9 Associate Trainer Reviews
Associate Trainers give their job an average rating of 2.9 out of 5.0. The Associate Trainers happiest with their jobs are employed by Panera Bread with an average rating of 2.6.
Submit a ReviewWhat do you like about working at Panera Bread?
"My pay rate is high for my job position."
Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?
"At the location I am currently working at, I would tell anyone to go somewhere else. The training is mediocre at best and a lot of the staff are just self serving egotistical people who wander around doing anything next to nothing while those of us who show any signs of hard work get the bulk of the work."
What don't you like about working at Panera Bread?
"A majority of my co-workers are focusing on the wrong things at the wrong times, and they like to interrupt me when I am in the middle of doing something else. It seems like they want to look efficient and bossy at the same time. The managers are crazy obsessed with making sure everyone is doing what they want done in order of non-importance first and neglecting the stuff that needs to get done ASAP so that we are better equipped to help serve customers better. It's a mess."
What suggestions do you have for management?
"I know there is a lot to do at this restaurant or any restaurant. So the thing I would focus on next after satisfying the customers, is ensuring that things get done when they can get done, and not stress out when stuff isn't done that day or right away."
What do you like about working at Panera Bread?
"It's demanding, stressful, and a lot of pressure. This is my first job and the pay is low. Fortunately I like to work and do it very well. It's just that sometimes I have to do everyone's job. I work mornings, set up the bakery area, wake up @ 4, get to work @ 5, stock bagels and pastries, clean up afterwards, bring sanitized buckets with clean towels, and finish 20 minutes before opening, as I like to be efficient and don't want my manager to pressure me by telling me if I'm ready to count my drawer. I'm a cashier. I've been working there for about 6 months. I work the most difficult shifts, breakfast and lunch. We've got to change coffees every hour, restock ASAP, make drinks, and slice/toast bagels, etc. All of my coworkers are also hard working and I really appreciate that, but sometimes we need more help, I think that we are missing more employees to lend a hand. The dining area is most of the time full, and most people don't clean after themselves (which they should, as Panera provides the trash bins strategically located). They make it so much harder on the people who have to make sure that everything is clean and well stocked, plus have to wash the dishes, maintain the bathrooms, and clean and wash all of the trays. Panera is too demanding, and a bit pricey even for employees. IRV's are crucial for each Panera and a bad review get's the manager in a very bad mood. They do keep track of all of the comments, and every day we need to have a high score, which is ridiculous, I believe people just want to get their food, and not to be asked to fill out a survey that takes quite some time, unless they had an unbelievable experience. The Panera rewards card is a pain. We have to register at the least 15 per day, either online or on the spot. We are constantly reminded, Don't forget IRV's and rewards cards!. Paneras are always competing for the spotlight and they will post ranking tables at the office. I just wish that cashiers would do a bit less. I'm always smiling and very courteous, but sometimes I really need a break. It's a very strict enviornment. We'll follow all the guidelines to the very letter. Even when I think that I've finished my job and have done a good job, they will always push me to do something, even if it's not my job. We had 2-3 employees quit recently and now we are short on staff. I understand they just couldn't keep up with stress and demand. The food is delicious, I don't think it's as healthy as it may seem, but it is delicious. The bread is baked every morning, although the dough is prepared days in advance somewhere else, the bakers just prep the bread dough, putting them on trays and putting them on the ovens. I like working at Panera. I just wish it wasn't as demanding. The pay is minimum and not equivalent to the labor we put in. All of the employees can agree to this."
Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?
"Think twice, make sure that you are ready to work hard and not snap at your superior when they give you a long list to do. Know that there will be pressure coming from everywhere. If you know what you are getttng into, be nice, act smart and quick, smile, and say that you are great with people."
What don't you like about working at Panera Bread?
"Quick paced Seriously, have you seen us in action There are long lines all the way to the door. We try hard to give good quality service at a speedy manner. It doesn't mean that we are perfect. Cut us some slack. We do our best. Treat us nice, please. I've had people make me cry for no reason. Someone made me cry because of 1 cent. They told me that all of the generations after him were stupid and couldn't make it without a machine to tell us how to count money. I felt hurt because I was very nice to them and that's how I was treated. I even offered to get them fresh coffee while it was still brewing, you know, going the extra mile to satisfy the guest. I really dislike that policy where employees almost have to do the impossible to keep the guest satisfied. Not all guests are like that, but we will get some people who are really special. What's wrong with slicing the bagels through the bagel slicer Ok, I'll slice that bagel with a knife for you."
What suggestions do you have for management?
"Great concept, but after all it's the money they are after, and well, it's proven effective because Panera has gained so much popularity, and they spend almost nothing on advertising (compared to the profits). Don't blame them. They've got a short leash on all of us."
Associate Trainer Career Rating Comparison
Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?
"If you want to develop in customer service and enhance your computer skills at the same time, this is the place for you."
What do you like about working at Ferguson Enterprises?
"Flex schedule"
Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?
"be open on your standards and if they agree and your hired, hold them to it"
What don't you like about working at Ferguson Enterprises?
"no communication through channels"
What suggestions do you have for management?
"communicate better with your employees"
Please give us a one liner to describe this review.
"12 years of dedicated service to The Home Depot."
What do you like about working at Home Depot?
"I enjoyed what I did. I loved training and took pride in seeing results from my work. I also enjoyed the collaboration with my co-workers and interaction with the customers."
What don't you like about working at Home Depot?
"I disliked inconsistency affecting the results of my training."
Please give us a one liner to describe this review.
"Good place to work at."
What do you like about working at Panera Bread?
"I liked most of my co-workers because we were there from the beginning when the store first opened. Pretty much all the managers were great too."
What don't you like about working at Panera Bread?
"I did not like that there was not much opportunity for growth."
What suggestions do you have for management?
"Be consistent."
Please give us a one liner to describe this review.
"The job ended."
What do you like about working at Panera Bread?
"I was able to explore the part of my career that I had the most trouble with, and that is public speaking. I was able to mingle with a diversified target market on a global scale, and because of that experience I was able to build up my confidence level in public speaking."
Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?
"Simply, be honest in everything that you do, whether it be serving a client or working as a team with the company, because with that kind of moral and ethic standard it is hard to go wrong."
What don't you like about working at Panera Bread?
"There came a time when certain people in line with the management were in a status of cognitive dissonance when it came to the following of rules and regulations, so it made the work environment appear to be counterproductive. But in order to get around that, I stayed focused on what I hold to be the only criteria on what makes me successful in a work environment, and that is the binding arbitration that I signed."
What suggestions do you have for management?
"I would probably recommend that there are daily proficiency reports that have to be performed mandatorily amongst the management and the personnel, so that certain events of unexpected nature do not become a potential problem in the future."
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