present method of responding to behavioral questions. When you are asked about your greatest weakness, you should be able to successfully use this approach as well. Here is an example of how someone might answer this question.

   Present - "I have always had a fear of public speaking, and believe this may have held me back in my career, especially when having to make presentations to management."

   Past - "Last year I learned about Toastmasters International and decided to join this group to help me gain confidence in myself and improve my ability to present to others in just about any situation."

   Present - "By overcoming this weakness I believe that it has made me a much stronger candidate for this position, someone you can count on to make presentations to management, conduct training and communicate at a high level."

   It's important to show how well you've overcome a weakness by motivating yourself and learning a new skill to grow professionally.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 34% less frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

5. Tell me about a difficult work situation and how you overcame it

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Try to think of a time when outside forces created a stressful situation.

   • What was the context?
   • What was the challenge?
   • Did you step in?
   • Were you able to create a solution that could make everyone happy?
   • What did you learn from that situation?
   • How would you handle this situation should it happen again in the future?

   Avoid examples that make you seem indecisive or uncertain, and keep your answer positive.

   This is your chance to show that you have problem-solving skills. Showcase these skills using the STAR method, which will help you effectively organize your response when answering this type of question.

2. About The Company

   Do your research about the company. What challenges and kinds of situations may you face in your new role?

   Read carefully the job description and the list of responsibilities required.

3. About The Fit

   Do your best to ensure your interviewer that you are a person who can identify, isolate, and solve problems.

   Ultimately, it doesn't matter how big of a difficulty you had with any particular project. What really matters is the process of how you overcame that difficulty and whether you are capable of handling difficult situations in the future.

   Choose your example wisely: if you're looking at a team leader or manager role, it might be better to talk about a people issue rather than technical.

   If you're looking at a developer or architect role, then highlight something more technical.

   Name your soft skills as well, such as project management, dealing with difficult people, pushing back requirements that were inadequate, etc. Talk only about your fits which are relevant to the job you want to get.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 3.7x more frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

6. How do you decide what gets top priority when scheduling your time?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   The idea of answering this question is to set realistic expectations for yourself and your potential employer. Ask yourself the following:

   • How organized are you?
   • Are you able to cope with different tasks, deadlines without getting yourself in a muddle?
   • Do you understand the difference between the urgent and the important?
   • Can you reach a balance between company priorities, efficiency, your work-life balance and personal needs?

2. About The Company

   Research the company, its culture and the job description.

   • What do you expect to be doing in this job?
   • How would your performance be measured?
   • What will your responsibilities be?
   • Will you decide by yourself what tasks should be done first?
   • Are there any tasks in the job description that emphasize priority?

3. About The Fit

   Everyone has a different method of managing their workload so it’s your chance to shine and show your excellent time-management skills explaining your preferred technique to your interviewer.

   The best way to prioritize your tasks is to list out what you need to work on across all of your projects.

   Explain that the first thing you usually do is break down bigger tasks into subtasks to feel less overwhelmed. When all of your tasks are in one place, you are able to have an overall view of what needs to get done, develop a sense of how much work you’re dealing with, and what tasks need immediate attention.

   Also mention how professionally you handle a situation when unexpected changes occur. This helps to show you’re mindful of high-level company priorities.

   It’s best to give real-life examples to show the interviewer you’re not just talking about a generic strategy, but you’ve successfully practiced this in the workplace more than once.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 10.5x more frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

7. What is the biggest lesson you've learned from a mistake you made?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Do your best to tell a positive story about how the mistake was made, how you dealt with it and what learned from it.

   We all make mistakes from time-to-time. Answering some of the following questions will help you understand your own view of dealing with mistakes and their consequences.

   For instance:

   • How do you use a mistake to improve your abilities?
   • Are you self-aware enough to acknowledge failure and weakness?
   • Do you take smart risks?
   • How do you view success, failure, and risk in general?
   • Do you take responsibility for past mistakes instead of putting the blame on others?
   • If the situation repeats, what would you do differently? What would you do again?

2. About The Company

   Before the interview, look over the job listing, research the company.

   Try to think of a mistake you have made in the past that is not too closely related to the requirements of the job you are interviewing for. What kind of challenges might you face if you get the job here?

3. About The Fit

   It’s your opportunity to emphasize the skills or qualities you gained from your past negative experience that are important for the job you’re interviewing for now. The best way to answer a question like this is to use the Present-Past-Present method.

