Group assessment Waitrose any advice?

[Avenged7Fold]

Oh and in EVERY group thing EVER they always start the same way:

'We are going to go round and say our names and a bit about ourselves'

People manage to hilariously flop this and mess their rhythm and confidence up the rest of the interview. Just introduce yourself and say some lighthearted fact about yourself. At this point you will catapult yourself ahead of the people who are too quiet to raise their voice to be heard (50%), the people who think they are applying for a comedy gig (20%) and the people who unknowingly give horrendously bad answers like they are filming this for you-tube (10%).

Congratulations, you are now in the top 20% of people and are likely to make it through to the next round.

Think being in these interviews is bad? I bet having to be the person doing the interview is way, way worse.

 

[bobbyspangles]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23972952

Good luck OP

 

[lemonkettaz]

I done one for Waitrose years ago, all I can say is it was an absolute cheese fest...

Good luck.

 

[ebilcake]

but that is good, it acts as a filter and the employer likely won't want people who find such a thing a nightmare or aren't confident talking in public as that is rather key to the job if you need to man a checkout and engage with members of the public from all walks of like some of whom could be quite demanding or even rude/aggressive etc... being friendly and being confident useful there

I managed just fine working for Tesco many years ago and also did bar work, also worked for DWP and interviewed people everyday and even engaged with groups.

Yet I'm definitely not confident at public speaking or comfortable in groups, if I had to go through these group exercises I would never have been employed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23972952

Good luck OP

Looks like they're even more degrading than I remember.

 

[lemonkettaz]

Just to add, they put us in random groups of 3/4 and give us 4 random products and we had to come up with a skit involving all 4 products somehow linking them altogether along with a sales pitch whilst expecting to make it fun...

I honestly did not know what role I was applying for, It felt like they wanted a TV Presenter/Stand up Comedian/Marketing Wizard. I think they just make it up and have a laugh at peoples expense that actually want a job and at the end of the day its normal min wage, not much responsibility role part time people are applying for.... Makes no sense to me.

Needless to say I didn't get the job, I probably gave the stinking attitude whilst trying to perform for them. Joke

 

[bobbyspangles]

I strongly agree that group interviews severely and unfairly disadvantage the less outgoing and being loud and stand out in a group of people often has little bearing on how you might behave on the job.

 

[dowie]

Its a double edged sword - sometimes the most outgoing and vocal people can also be some of the laziest :s and you can skip over some people who are quieter but much harder working.

Its a bit of a contention I've had at work as my old boss was very swayed by someone who put a lot of effort into showy presentation and talked a good talk but sometimes when you engage with individuals you'll find people with far more substance and a better long term bet as an employee.

don't get me wrong here, I'm just commenting on this type of customer facing position where not being able to make eye contact would be bad and being friendly would be a good thing

I strongly agree that group interviews severely and unfairly disadvantage the less outgoing and being loud and stand out in a group of people often has little bearing on how you might behave on the job.

I doubt it in this case - I'd wager that the person who isn't particularly phased by the group and can smile, be friendly etc.. would be much better able to handle a line of angry customers than someone who can't even make eye contact and stares at their shoes when they speak

I managed just fine working for Tesco many years ago and also did bar work, also worked for DWP and interviewed people everyday and even engaged with groups.

Yet I'm definitely not confident at public speaking or comfortable in groups, if I had to go through these group exercises I would never have been employed.

Why? Is that not a bit contradictory - you say you're fine doing bar work and engaged with in groups but then that you're not comfortable in groups - it seems a bit contradictory. I mean you literally have stated that you've engaged with groups ergo you are able to do so...

 

[Vonhelmet]

I strongly agree that group interviews severely and unfairly disadvantage the less outgoing and being loud and stand out in a group of people often has little bearing on how you might behave on the job.

When I used to do the group exercises, we'd always fail the folk who talked over everyone, but it was really frustrating in that they could take down other candidates with them. You could sometimes see someone was good, but you just didn't have enough evidence to pass them because they hadn't been able to make themselves heard over some overconfident jerk.

