As an employee for this restaurant, I can tell you firsthand what to expect after working there for years and moving up to management. I am going to be as transparent as possible and give you my honest opinion.
This is what you need to know about Firehouse Subs before you apply for a job there. The process is actually very simple and straight forward for getting hired, but there are some things you should know.
If you really just need a job, then Firehouse can be an ok place to work maybe, but there are definitely better options.
Most customers don’t get to see the story unfolding behind the counter, even though the employees are preparing there meals right in front of them.
Depending on your position when working there, you might love or hate your job.
There are 6 positions to work at Firehouse Subs: Cashier, ATC, Bread Station, Sub Prep, Rescue, and Slicer.
- Cashier – The cashier takes the orders, keeps the lobby clean by sweeping and cleaning tables, and delivers the orders to the customers.
- ATC – The ATC weighs and prepares the meats and cheese for the sub sandwiches ordered and places them into the correct steamers.
- Bread Station – Bread Station cuts the bread for the subs, makes the meatball subs, prepares the sides and soups, and sends everything through the conveyer oven including the bacon.
- Sub Prep – Sub Prep puts all of the extras on the heated bread after it is sent through the oven. This includes placing the tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and other condiments on the bread before the meat is ready.
- Rescue – The Rescue takes the prepped sub and placing the correct meats on each one before sending it out finished and ready to go.
- Slicer – The Slicer does the prep for all of the veggies, and slices and weighs the meats.
There is a salad station, but this is done by anyone available to make the salads, which is normally one of the rescues.
One of the busiest times for salad station is during and after New Years Eve. This is when everyone sets there health resolutions. It drops off a little after February.
The easiest jobs to work would be Bread Station, Cashier, and Rescue. Many hated slicing and found it to be unfair in terms of work to wages. I worked as a slicer, after previous slicers quit, for a long time, and would also agree.
This could be a different case for stores that receive sales under $3000 dollars daily.
Slicing and weighing the meat, along with prepping the veggies (especially the onions) can take its toll. This is only some of the work they do, not all.
The bread station is the easiest, as it only requires cutting bread most of the time, but it has to be the right type before sending it through the oven.
It helps relieve the ATC, which has the most stressful job out of them all. The ATC is pressured by the time, since they have to drop the meat and cheese in the steamer to steam. The bread to make the sub can’t even go through the oven until the meat and cheese is dropped first.
Plus, if they drop the wrong stuff in the steamers, then the sandwich can end up taking an extra 3 to 5 minutes to make. If there is a lunch rush, they will fall behind.
Sometimes they will have to do their job and work bread station too.
Rescue is very simple as long as they know their menu, and which meats are what. If they don’t, then they can irritate the ATC and Sub Prep when they put the wrong meats on the wrong bread and send it out.
It is a fairly simple job for rescue of finishing the sub by placing the steamed meat and cheese on the bread. Not hard at all if you have enough rescues.
The cashiers just have to take the orders, make sure to repeat it back to the customers, clean tables, sweep, and take out orders to customers then they aren’t doing that.
Repeating the orders is very important. This reassures that it was heard correctly, and that the customer didn’t miss something.
I can’t count the number of times that this simple thing was purposely skipped and subs went out wrong. Everyone will know why if this happens, including the customer.
Getting the order made correctly the first time and knowing your menu, will set you above the rest.
Sub Prep is kind of in between ATC and Rescue, both literally and in terms of difficulty. Staying organized with the tickets and subs prepped for rescue to finish will make this job easy, but hard otherwise.
They have to pay attention to the tickets they read to make sure they are grabbing the right breads. Putting mayo on bread that isn’t supposed to have it, means that a new one has to be sent through the oven again.
Their job is to help keep everything stable and in order during rushes, so all the rescue has to do is grab their prepped sub and finish it.
What is the interview process like at Firehouse?
The interview process can vary depending on the person interviewing you, but it will consist of general entry level job questions most of the time. Being on time for your interview is one of the most important things.
If you received an application, filled it out, and returned it, they should set up an interview on the spot or on a later day. When I was hired, this was the process.
Oftentimes, when people applied and returned their application, this is what happens. If not, then it meant they were rejected most of the time.
Walking through the door looking confident, sober, and dressed appropriately, usually was all that was needed to receive an interview once the application was completed.
Walking in and applying, rather than doing it online, increased the chances of an interview. The GM at my store typically only checked online for hires when all other options were exhausted. This could be different for your location.
If you have an interview, this means they are interested in hiring you. They will most likely ask you questions about showing up to work on time, work ethic, and stuff related around this.
Things related to past restaurant experience is unusualand rare for them to ask, since the job training isn’t that difficult.
Second interviews never happened at my store. After they are done, they should move on to the paperwork, which means you’re hired.
Sometimes they will interview and then give you a menu to study, then ask you to return the next day to take a test. Either way this test will eventually come.
It is important for all Firehouse employees to know their menu, so you’ll have to study and take the test on it. Don’t cheat. It will catch up to you even if you get away with it.
Does Firehouse Subs do background checks?
Yes they do. Not always, but they will if they feel suspicious.
They might check your Facebook or other social media using your name to get an up to date look into who they are hiring.
I have seen this done quite often for individuals who applied online rather than walking in for an application.
For instance, one individual applied online, was noticed, but rejected by the GM after he checked them on Facebook. Putting your middle finger up to new people that come across your page and acting like a thug was enough for him to not receive an interview.
A negative background check didn’t always result in an immediate decline. Sometimes they were willing to give the individual a chance if they felt they might be different now. Individuals are hired with bad backgrounds all the time.
Firehouse has a luck of the draw attitude when it comes to background checks. Sometimes they will do them, and sometimes they won’t. It depends on the quality of previous hires and the store if they are not suspicious.
They do not drug test, but have fired, sent home, etc, individuals that weren’t sober.
Firehouse Subs dress code for employees
The dress code for Firehouse Subs employees has changed slightly over the years.
When the store I worked at first opened, wearing jeans wasn’t allowed, only tan or black slacks. Now it is blue jeans only.
Though the pants may vary, the dress code has always been a Firehouse Sub hat and t-shirt, apron if you’re on the line, non-slip black shoes, and a name tag.
From time to time they would get the different variations of their logo shirt with different designs.
All of these had to be worn at all times by every employee, including management. They weren’t allowed to work outside of the dress code, or they were sent home to change.
Firehouse didn’t care if your hair was colored, but it needed to be tied back and covered. Wearing the hat was a must.
Piercings and tattoos on the other hand, had to be covered if visible. Long sleeves had to be worn for tattoos on the arm. If piercings were in the face, they had to be removed before work.
Leggings weren’t allowed, and jeans with holes in them aren’t either. They expect you to show up to work looking professional. Not top notch, but a member of the team.
Acrylic nails also had to be removed. I’ve witnessed a female showing up to work after they were just done and being told to remove them.
How are the working hours at Firehouse Subs?
The hours you work depends on your work ethic. They follow this as a standard, and have often sent home individuals purposely slacking, especially the ones that did not know their menu.
Individuals that weren’t enthusiastic about learning the sandwiches that Firehouse sold, were often sent home with less hours.
Individuals that learned their menu, stayed busy working while clocked in, were often kept for more hours, sometimes even granted extra hours. Management positions became more likely to happen.
Also, if someone was available to work both day and night shifts, they received more hours because they were more flexible.
Doing petty jobs that others often avoided, also resulted in more hours.
