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Baker Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
Last updated 16 January 2025
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Baker interview questions and answers.

  1. Do you have any previous study or work experience as a baker? See answer
  2. What do you consider are the best techniques you use daily as a baker? See answer
  3. Describe an effective method of ensuring that your equipment is up to par with the health and safety regulations and undergoes proper maintenance See answer
  4. Have you ever used a POS system to process payments in a bakery? Kindly give me an example. See answer
  5. Has a customer ever given you constructive feedback? What was your reaction? See answer
  6. Do you have any short-term or long-term goals? See answer
  7. Why do you think we should hire you over another qualified candidate for our bakery? See answer
  8. How do you plan, organise, and prioritise your work schedule  as a baker?
  9. Describe a time when you had to demonstrate leadership skills in a bakery where you worked
  10.  As a baker, you create a variety of baked goods daily, and you are likely to experience a few missteps now and then. How do you handle missteps?
  11. What do you think your teamwork skills are? Can you give a clear example illustrating some of the skills you’ve highlighted?
  12. How do you ensure that you stay updated on the various baking trends?
  13. Give me an example of one or more of your favourite baked goods you like making. Which ones don’t you like making?
  14. Describe the difference between puff and choux pastry and how you’d use them when baking
  15. Can you highlight the problem when bread doesn’t give a good rise?
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Baker Interview Questions and Answers

Do you have any previous study or work experience as a baker?

This question should help you understand the candidate's work and study experience in the baking industry. A strong candidate has real bakery experience as opposed to only educational qualifications. If the baker candidate was under another baker's tutelage, they have useful information that would help them thrive at your bakery. What to look for in an answer:

  • Relevant experience in a restaurant or bakery
  • Degree or other certification in baking
  • Have worked previously for a bakery the size of your own
Example:

“After going to baking school and receiving my certification, I moved to Toronto and started training under a master baker at bakery A. I have been working there for 5 years”

What do you consider are the best techniques you use daily as a baker?

Asking such a question will help you gain insight into the candidate's level of expertise as a baker. It would be best if you looked out for the candidate's specificity regarding the quality of their baking and techniques they use when baking. Be keen on the type of equipment they prefer and how they handle the dough. What to look for in an answer:

  • Gives good examples of greater baking techniques
  • Identifies specific appliances
  • Shows they can solve problems
Example:

“I am excellent at proofing bread for baking. I also have a preference when it comes to kitchen tools since I've tried a lot of equipment and know which ones work best for me. For example, when making pastry I prefer to use...”

How do you plan, organise, and prioritise your work schedule as a baker?

This question will help you learn the candidate's organisational skills. The baker candidate should recall their daily schedule in an organised way. They should also stay ahead of orders without falling behind. Additionally, their baked goods should have consistent quality whether it's a slow day or a busy one. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to list methods fluidly
  • Integrates strategies into their daily workflow to stay on track
  • Understands the need to produce quality items
Example:

“In my previous bakery, I started my day by preparing a list of things that had to be done at the bakery. I then group them by order of difficulty to easiest then begin my work. Then I get started by...”

Describe an effective method of ensuring that your equipment is up to par with the health and safety regulations and undergoes proper maintenance

A suitable candidate is familiar with the health and safety regulations and puts them into practise seamlessly daily. As a bakery, your establishment should commit to ensuring top-notch health and safety. So, ensuring that you have a baker who meets these regulations is a must. What to look for in an answer:

  • Up to date on the current health and safety in food regulations
  • Understanding of the importance of food safety
  • Integrating the safety codes in their kitchen
Example:

“I always wear a hair net whenever I step into the kitchen to avoid dropping hair into the goods. I also wear gloves and wash my hands frequently to encourage health and safety.”

Describe a time when you had to show leadership skills in a bakery where you worked

Social and people skills are important skills to have in the baking world. The ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate leadership skills. Their answer will help you gauge their work ethic and ability to handle a team. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to handle conflict
  • Knows how valuable leadership is
  • Demonstrates people and leadership skills
Example:

“At one time, our supervisor had to attend to a personal emergency, which left us one person short. I managed to pull the team together to work on ensuring that every customer got their order on time and in good condition without a hitch.”

As a baker, you create a variety of baked goods daily, and you are likely to experience a few missteps now and then. How do you handle missteps?

The way the candidate handles an unfortunate event in the bakery will help you assess whether or not they are a good fit for the job or not. Their approach to the missteps is crucial in maintaining good customer service and quality services. Asking such a question will help you determine the candidate's ethical code and whether they would serve good quality items or subpar ones. What to look for in an answer:

  • Uncompromising commitment towards delivering quality products
  • Pride in what they do
  • Excellent communication skills
Example:

“The first thing to do is to get rid of the bad batch. My goal is to ensure that customers enjoy what they are eating, and I want them to extend that joy to our baked goods. I would then try to come up with another batch of items and if a customer enquires about why the pastries have taken long, I would apologise and let them know we are working on delivering good quality items.”

