Waitrose Manager Interview Questions
& Process

The hiring process was quite lengthy, spanning 8 weeks from application to the final face-to-face interview. It started with an initial screening, followed by a routine phone call. Then there was a significant waiting period before the second interview was set up. This second interview involved a case study for which I had to prepare a presentation beforehand. The case study itself wasn't explained very clearly and seemed intentionally vague. After the presentation, I was asked competence-based questions. While the interviewers seemed approachable, I felt they were just going through the motions. I was very qualified for the role, perhaps even overqualified, which might have been perceived negatively. They also failed to provide constructive feedback post-interview, which was unprofessional.

I had to do some online assessments, like situational reasoning and saying why I'd want to join JLP, which took about 2 hours. About a week later, I got an email asking me to interview, but they didn't give many details, just the time. When I got there, they took me to the staff room and then to the first interview with a store manager and a team manager. It felt very formal and like they were just ticking boxes. It was a behavioural interview asking about my experience. After that, I couldn't ask any questions or get more info about the role. The second part was a panel where four of us had to discuss and plan what to do if the store was short-staffed, shelves were empty, and there were long queues. We finished with a Q&A about the task. They told us that if we'd finished the first part, we could leave. A couple of things to note: two candidates were internal, so I think I and one other person were just there to make up the numbers. There was no connection or chance to ask questions at any point. For a company that talks a lot about customer experience, they should really think about the candidate experience. I didn't feel good about the brand or the opportunity after the interview, and it's no surprise some reviews mention poor management culture at Waitrose. I got an email saying I wasn't successful and they didn't offer any feedback.

The interview was online. They asked questions and I answered them. It was pretty straightforward, but it looks like they changed the process for the second application I did. This time it involved an individual task. The interview was online, with questions and answers. It was quite straightforward, but it seems they changed the process for the second application I submitted, as it now included an individual task.