Boots Sales Staff Interview?

danois

Hi all, I have applied online for the new Boots opening in Bray. I know its early days and I don't even know if I have passed the online assesment but I want to find out what is envolved in the interview.

I have done a quick search and most interviews seem to be set around how you deal with the customer in store. The store is not open yet they have only just put planning permission in the window to change the signs. So I wont be able to go in before hand and check out offers and see where everything is. Are they like Aldi and Lidl as in everything is in the same area in all shops could i go look around a different shop?

Will they interview me in the closest Boots shops or will they just do a different sort of interview maybe group interviews?

Has anyone applied for a new store opening? Any tips would be great

Thanks
Danois

Corruptedmorals

I had an interview in an existing store (and didn't get it even though I had years of retail experience!). Anyway yes there is a physical element like handing our baskets/leaflets, packing bags, pointing out cheapest paracetamol and explaining how you would improve a messy aisle they'll point out. Obviously though in an unopened store that would be tough. Be fully prepared though, they'll still want you to be well aware of how much they stress customer service etc. You'll be asked why you want to work for boots and what skills you'd bring to the job. The shelf question and any questions concerning layout can still be asked though.

Chinafoot

I worked for Boots for a few months 5 years ago or so. One of the worst jobs I've ever had but that was down to the managers not the company itself.

Anyway, for my interview I was asked about previous experience, how I would deal with a difficult customer, instances where I had "gone beyond the call of duty" for a customer etc etc. Then I was brought out to the shop floor and the lady interviewing me pretended to be the customer. Her first scenario involved asking me to recommend baby food, then she asked me where she would find anti-dandruff shampoo. There were others that I can't remember. It wasn't too bad as I had used the shop a lot so I knew where stuff was.

I'm sorry I can't help regarding the new opening aspect of it.

Best of luck.

stephenjmcd

I also have filled in the online form for a job in this store. I passed the first stage and filled out the 35 minute form online. Waiting to hear back now

danois

stephenjmcd wrote: »

I also have filled in the online form for a job in this store. I passed the first stage and filled out the 35 minute form online. Waiting to hear back now

Me too just wondering if they bother getting back to you if you haven't passed the 35 min exam bit.

hdowney

me too

stephenjmcd

I did the 35 min exam on friday so they wouldnt have gotten back to me over the weekend

IMightKnow

I worked for a boots store for 2 years a few years ago. My interview didn't involve going on the shop floor at all, I was just asked normal interview questions. I had done a good bit of research on the company itself from the uk website and was able to incorporate that into my answers. The day I started there were 4 of us starting and they had interviewed us all separately.

A friend of mine did an interview for a boots in dublin where he was asked to locate the cheapest tube of toothpaste in the shop, so it must vary.

stephenjmcd

how long did it take for them to get back 2 you after the 35 min online form

stephenjmcd

has anyone got a reply from them after the 35 min exam yet?

mooeire

Do any of you know if they are opening a holland and barret in this new boots store???

stephenjmcd

no mention of it in the planning permission

stephenjmcd

Heard from them last night. Have an interview next wednesday in Dundrum

hdowney

stephenjmcd wrote: »

Heard from them last night. Have an interview next wednesday in Dundrum

snap

danois

Good luck to you both. I guess i must of failed the test. Wish people would at least send a thanks for your application but you were crap letter at least then you know you didnt get it without a big wait...

Flesh Gorden

I remember when an ex of mine was doing that online assessment, she was nervous at first but the questions became more and more obvious after the first page



in the A or B parts describing her personality it basically boiled down to

option 1 - your good with people and starting conversations and perfect working for boots

option 2 - I'm a recluse with no social skills who would feel more at home inside of a pair of boots



can't remember now what it said exactly, but I remember the same thing being repeated about 15 times

something like "I'm an abstract thinker with challenging taughts" - all I remember is it kept coming up as an option


Think it took about a week for her to hear back from them after the test, she started as an xmas temp and got a permanent job afterwards

stephenjmcd

Yeah it asked the same q's so many times

stephenjmcd

interviews moved to boots in henry street

danois

I think I failed the test cause one of the question was about handing out leaflets think i said least likely to that!! Just noticed I applied for health advisor instead of sales staff so probably just aswell I didn't get an interview lol.

danois

stephenjmcd wrote: »

interviews moved to boots in henry street

How did you interview go?

stephenjmcd

danois wrote: »

How did you interview go?

Yeah very well

hdowney

stephenjmcd wrote: »

Yeah very well

yea think mine went well too. scary stuff but good. different from any other interview i had before. everything crossed

danois

Good Luck to you both if you get it keep us updated on any sales Did they mention when the shop is due to open?

hdowney

danois wrote: »

Good Luck to you both if you get it keep us updated on any sales Did they mention when the shop is due to open?

the tenth of december to the public

Ainekav

what's the 35 minute thing? I just applied for a 5pm - 2am job in an existing store, i hope i get it but theres my social life gone

im assuming the same applies for an interview for that?
should i go in tomorrow with a CV aswell?

Ainekav

I just did the online questionnaire there. so it takes a week to hear back??