What do you think your teamwork skills are? Can you give a simple example illustrating some of the skills you've highlighted?

An excellent candidate should have a team spirit. They should show that they can work with other people to produce good quality results all the time. What to look for in an answer:

  • Honesty
  • Team player
  • Strong communication skills
Example:

“I believe that a great baker should be able to work alongside others for the benefit of the bakery and its customers. Great teamwork shows in customer satisfaction, quality of baked goods, and general team motivation.”

How do you ensure you stay updated on the various baking trends?

An outstanding candidate for the baker's position should always stay informed on emerging baking trends. The applicant should display knowledge of some recent baking trends. What to look for in an answer:

  • Expertise in the baking industry
  • Up-to-date information about current and existing trends
  • Creativity and passion for baking
Example:

“As a baker, I try to provide my customers with creative goods to keep things fresh and interesting. I, therefore, stay updated on the latest baking trends by reading cooking magazines, watching baking shows, and interacting with other bakers.”

Give me an example of one or more of your favourite baked goods you like making. Which ones don't you like making?

Many people have that something at work they dislike doing at work for one reason or the other. Asking this question will help you find out which baked goods the candidate doesn't enjoy making and which ones they could make all day. What to look for in an answer:

  • Integrity
  • Ability to think on their feet
  • Creativity
Example:

“I find that making croissants needs a bit more work and effort, unlike making cupcakes, for example. This is because croissants have multiple layers that one needs to perfect for them to be an authentic baked item. Otherwise, a croissant without layers ends up looking like a small loaf of bread”

Have you ever used a POS system to process payments in a bakery? Kindly give me an example.

The ideal candidate should prove that they have used a POS machine before. They should be able to give an example of a system they've used before and express willingness to learn how to use your system. What to look for in an answer:

  • Tech-savvy
  • Expertise and familiarity in using POS systems
  • Problem solver
Example:

“In my previous bakery, we had a point of sale machine to ensure that the payment process went smoothly. It also allowed us to keep track of all our inventory in an efficient and organised manner. The POS system also provided our clients receipts which proved useful anytime they sought refunds. I'm confident I'll be able to learn how to use your system quickly.”

Has a customer ever given you constructive feedback? What was your reaction?

Customer feedback is highly appreciated in every business. Some customers can be very vocal about their baked goods. The candidate should be able to handle client suggestions and remarks about their items. What to look for in an answer:

  • Calm demeanour
  • Problem solver
  • Ability to handle a tough situation
Example:

“I once encountered a customer who didn't like their cakes the way I made them. She explained to me she was also a baker, and we exchanged a few ideas from that day. To this day, I still use some of her techniques to help customers enjoy tasty treats.”

Describe the difference between puff and choux pastry and how you'd use them when baking

An ideal candidate should know and understand the difference between puff pastry and choux pastry and how to use each one. Questions like this test a candidates technical understanding of baking. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of the difference
  • Keen on details
  • Honesty if they don't know the difference
Example:

“A puff pastry has layers of butter, while a choux pastry creates steam when cooking. Choux pastry typically requires slow addition of eggs, one at a time into the mixer to ensure you achieve the best consistency.”

Can you highlight the problem when bread doesn't give a good rise?

Asking this question helps you gauge the candidate's understanding of how to make good quality bread. They should have the capacity to identify whenever there's a problem and quickly fix it. What to look for in an answer:

  • Problem solver
  • Familiarity with bread
  • Able to spot an issue quickly
Example:

“My years of working as a baker have allowed me to spot whenever the yeast is spoiled and can't give the bread a good raise. I have developed a way of making the active ingredient work for longer so that the yeast doesn't go bad easily.”

Do you have any short-term or long-term goals?

Asking such a question allows you to gain insight into the candidate's future plans. The candidate should provide an answer that is relevant to the goals they wish to achieve in your bakery.  What to look for in an answer:

  • Honesty
  • Clearly defined goals
  • Ambition
Example:

“I believe in setting short-term achievable goals which at the end of the day add a step closer to the main goal. Currently, my short-term goal is to become head chef at your bakery. However, if we are talking about long-term goals, I aspire to become one of the most respected top bakers in the country and the world in general.”

Why do you think we should hire you over another qualified candidate for our bakery?

This question allows the candidate to highlight skills that make them the best fit for your bakery. Asking them such a question allows them to detail qualities that aren't in their resumes. What to look for in an answer:

  • Honesty
  • Creativity
  • Quick thinking
Example:

“I believe all the candidates are qualified. However, I can only vouch for myself by letting my work speak for me. I have five years experience working under master bakers and I believe i'd be a significant addition to your team.”

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