Waitrose Interview Questions
& Process

I had a 30-minute 1-on-1 interview with the manager at the Sheffield store. The recruitment team wouldn't give me specific interview questions, even though I told them about my disability and asked for reasonable adjustments. Instead, they sent me to the questions on their website. There were over 20 questions listed online, which wasn't very helpful. Even so, I got through the interview. A few days later, I was asked back for a driving assessment, which I passed. I put in a lot of time, visiting the store twice and doing an online assessment to get the interview, but I didn't get the job. A manager called me and said they couldn't offer the advertised hours and gave the job to people who needed fewer hours. I thought this reason was unprofessional since they advertised those hours. I emailed recruitment, and they claimed other candidates had more experience, which the store manager didn't mention. I noticed the delivery drivers and management were all very young, around 18-25. I'm older, so I found it hard to believe they all had more experience. I suspect discrimination based on my protected characteristics, not my experience. I'm autistic and have ADHD, which I disclosed. This company isn't inclusive as they claim. Be careful about disclosing disabilities; they might not hire you and then gaslight you about younger applicants having more experience. I dodged a bullet; thanks for showing your true colors, Waitrose.

The interview process was well organised and professionally managed. Communication from the recruitment team was clear throughout each stage, and I was kept informed about timelines and expectations. The interview itself was structured and allowed enough time to discuss my experience, skills, and suitability for the role. The interviewers were friendly and created a comfortable environment, which made it easier to have an open and productive conversation. They asked relevant questions about my background, problem-solving approach, and how I would contribute to the team.

The interview was conducted online and lasted about 40 minutes. The interviewer, a friendly woman, asked me to introduce myself and share my career aspirations. She then emailed me a set of scenarios, giving me 20 minutes to review and prepare responses. Most of these scenarios (4 out of 5) involved assisting customers with product selection and recommendations. After providing feedback on my answers, she inquired about my preferred work locations and my flexibility. The role was subsequently offered to me.

The interview was about 20 minutes long, even though the scheduled slot was an hour. The interviewer mentioned this at the start. They asked me some questions, the kind you can find on the website like 'tell me about a time when...'. It was a really pleasant interview, and the interviewer made me feel comfortable.