If you get called to an assessment centre at Sainsbury’s you will be expected to complete a selection of tasks. You will have a role-play exercise, competency based interview, group exercise, presentation and ability tests. You will get a brief beforehand to let you know what you will need to prepare. However, Sainsbury’s are also looking to find out what your personality is like and so hope that this shines through, rather than you just being very nervous about what might happen.
The presentation has to be about twenty minutes long and you will have a week to prepare for it. You will then have to answer questions on what you have spoken about, which could take a bit longer than the presentation did.
In the group exercise you will need to make sure that you get some points across. However, you also need to be careful that you do not dominate things too much or exclude anyone by speaking over them or ignoring their point of view.
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It is a good idea to prepare for the day by visiting two stores, a local as well as a large store so you have an idea of what both of them are like. They are very different to each other. If you can, speak to a manager or someone in a role that you are applying for, to try to get some insight as to what is expected as well as what you may expect from the assessment day. It is also wise to learn about the history of the company as it has been around for a long time as well as future plans and anything that has been in the news recently. It could even be good to chat to friend and family about the company, to get their impressions of it, even if they do not shop there.
Sainsbury’s Assessment Centre Interview
The first thing you’ll have to do is complete the Online Application for Sainsbury’s. Even if you haven’t worked in a supermarket before, you may have already gained very useful skills. Make sure you consider the job requirements listed in the job description, and consider this against the experience that you have already gained. Provide details of this relevant experience and what you have contributed to the organisations you have worked for. Don’t forget your application needs to provide all of the necessary keywords that the computers will search for, and be the first impression the employer will have of you.
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When you have completed the competency section you will be asked about why you would like to work for Sainsbury’s. Recruiters will be looking at this section as an insight into your priorities and thinking and will appreciate notes about how you would fit in with the ethos of the company. If you have to lie about your reasons, or after investigating the supermarket chain you can’t find any inspiration about what to say in this section, then perhaps a career at Sainsbury’s is not right for you.
If your application was successful at the first stage, you will be asked to undertake some Online Tests. These include SHL numerical and verbal reasoning tests. You can get more information about the numerical test here ‘http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tests/mathstest2.htm’. Many of us have a fear of maths, but don’t be daunted about the numerical test – there are a maximum of 2 calculations in each test and the questions are not there to trick you, just try your best.
The verbal reasoning test is quite straightforward also, and is designed to ensure you have a reasonably understanding of the written English language to ensure you can communicate effectively with colleagues and customers.
If you have passed the second selection stage the you will be asked to undertake a Telephone Interview. Make sure you prepare for this, it is an interview after all. Research the company, have your CV available for easy reference and answer honestly. As with face-to-face interviews, have some questions ready to ask the interviewer so that they recognise you have thought about working for them.
photo by: elie