I clicked that I'm only available from 2pm onwards on Thursdays in my original applicaiton - so will that come up as a problem if I've already told them?
It's only half a day that I cant work... hopefully It'll be ok

hdowney

it shouldn't be a problem as you have told them upfront, unless they were looking for someone who can work those specific hours you should be fine. i heard back within a couple of days, so it depends how fast they want to fill the posts i suppose. you said you were looking to do 5pm til 2am did i read that right? like nightcrew when the store is closed, stocking shelves and whatnot?

Ainekav

No I applied for both positions - the questionnaire I did was for the day job, so they obv thought my original application was more suited to that. I'm fine with either position, I just thought the night one might be better since I can work every single day in that position with no restrictions.

But I didnt realise it was shelf stocking, I thought the store was open til 2am over christmas!!!! hahaha I'm glad I got offered the assessment in the other one now....

hdowney

Ainekav wrote: »

No I applied for both positions - the questionnaire I did was for the day job, so they obv thought my original application was more suited to that. I'm fine with either position, I just thought the night one might be better since I can work every single day in that position with no restrictions.

But I didnt realise it was shelf stocking, I thought the store was open til 2am over christmas!!!! hahaha I'm glad I got offered the assessment in the other one now....

i don't think any boots stores are open til 2am over christmas, even in town, but i may be open to correction! generally though if i saw those advertised hours i'd think you'd be doing customer service til say 10 latest (depending on the location of the store - i.e. ontreet v in a centre) and then shelf stocking til your shift finished at 2am.

i don't think i could handle the lonelyness of stocking, even with other workers for that many hours. an hour or two after the shop closed sure, but til 2am..... even though there are times when customers can make you want to cry, customer interaction is good i think. good luck on your application

Ainekav

yeah i didnt realise that - im glad I am going for the other one now. I'll let ya know how i get on

Cathy B

Hi, I failed the 35 minute on line questionnaire twice. Any tips please how to get a pass. I have over 4 years experience in Retail so I felt I did answer them well. Good luck if you passed.

Help Please would love to work in Boots.

hdowney

Cathy B wrote: »

Hi, I failed the 35 minute on line questionnaire twice. Any tips please how to get a pass. I have over 4 years experience in Retail so I felt I did answer them well. Good luck if you passed.

Help Please would love to work in Boots.

did it tell you straight off you failed or something? i dunno what to suggest. i aparantly got like 97% in the 35 min questions, i thought i did really well at interview, and then heard NOTHING back - even after the interviewer promised that i would hear from them one way or the other so......

Ainekav

ooh thats annoying...

maybe its recognised youve failed twice and is just failing you automatically?

read the earlier post:

in the A or B parts describing her personality it basically boiled down to

option 1 - your good with people and starting conversations and perfect working for boots

option 2 - I'm a recluse with no social skills who would feel more at home inside of a pair of boots



can't remember now what it said exactly, but I remember the same thing being repeated about 15 times

something like "I'm an abstract thinker with challenging taughts" - all I remember is it kept coming up as an option

stephenjmcd

Didnt get the job in Bray, dunno why not, had a great 35 min form done and a excellent interview

danois

stephenjmcd wrote: »

Didnt get the job in Bray, dunno why not, had a great 35 min form done and a excellent interview

I wouldn't worry too much about not getting it I have heard that the girls who worked with winstons were all offered jobs. It was part of the buy out or at least that what the rumours say. I am not sure if that is 100% true suppose we will have to wait till it opens and see if is.

hdowney

danois wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much about not getting it I have heard that the girls who worked with winstons were all offered jobs. It was part of the buy out or at least that what the rumours say. I am not sure if that is 100% true suppose we will have to wait till it opens and see if is.

my interviewer did tell me that most of them had applied. although he said they all 'had to go through the process like everyone else'. yea, probably just a formality, but the jobs were theres. things like that piss me off royally.

also they kept banging on about brilliant customer service, service with a smile, friendly etc - but whilst i was waiting for my interview i witnessed some sullen as anything, couldn't even be bothered to open their mouths properly to address customers. so maybe we were TOO cheerful

Flunch

I currently work for Boots & had my interview last year.
Its pretty simple mine mostly involved stuff on the shop floor.

The first task I had was to hand out three shopping baskets to people ( they just want to see how you approach the customer so be friendly, polite, smile etc. If they say no to the basket dont worry.)

The second was to pack three bags at the tills. (Same again really, interact with the customer if possible, try not to be nervous and drop anything lol)

Next I was brought over to the shampoo isle and asked to reccommend a shampoo. Just pick one which you feel will be best suited, also make note of any offers such as 3 for 2 and try offer them.

My sister also had an interview here and for this segment she was asked what her favourite Boots product was so maybe prepare this too!

Finally I was brought to a messy isle and was aked how I would clean it. I said to pull forward the products, restock, ensure everything was back in its correct place etc etc.

The very last part was just up in the interview room where I was asked about my experiences and why I wanted to work for Boots. That was pretty much it

Good luck to anyone who has an interview coming up

As for the application questions sorry I could not be more helpful they just seem like luck to me if you get through them!