   Start with the Present by ensuring the interviewer that even though you have made mistakes in the past, the lesson that you learned is to always carefully double-check your work and to make sure you plan ahead for any possible contingencies.

   Next go back to the Past to relate a STAR story that will tell the interviewer about a time when you made a mistake but were able to make the right adjustment to turn a potential negative into a positive. You might say something like: "I was responsible to provide one of our best customers a time frame for completing an important project. In my eagerness to impress them I miscalculated how long it would take and we missed the deadline. The customer was very disappointed and we nearly lost their business. After my manager explained the problem to me I worked very hard to improve my approach to project management and meeting timelines and nothing like this has happened again."

   Finally come back to the Present to tell the interviewer that you have the ability to learn from negative experiences and going forward you will approach all tasks with a mindset that will enable you to adjust quickly.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 3.2x more frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

8. Tell me about yourself

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   What is your current occupation? Define yourself professionally in one statement.

   Pick 3 key skills that make you great at your work (your Key Selling Points). How have you applied these skills?

   Try to give some numbers to support your statement.

2. About The Company

   Your first step is to Research the company to find out as much as you can about what they do and their approach to their business and their employees.

   Based on what you know about the company and the job description, why are you interested in the position you are applying for?

3. About The Fit

   Now is the right time to show the fit between your skills and the company's requirements. Your answer works best if you emphasize your relevance. How do you do this? You will have already researched the company, studied the job description to identify their needs and possible pain points and prepared the relevant Star Stories that show how you addressed similar issues in the past. Your next step is to develop your Present-Past-Present approach.

   Start with the Present. Focus on the skills and experience from your most recent positions. What has enabled you to get the job done successfully and how this relates to what the employer is looking to accomplish.

   Next go back to the Past. Here is where your Star story comes in. Explain how you were able to use your skills and experience to accomplish a task that relates to an area of concern for the employer.

   Finally come back to the Present – summarizing the lessons you learned and how they shaped your response and approach today.

   Remember, the whole conversation is about the present, not the past. Just one sentence can summarize why your approach works, and its applicability and relevance to this position.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 83% less frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

9. Tell me about your work experience. What was the most interesting?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Review the details that you shared in your resume. Select the three to five best points to highlight and relate to the position to which you're applying.

2. About The Company

   Carefully research the company and the job description.

   Find out what duties you'll be taking on to determine which of your top skills to emphasize. Try to find out what current challenges they are trying to solve by opening this vacancy.

3. About The Fit

   Knowing the duties for which you will be responsible will help you identify which prior experiences to highlight.

   How well you connect your previous experiences with the job requirements can tell the interviewer how prepared you are for this role and how enthusiastic you will be about your job.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 43% more frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

10. Tell me about a time you had a poorly performing team member

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Ask yourself the following questions based on your own experiences.

   • Do you like working on a team?
   • How well do you work in groups, and what role do you tend to take on in a team project (for example, leader, mediator or follower)?
   • Are you easy to get along with?
   • What can you do to support other team members?
   • How do you act to help to minimize the damage of poor performance to the project?

2. About The Company

   Research the company ahead of time so that you can present yourself as someone who would fit seamlessly into their team culture.

   The example you use to respond to the question should be relatable to the company you are applying to.

3. About The Fit

   You need to demonstrate to the interviewer that you are both enthusiastic about teamwork and that you get along with colleagues.

   Be ready to provide a viable solution to this common work situation. Use a scenario when your encouragement was well received and resulted in a positive change or outcome. Emphasize that you always try to create a friendly environment with your team members.

   Here is a simple and honest example:

   "As a server at “ABC,” I was working with a difficult coworker who refused to contribute to the preparation for a holiday party. She decided to sit and watch while we worked. I took this opportunity to speak with her in a calm and friendly manner and asked her to do the small odds and ends. She agreed and worked on the place cards and seating cart, which played an important role in the fluidity of the event. Sometimes, people have hidden strengths and weaknesses, you just need to identify them!"

   Indicate how you’ll handle future challenges if they happen.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 5.6x more frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

11. Tell me about a stressful situation and how you dealt with it

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   In order to form a response to this question, think back to a time when you encountered a stressful situation at work, and answer the following questions.

   • Was the situation a challenge just to you personally or to your entire team?
   • What was your approach to the problem and how did you handle it?
   • What role if any did emotions play in the process of dealing with this situation?
   • What was the outcome, was it successful?
   • Did the outcome meet the company’s expectations as well as your own?

