John Lewis Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 62 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
17 roles · 62 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at John Lewis.
John Lewis
Manager
Manager Average Positive experience Decline offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Other
The interview process involved basic situational questions, mainly focusing on customer service. There were also follow-up questions about handling challenging customer interactions. Additionally, topics like staff morale, financial matters, and prioritizing tasks came up. Overall, it was a very positive experience with friendly interviewers.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Can you share some basic situational interview questions, focusing on customer service, with some follow-up questions about dealing with difficult customers?
- What about staff morale, financial questions, and balancing priorities?
- It was a very pleasant process with friendly people involved.
John Lewis
Operations Administrator
Entry Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I arrived at Magna Park 1 warehouse in Milton Keynes, and the HR office area smelled really bad, like urine. There were 2 people on the panel, and they seemed nice enough. But they asked me questions I didn't expect, not the ones listed online. I could answer them though. One of the interviewers hadn't even heard of 'Power BI'; they apparently use Google Sheets. The role was described vaguely, which made me think they were looking to hire someone already within the company, since I was an external applicant. It's been 3 weeks since the interview. I've asked for feedback twice, but they've just ghosted me. It makes you wonder about the company's culture and values, like 'being a partner' and 'behavioural competencies', when they can't even give basic feedback as a courtesy. It's not that hard.
Confirmed questions5 questions
- Can you share your experience with statistical software?
- Could you tell us about yourself, professionally speaking?
- Tell us a bit about yourself as a person.
John Lewis
Principal Engineer
Staff Average Negative experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Presentation Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation
This was a new position and the first interview was a bit strange, the interviewer wasn't sure about the role but talked for 20 mins about what it might be. Then, for the second interview (2 hours long), we had to do a presentation about what we'd do in the role. They gave us the prompt at the start of the interview and then only 30 mins to prepare a 10 min presentation, which is really not enough time, especially since they weren't sure about the role themselves. The presentation would then be followed by questions.
Confirmed questions6 questions
- Regarding the first three months, what quick wins would you aim for and what steps would you take to achieve them?
- For the first 12-18 months, what long-term goals would you establish and how would you accomplish them?
- What initial support and guidance do you anticipate needing?
John Lewis
Copywriter
Entry Difficult Neutral experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
This role is experience-based, similar to a Civil Service application. Be ready with plenty of examples from your career demonstrating instances where you've negotiated, compromised, or excelled. I found that some of these questions were tough because I didn't have enough ready examples. There were also several questions about the competitor market that I hadn't prepared enough information for.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Can you share an instance where you exceeded expectations?
- What examples do you have from your career that show you can negotiate, compromise, or excel?
- What is your understanding of the competitor market?
John Lewis Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from John Lewis interview reports.
“A customer is looking for a gift for their son who is going to university, what would you suggest?”
Read reports →“How would you assist a customer looking for a thoughtful, UK-connected gift for visiting family from another country?”
Read reports →“Can you share some ideas for events and activities to be organized during the lead-up to a big event in the city?”
Read reports →“How do you encourage repeat customer visits without directly prompting a purchase?”
Read reports →“How would you advise Leo, who is shopping for menswear and unsure how to dress for a mix of casual and formal parties, including one with new colleagues?”
Read report →“Could you write this code for me?”
Read report →“What would you do if a customer wanted a product that was out of stock in the store?”
Read report →“Could you tell me about your favorite product available at John Lewis?”
Read report →“What are your ideas for attracting customers during the Christmas season?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 62 John Lewis interview reports.