Sainsburys, as one of the most famous supermarket brands, have designed a recruitment process to ensure they hire the most suitable candidates for the advertised role.
As an employer who recruit full-time and part-time employees, including students and career professionals, the Sainsburys interview is designed to check an employees work ethic as well as their experience and skillset.
Sainsburys want staff to enjoy working within their stores and with this in mind the job interview will focus on the culture of the organisation. Interviewee’s will need to read and understand the company values of Sainsburys.
Job interview questions will cover company culture, retail skills, customer service experience and teamwork. Sainsburys have made the job interview process – no curveball interview questions, and have even provided job interview tips.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions
Below is a list of commonly asked retail job interview questions and some tips on how to answer each question. Make each answer relevant by using your won examples and by making your strengths and skills stand out.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions 1. Tell me a little about you and your retail/customer service experience?
- For experienced applicants give a summary of your duration in retail, giving specific examples of how you have supported customers, met sales targets and how you are a valued member of a team.
- For schools leavers and students, or people with little retail experience, focus on any customer service experience, your skill set and work ethic (which is very important in Sainsburys).
- Also discuss any relevant qualifications or awards that you have achieved.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions 2. Why do you want to work for Sainsbury’s?
Here, you must reference Sainsburys values and mission – see link above. Also discuss how you want to work for a retailer who have the customer at the heart of all their decisions.
Sainsburys put a lot of time and effort into their community work. Research this and reference and new projects Sainsburys have been involved in.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions 3. What do you know about our competitors?
Retail is a competitive business.
Discuss what other retailers are in the same area. Compare, positively, Sainsburys to the other supermarket chains, and explain why customer will shop at Sainsburys. It is also good to slip in, how you shop at Sainsburys.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions 4. From a customer’s perspective, what does Sainsbury’s offer that other supermarkets don’t?
On the Sainsburys website they have written:
Since we set up shop in 1869, we’ve always had a strong sense of social, environmental and economic responsibility and an understanding that our success depends on society’s success
This is what make Sainsburys stand out, they want to be the number one customer choice by becoming the trusted retailer in the UK.
Explain how people trust Sainsburys. Make this about you – explain why you shop at Sainsburys.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions 5. What is more important profit or customer service?
A bit of a tricky interview question, as customer service and profit are both important to a retailer.
But, bad customer service reduces customer loyalty and therefore affects share prices.
Explain, especially because Sainsburys value customers, how the customer comes first. If a customer trust a supermarket they will retune for their weekly ship increasing profits.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions 6. How would you remember where all Sainsbury’s stock is stored in the supermarket?
- Give examples of how you have previously had to remember a large amount of stock in a previous role.
- Explain how you first focus on the common asked for products
- Give detail on how you use a ‘system’ to remember large amounts of information IE the memory palace technique.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions 7. Give an example of going above and beyond for a customer?
- Start by explaining a customer related problem.
- Explain how you listened to the customer, though about the situation for their perspective and took steps to resolve the issue.
- Summarize how the customer, positively, reacted to your support and help.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions 8. What would you bring to the Sainsbury’s team?
Here, you need to talk about your ‘teamwork’ skills, communication style and work ethic.
Focus on your unique selling point – always being first to arrive, excellent customer service skills, strong work ethic.
Finally, discuss your friendly and professional personality.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions 9. What would you do if you suspected a colleague of stealing?
- Explain how any incidents would be reported to a manager.
- If needed, you can go on to detail how even a small value theft if undertaken by member staff members can effect profits or lead to large value thefts.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions 10. How do you develop yourself?
- Detail skills you, previously, wanted to develop.
- Explain what actions you took – attending courses, virtual training or asking for a mentor.
- Discuss how this development has resulted in a new skill or knowledge.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions 11. What is your approach to working hours?
- Show flexibility – willing to work weekends, late shifts etc.
- Be realistic- if you are studying at University every Monday , you can explain this.
Sainsbury’s Job Interview Questions 12. Do you have questions you would like to ask us?
- What is a typical day at Sainsburys like?
- How do you develop your staff?
- What is the management style of the store?
- How is the company culture imbedded into every day tasks.
- What made you choose Sainsburys as your employer?
