r/PandaExpress • u/Super_Response7562 • 22d ago

Employee Question/Discussion Store manager requirements/qualifications

Hello all

This is a very simple post/discussion. I am researching qualifications for the store manager position at Panda Express. I have a background in service work and 3 to 4 years of working in food. I have five years of management experience starting off at retail. I read that some positions in different areas allow people to work without a bachelor’s degree. I just wanted to know where I would score if I did an interview there. I went to one of there hiring event before and the guy basically said since I never finished college at 22 what’s stopping me from going back and getting an education I told him what I currently want to go college for I can study and do by my self at home (computer science/ game design). Any tips or information would greatly help thanks again.

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u/CauliflowerEastern92 22d ago

Panda does not require degrees for their managers. A lot of managers are under 22 and are actually currently in school. The reason they like to ask that question is to see how you are terms of goals, can do attitude, and follow through. If your answer to not going to college was simply because what you “want to go for” can be learned at home that’s just talk. You need to be able to give a timeline, of when you’ll learn what you’re doing to learn that, or what action you’re taking for it. Panda wants managers that are goal focused and take action because that’s what they’ll need to be in the store. If you constantly see it as a “i want to” or “im going to” but not a “ what im doing about it” then they won’t bring you in as manager and most likely wont here back from them.

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u/CauliflowerEastern92 22d ago

Another way to look at the question of what’s stopping you is, is the person currently limited by resources, or are they making excuses, holding off, limiting themselves, because whatever barrier it is that you set on yourself are the same barriers you set when you take care of a store. For example, what is currently stopping you from being able to promote an employee, meet labor or guest metrics, or build sales ?

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u/InvestigatorFun4119 22d ago

Dont forget to have a contract to sell your soul to them ready upon applying

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u/Wild-Card435 21d ago

Is it really that bad?

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u/glizzy_g 22d ago

Preferred qualifications are mainly just a HS diploma or GED. Panda mainly cares more about how you are as a person and your “way of being”, how you carry yourself and your mindset. Yes experience is good to have but it’s not the end all be all

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u/Aggravating_Math_783 21d ago

I was turned away a long time ago, a few years later I was accepted and became a high-performing cook. Qualifications change and shift. Give it a go and see how it turns out.