 

[ebilcake]

Why? Is that not a bit contradictory - you say you're fine doing bar work and engaged with in groups but then that you're not comfortable in groups - it seems a bit contradictory. I mean you literally have stated that you've engaged with groups ergo you are able to do so...

It's completely different, In the work environment I'm not competing for attention and I know the subject matter inside and out, as uncomfortable is this is I can deal with it even if I do come across as a little awkward.

In the group exercise it will involve something I'm not familiar with and you're made to compete for attention with all the other applicants.

 

[dowie]

It's completely different, In the work environment I'm not competing for attention and I know the subject matter inside and out, as uncomfortable is this is I can deal with it even if I do come across as I little awkward.

In the group exercise it will involve something I'm not familiar with and you're made to compete for attention with all the other applicants.

well I guess it isn't perfect but they' probably want to minimise type 2 errors... ergo someone who can literally only stare at their shoes and mumble is generally going to be rejected

 

[ebilcake]

well I guess it isn't perfect but they' probably want to minimise type 2 errors... ergo someone who can literally only stare at their shoes and mumble is generally going to be rejected

Do these people actually exist? I've interviewed a lot of people, granted they weren't applying for a job but even the worst of them could maintain eye contact and talk to you when it mattered (Money etc).

Are these straight out of high school?

 

[Vonhelmet]

Do these people actually exist? I've interviewed a lot of people, granted they weren't applying for a job but even the worst of them could maintain eye contact and talk to you when it mattered (Money etc).

Are these straight out of high school?

You'd be amazed.

 

[Rroff]

don't get me wrong here, I'm just commenting on this type of customer facing position where not being able to make eye contact would be bad and being friendly would be a good thing

Yeah its a rather fast and dirty method of filtering in many cases however :s

Do these people actually exist? I've interviewed a lot of people, granted they weren't applying for a job but even the worst of them could maintain eye contact and talk to you when it mattered (Money etc).

Are these straight out of high school?

Yes they do - its a daily battle for me as I don't understand most social nuances, etc. though I'm not to bad in terms of eye contact - especially as I'm in a role which involves some customer facing work from time to time and even occasionally client facing and going to be running two teams over Christmas - for me it is little short of traumatic but I'm not one to run away from a challenge.

 

[loftie]

The last interview I had for JLP involved a group assessment and a solo interview in one sitting. As someone mentioned, research JLP, IMO specifically about being a Partner. I'd ask something about the workings of the Partnership that shows that you know that 'it's different' to other companies. Other than that, be friendly, helpful, smart and attentive.

 

[GTO656]

Thanks a lot guys I'm a very thankful for all the responses. Im gonna give this a good go at(already have a job but would be nice to try something different and cut my hours short there). Do you guys think I need to bring in CV as I have already gave work history and other details when I did it along with the online assessment questions? Cheers

 

[Bickaxe]

I've done a few of these;

ASDA: As a team, design and present a reusable bag. Stupid idea considering they already exist and had done for years. Each team did the same thing. Everyone was employed and I didn't contribute anything as i lost interest at this point due to finding out it was mandatory weekend working. I quit after 4 weeks.

SAINSBURYS: Go out to the shop floor and pick these items. Each person had a shopping list of 5 items. On each something was out if stock. I guess if you didn't shop there, you might remember where to find something. Everyone was employed.

HOMEBASE: Chose an item off the table and talk about it. Tools and products. Half if them were school leavers and had no idea what they were choosing. I picked up the Managers pen he left on a clipboard.
Only i got a role and it wasn't advertised. Quite enjoyed it actually.

Don't stress about it, group based stuff is very easy but it shows you don't need to do much. I guess at the end of the day its a job but given the choice, I would never go back to retail.

 

[explicit4u]

Thanks a lot guys I'm a very thankful for all the responses. Im gonna give this a good go at(already have a job but would be nice to try something different and cut my hours short there). Do you guys think I need to bring in CV as I have already gave work history and other details when I did it along with the online assessment questions? Cheers

They dont tend to do CV stuff unless its for higher positions but it's completely up to you.

Just the usual passport, NI number and whatever else they ask you to bring