2. About The Company

   • What do you know about the company, where you may encounter a stressful situation?
   • Are they working on a major project which is approaching a due date?
   • Are they going through what appears to be a difficult time where cost-saving is a top priority? Perhaps the company culture is full of negativity and mistrust, or they have gone through massive layoffs. Is there any chance that customers are being neglected?

   Any of these situations may lead to stressful times at the company, and you should try to know more about their expectations, and how realistic those expectations are.

   Or, are they just a dynamic, highly agile company run by smart and creative folks, which may work excellently for some people and be confusing and mind-blowing for others?

   Do your research.

3. About The Fit

   Once you have determined which STAR story will best answer this question, use the Present-Past-Present method for your response. The following is an example of how someone might apply this method.

   The candidate started with the Present by telling the interviewer that she is able to rise to the challenge of the situation regardless of the level of stress that may come with an assignment.

   She then went back to the Past to describe when she and her team had to hit a tight timeline for a customer that depended on the outcome of her team's work. It was an emotional time in which the team worked long, hard hours with lots of overtime. As hard as it was at the time, in the end they successfully completed the assignment and the customer was so pleased with the results that it increased its business with her company.

   Finally, the candidate came back to the Present to explain how much she enjoys taking on challenges because they help her grow as a professional and she knows that she can successfully complete assignments for the company, no matter how stressful or difficult.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 11% less frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

12. How would you describe yourself?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Think of how your bosses and peers would describe you.

   Throughout your professional experience, you have probably heard them giving you some labels – try to remember the exact words they used.

   If you have received LinkedIn recommendations from someone, read those and think why people wrote them and what work situations prompted those descriptions. Remember the context of those situations and frame them as stories.

   Make a list of keywords, or short key phrases, that can describe you. Your Key Selling Points should definitely appear on this list, but try to also use some adjectives here, to add a positive emotional touch.

2. About The Company

   Research the company's values, standards and policies. Make a list of keywords or short key phrases.

3. About The Fit

   Which of your keywords correspond best with those of the company? Highlight 3-4 matches. Now try to imagine being a peer or a boss of yours and compile statements about yourself, in the 3rd person, mentioning these keywords. Remember to use adjectives, and don’t be afraid to mention real references from real people.

   For example, if you are applying for a position that requires good people skills, and your boss at your previous job called you a “conflict resolution guru,” don’t be shy to mention this reference, and provide a brief context that caused your boss’s praise. Use the STAR method to craft your story.

   Don’t limit yourself with just one keyword. If you are concise and don’t ramble with your answer, your interviewer will probably want to hear more than one. Just be observant and watch the interviewer’s reaction. You want to keep them interested.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 6% more frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

13. Describe a time you went above and beyond for a customer

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Think about a time you were the customer, how were you treated when you had a problem or issue that needed to be resolved? Did the company solve your problem with great service and a memorable experience?

   Now think about a time you had to help a customer. What did you do to make that experience unforgettable for them?

2. About The Company

   Think carefully about the company and what they are looking for. Read online reviews and any other available information.

   • What are their standards for treating customers?
   • What complaints have you seen that can give you a hint of some of the challenges associated with customer service?
   • How focused is the job description regarding customer service functions? This will give you a strong hint that customer service is an area to be aware of for the upcoming interview.

3. About The Fit

   A great way to show your fit for the job is to use the Present-Past-Present method in answering this question. The following is an example of how you might apply this approach:

   Start with the Present by telling the interviewer what skills you have that will ensure the best customer experience. These might include attributes like patience, listenting, attentiveness or any other customer service related skills you might possess.

   Next go back to the Past to tell a story of how you went above and beyond for a customer. Use the STAR method to help frame your story and be sure to bring your skills into the narrative.

   Finally, come back to the Present to describe for the interviewer how you will bring your customer service skills to the job you are applying for, to help ensure that the company can always rely on you to provide the highest level of customer service.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 2% more frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

14. Why did you leave your last job?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   There are a number of reasons why people leave or plan to leave their jobs. One very important recent factor has been the impact on jobs and job security due to Covid-19 and all of the issues raised by remote vs. on-site work.

   Regardless of the causes, there are three possible reasons that you left your last job or are planning to leave your current job:

   • You are looking for a career change
   • You are unhappy with your current employment
   • You were let go.

   Whatever the reason, it's best to always speak in a positive light.

2. About The Company

   Based on your research about the company and the position you are interviewing for, what do you like most about the company? What excites you about the work as it is outlined in the job description?

