Job Interview Experience (What to Expect)
Prep for your interview at DQ.
Hiring Process
The Dairy Queen interview process officially begins when hiring managers start to evaluate completed DQ application forms and determine which candidates to bring in for onsite interviews. Selected applicants receive notification via phone or email usually within a few weeks of applying for Dairy Queen jobs and often sooner.
What Do You Discuss?
The initial interview typically covers basic information to ensure prospective workers have the ability to meet the job requirements of desired positions.
Review Your Background
At this stage in the employment process, Dairy Queen hiring officials generally want candidates to confirm anticipated availability, elaborate on any previous work experience, and verify other information from the job application.
Your Availability
The quick-service restaurant chain strives to hire dependable workers able to commit to flexible schedules with frequent night and weekend shifts.
Go Early & Be Prepared
Arrive to the interview moderately early. Be ready to give specific examples of how personal experiences and prior jobs have prepared you to work productively at Dairy Queen.
Restaurant managers usually conduct 15-minute interviews for entry-level positions, while managerial applicants typically meet directly with franchise owners in job interviews often lasting for 30 minutes or more.
How to Behave
Remember to offer a firm handshake before and after the interview, maintain appropriate yet engaging levels of eye contact, have a few insightful questions prepared ahead of time, and follow up once a couple days after the interview to show unwavering interest in the job with Dairy Queen.
Second Interview Expectations
Multiple rounds of interviews remain rare at Dairy Queen, especially for entry-level crew member jobs. As most Dairy Queen restaurants feature independent franchise ownership, the likelihood of a second job interview varies largely by location.
Learn More About Each Other
Dairy Queen hiring officials sometimes use second interviews to probe more thoroughly into schedule availability and employment histories. Typically restricted to management candidates, second interviews usually last longer than previous sessions and often include various behavioral and situational questions to gauge applicant readiness for the job.
In the event of a second interview, aspiring Dairy Queen workers should continue to adhere to established interview etiquette by arriving suitably early, demonstrating enthusiasm for the position, and following up appropriately.
Watch video of a Dairy Queen employee discussing their job
Video Transcript
Interviewer:
Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Dairy Queen Cashier:
So I’m a cashier there. And sometimes I serve ice cream and whatever they need, like Blizzards, cones, dipped cones, Sundays or whatnot. And it just depends on how busy it is. Sometimes we have more than one person at Dairy Queen, so basically if I’m the cashier, I just cash out people and just tell them to wait to the next window for their order and have them make sure that they have their receipt with them just in case if their orders get mixed up or whatnot. And if I’m not the cashier, then I just take the orders from the cashier and I just serve what their order is. And that’s pretty much it.
Interviewer:
How would you describe the application and interview process?
Dairy Queen Cashier:
There was an online form and I filled that out and then they call me within two to three months and I got an interview and they asked me this like simple question, what does integrity, service and cleanliness mean to you? And then they told me what my working hours, what time I’m available and what time I’m not available. And based on that, they plotted my schedule. And then I got the job.
Interviewer:
What set you apart from other candidates?
Dairy Queen Cashier:
The fact that I was really involved in my school and I had the good communication skills I guess.
Interviewer:
What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Dairy Queen Cashier:
Just simply be respectful. It doesn’t just necessarily have to be at Dairy Queen. It could be at any job that you apply for. So being respectful, being honest, loyal and simply things like that.
Possible Interview Questions and Answers
Q: Why should we hire you? What separates you from other candidates?
A: I love working with customers and know many of the people working on staff already. I arrive at work in a timely fashion and stay on task at all times.
Q: Why do you want to work at Dairy Queen specifically?
A: I know people that work here. It seems like a fun work environment, and I get to interact with customers on a consistent basis, which I enjoy.
Q: What kind of experience do you want to give customers?
A: I want to make sure customers walk away feeling satisfied and completely taken care of.
Q: Describe a time when you had to handle a stressful situation.
A: In high school, I serve as yearbook editor, and around deadline time, I generally have to review 20 to 30 pages of material for print in a couple of days. I space my work out, so I don’t get burned out, but stay on task, so I can finish the project on time. It gets stressful, but it’s all about how you manage the situation that counts.
Interview Tips
How to Dress
While restaurants like Dairy Queen offer casual settings to socialize and work, job seekers should nevertheless opt to wear professional attire at interviews. Taking the time to dress professionally will stand out visibly and indicate serious aspirations of obtaining a Dairy Queen job.
Attire: What to Wear
Standard business-casual apparel, like dress slacks or khakis with button-down shirts for males and skirts or dress pants with tasteful blouses for females, conveys competence and makes a lasting first impression. Dairy Queen hiring managers frequently encounter inexperienced applicants arriving to job interviews in inappropriately casual outfits.
