If you are looking for Waitrose Interview Questions you have come to the right place.
We all know interviews are stressful and competition is intense.
However, with a small amount of preparation you can ace the Waitrose Interview.
Here we will discuss Waitrose Job Interview Questions
Please note these are practice interview questions and we are not affiliated with the company mentioned in this post.
Skip To
Waitrose Interview Questions and Answers
1. Can you tell us about yourself?
- It’s okay to discuss your hobbies and interests; but, keep it brief. Try to focus on relevant work experience. Remember that having relevant work experience will put you ahead of the competition.
2. Why do you want to work for Waitrose?
Possible Answers are
- State you love the product and the service you get at Waitrose and because of this, you would be proud to represent them.
- Mention you would be proud to work for a company that is so dedicated to animal welfare, environmental responsibility, and food quality.
- If you are interviewing for a customer service role state you feel you have strong communication skills which will allow you to work well with customers and other co-workers.
- State why you feel Waitrose is better than its competitors.
3. What is your greatest strength?
- The best way to respond to this question is to describe the skills and experience that directly correlate with the job you are applying for. With this in mind, review the job description and reassure the interviewer that you have the experience and skills to do the job.
4. What is your greatest weakness?
Don’t Say
- You don’t have a weakness
- You can’t think of a weakness
- Something unrelated to the job
- Do not state a weakness that is critical for the job
Do Say
- Something related to the job
- Steps to improve your weakness
Example
My greatest weakness is I take criticism too personally. I have learned to resist overreacting and to reflect on what someone said. I have found that I have become a better employee when I learn from feedback.
Company Information
5. What can you tell us about Waitrose?
About Waitrose
- Waitrose is a British employee-owned supermarket chain.
- Waitrose & Partners has 338 shops across the United Kingdom, including 65 “little Waitrose” convenience shops.
- John Lewis Partnership is the parent company of Waitrose.
- Heston from Waitrose is a premium range of Waitrose products. It includes products inspired or created by the celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal.
- Its head offices are located in Bracknell and Victoria, England.
6. Who are our competitors?
7. What are Waitrose core values?
- DO-RIGHT: We act with integrity and use our judgement to do the right thing.
- ALL OR NOTHING: We put everything we have into everything we do.
- GIVE MORE THAN YOU TAKE: We put more in, so everyone gets more out.
- BE YOURSELF. ALWAYS: We’re quirky, proud, and at our best when we are free to be ourselves.
- WE NOT ME: When we work together anything is possible.
DID YOU KNOW…
Waitrose has a royal warrant to supply groceries, wine, and spirits to Queen Elizabeth II and, as of 1 January 2011, to Prince Charles.
Customer Service Interview Questions
8. How would you define excellent customer service?
- The staff is friendly and always willing to help the customer find what he or she needs.
- Customers are not waiting in line for long periods at checkout.
- The store display is well-kept and presented with adequate inventory.
9. Can you tell us about a time you went above and beyond for a customer?
- Customers love it when you go above and beyond for them, which will, in turn, generate more business. Try to think of a time when you went above and beyond for a customer. For example, when I was a server at a restaurant, we did not have a specific dessert in the restaurant. Luckily, the restaurant next door had it and I got it for the customer.
- Here’s another example: I worked at a fast-food chain in my last job. There was a senior citizen at the restaurant and he had finished his meal. The rain started, and he started to worry because he didn’t have an umbrella. Luckily, I had an umbrella, so I walked him to his car, sheltering him from the rain.
Additional Interview Questions
10. How would you deal with an upset customer?
- Listen and let the customer vent.
- Show the customer you care.
- Don’t blame the customer or the company.
- Try to solve the problem or find someone who can.
- Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
- Finally, one must not take it personally. If you get upset, you will take it out on future customers.
11. How do you feel about standing on your feet for long periods?
- Most jobs in retail will require you to work on your feet for long periods. Tell the interviewer you do not have a problem with this. Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes with low heels, maintain good posture, and stay hydrated.
12. Why did you leave your last job?
Let’s first discuss what not to say!
- Do not say anything negative about your previous employer
- Do not say for money.
- The commute was too long.
Example
“I enjoyed my time at my last job, but, I have outgrown my current role and I am looking for new challenges.”
13. How was your attendance in your last job?
- Be honest when answering this question as the interviewer may check references.
- Emphasize that you understand the importance of starting your shift on time.
14. What did you like most about your last job?
- Unfortunately, this could be a trick question where they ask about things you didn’t like in your previous job.
- The best answer is to say that you enjoyed everything about your last job; however, you feel that you have learned all you could in that role and are now looking for new challenges.
Questions to ask at the End of the Interview
15. Do you have any questions for us?
- What do you like best about working here?
- How do you describe your ideal candidate for this position?
- What about this position is the most important?
- How do you measure my success, and what could I do to meet your expectations?
- Which part of the position has the steepest learning curve? What can I do to get up to speed quickly?
- What opportunities will I have to learn and grow?
Waitrose Delivery Driver Interview
Why do you want to be a delivery driver?
- Say you would like to work in a fast-paced environment and would enjoy working with people and a job as a delivery driver will allow you to do both.
Why should we hire you as their delivery driver?
Possible answers to this question are
- Say you have great communication skills which will allow you to work well with customers and co-workers.
- State you pay great attention to detail and will always make sure the customer gets their order correctly the first time.
- Mention you work well under pressure
How is your driving record?
- Hopefully, you have a clean driver record. If you have been in an accident tell the interviewer what happened and what did you learn from it.
What would you do if you were stuck in traffic and had a time-sensitive delivery?
- State you feel heavy traffic is out of your control and would continue to drive safely. Also, mention you would call your supervisor if you could not make the delivery on time.
Waitrose Night Shift Interview
How do you feel about working nights?
The more flexible you can be with your hours the better chance you have at getting the job so be flexible! Perhaps working nights is beneficial to your personal life and if so let the interviewer know.
Why should we hire you?
If possible, discuss any experience you have working at a supermarket, managing inventory (stocking shelves), and how you worked well in a team. You can also mention skills you have such as communication, working well under pressure, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
Have you ever been late for a shift in the past? What was the reason?
Everyone has been late for a shift but make sure you have a good reason. State you called your boss ahead of time to let her know that you will be late.
How do you feel about standing for long periods and lifting?
You may be required to sand for long periods or lift heavy items. Ideally, you should tell the interviewer you have no problem doing this.
Waitrose Telephone Interview
- Make sure you have found a quiet room to interview.
- Print out questions you want to ask at the end of the interview.
- If you have a telephone interview study the questions above and you will be fine.