3. About The Fit

   Let's take a closer look at how you might respond to each of the three reasons for leaving your last job.

   1. You were let go

   You should simply state the facts (e.g. the company was downsizing, your position was eliminated, your department was offshored, etc.). Focus on the positive. You might want to share your accomplishments at your previous employment by relating a pertinent STAR story if you feel that would be relevant.

   2. You are looking for career advancement or a career change

   In your response you should be upfront, honest and as enthusiastic as you can be about the position. Consider using the Present-Past-Present method when giving this answer. Start with the Present by describing a career goal that is important to you. For instance you are a data analyst applying for a data management position and you are ready for this move. Then go back to the Past to indicate that at your previous job, there were little or no promotional opportunities in your field. Then come back to the Present and say that you are ready to take on the manager role and know that you will do an outstanding job for the company.

   3. You are unhappy with your current employment

   Sometimes a job just isn't going to take you to the next step in your career.

   Keep two things in mind when answering this question, 1) never "bad mouth" your current employer and 2) focus on the postive when speaking about the job and your reason for wanting to leave.

   The following is an example of how this question might be answered. This individual was looking to move up to a project manager position and did not feel that her current employer was the right place to achieve her goal. You might find her answer helpful in crafting your own response.

   "I really like my job as assistant project manager and love working with all of my coworkers on the team. However, the way the department is set up there is no real path to promotion. There are currently 3 project managers and they are all relatively new in their jobs. As far as I can see, they are all doing a good job and opportunties for promotion may not be opening up in the foreseeable future."

   Her comments were positive and her reasoning was clear and consise. Always try to keep your reasons positive and try not to create an impression that you were unhappy with the way you were treated.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 65% less frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

15. Why and how did you choose your career?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   • What characteristics and skills do you have?
   • What makes you good at what you do?
   • What attracted you to your career path?
   • What strengths do you possess that make you the best candidate for the job?

2. About The Company

   Do your research and learn as much as possible about the organization and the career path you might forge there.

   Match up any of your skills and experiences that relate to the requirements of the job. How can you apply them to your new position, as well as the future?

3. About The Fit

   Don’t just explain how you originally found this career.

   Show you’re still glad to be doing it, that will put the hiring manager’s mind at ease that you’re motivated to do the work, and that you’ll be a big success if they hire you.

   Your answers should provide the basis for a discussion about your passion for the work you do, your qualifications, and your skill set.

   Make a list of factors that led you to this choice.

   At the interview, tell only about those that characterize you and the situation in a positive light.

   It may have been a successful internship with a similar function, which confirmed your desire to work in this field.

   It could be a successful example of your parents, relatives or friends, which is indicative to you. You might have been motivated by your own academic success in this field which led you to enter it.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 3.3x more frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.

16. What's your ideal workplace?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   To help you better picture what your ideal workplace should look like, ask yourself the following questions:

   • What do I need to be happy at my workplace?
   • What would be the physical environment I would most enjoy working in?
   • What am I passionate about? What motivates me?
   • What impact does my work have on the world?
   • Does my work support me enough (including income, vacation, health plan)?
   • Can I build strong, friendly, and quality relationships with my colleagues?
   • What opportunities does my work give me personally and professionally?

   Name a few key points that describe the working environment which are most important to you. You can come up with your own, or choose the top 3-4 from the list below:

   • working in a team or independently
   • stability
   • caring
   • learning new things
   • agility
   • creative atmosphere or competitive atmosphere
   • friendly
   • flat structure
   • hierarchical structure
   • modern
   • conservative
   • clear directions
   • initiative is encouraged.

   Similarly, list the qualities in the workplace that you find highly frustrating.

   These may be either things you find totally unacceptable (e.g. abuse of power by management, harassment etc.) and would walk away from, or things that you consider destructive but you can turn them around (e.g. “I think demotivated employees are bad for the workplace, but as a manager, one of my key skills is to promote engagement and encourage employees”).

2. About The Company

   Do your research about the company.

   Study available information about the company’s culture and its mission.

   • How does the company value its employees and how do the employees value one another?
   • What relations do they have with their customers and suppliers?
   • There may be certain pain points in the company; do you think you can tolerate them, or maybe even help turn them around?

3. About The Fit

   If 3-4 (or even more) key points from your working environment list correspond with the company’s culture, there is most likely a good cultural fit.

   If you are able to, explain to the interviewer how your skills can help alleviate some cultural pain points that may exist in the company. Give an example.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 12.5x more frequently at Caribou Coffee than at other companies.