Waitrose Interview...Problem Though...

waterhouse_melons

Lokolo wrote: »

Try and get Sunday. You get time and half.

Sorry but what do you mean? :huh:
To another post...
I won't be able to meet friends afterschool to do things like playing football, going cinema or restaurants!:( Need more time during the weekends to do things. By the sounds of it though, Waitrose seems to have flexible hours.:huh:
Oh and another problem has turned up - I don't have a bank account! :eek: Even though they asked for me to bring bank details, will it be ok to turn up without any and create one later?

DCFC79

waterhouse_melons wrote: »

Sorry but what do you mean? :huh:
To another post...
I won't be able to meet friends afterschool to do things like playing football, going cinema or restaurants!:( Need more time during the weekends to do things. By the sounds of it though, Waitrose seems to have flexible hours.:huh:
Oh and another problem has turned up - I don't have a bank account! :eek: Even though they asked for me to bring bank details, will it be ok to turn up without any and create one later?

why dont you apply for 1 now via the internet, yes they should be ok regarding no bank account but tell them that 1 is in teh process of being setup and give them teh details as soon as its setup, lokolo means that sundays is time and a half so you get paid for the 8 hours plus 4 so you get paid for 12 hours but dong 8 hours work so to speak

Tarry

paulofessex wrote: »

I think you need to consider your priorities, you perhaps should get the job first then after working for them for a while then enquire about how flexible they can be.
Yes a social life is important, all work and no play is not good for anyone but at least by working you will be earning money to be able to afford a social life.

Wishing you all the best at the interview, don't ruin your chances by asking such questions at this stage

I agree with this. I work most Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings so I never get to go out much in the evenings anymore, but I would rather have the money that anything else :T Like I am working till half 11 tonight (although I do normally finish at half 9 on a Saturday)

At least you can go out Friday nights or make time when you are not either working/at college.

Savvy_Sue

DCFC79 wrote: »

lokolo means that sundays is time and a half so you get paid for the 8 hours plus 4 so you get paid for 12 hours but dong 8 hours work so to speak

It's worth checking that, it's not a legal requirement, and some companies don't pay part-time workers extra for Sundays, even if they pay full-timers extra if they volunteer for Sundays.

miss_clarabelle

Hiya,

I used to work for them myself and I can safely say they are a great company to work for. My contract was 9 and 3 quarter hours a week (saturday morning and thursday after college) and when yearly bonus came around I took away about £150 extra (because it's a partnership profits get given to the staff as a bonus). They also offered a leisure thing where they'd pay you back half of the money towards a gig/cinema trip/festival etc. up to £50 over the year. I went to Glastonbury and claimed back £50 from them in one go! They like to keep their staff happy.

When you go for your interview I would ask them if they have any different positions available, but not at the start of the interview. I found that they never interviewed for only 1 job at a time. When I was interviewed there were about 10 different vacancies available, all with different days and hours. From what I remember they actually swapped some about there and then because I was unable to work the evening originally specified in the vacancy. They could only do this by mixing up 2 vacancies though, so this would only be possible when the hours were available somewhere else. I would NOT say that you want a social life, just explain that you could only regularly commit to one weekend day because of COLLEGE WORKLOAD....your very commited to this etc. etc. but obviously you'd love to sign up for overtime during the holidays/when you haven't got lots of work at the weekend.

I suggest that you think of the hours you would be able to do before you go to the interview. If they're looking for 2 shifts then they might be able to swap, but will probs still want two shifts e.g. a weekday evening and a weekend day. I would do the interview and make them really want to employ you and then either discuss it if they ask about your availability or at the end of the interview (because you don't want them to begin with a negative....you need to make them see how fab you are first). Also, try to make it sound positive.....you really want the job, you want to give it your full commitment, it's the only thing you can't do, but here's what you could do instead (try to offer flexibility whilst also saying you can't do both Saturday and Sunday).

If you need anymore advice then please PM me. I'd be happy to help.
Oh and finally the thing about Waitrose staff is the level of customer service. You must show them that you're a great people person and smile smile smile. I guess their customer service is good because they treat their staff nicely, unlike some other supermarkets! Also, because it's a partnership the better the company do the better it is for the staff.

Hope this helps,
C x

miss_clarabelle

Oh and I'd apply for a bank account online now. You probs won't have the details for the interview, but if you explain you've only just set one up and you'll be able to bring in the details as soon as you get them through then I'm sure they won't mind.

waterhouse_melons

miss_clarabelle wrote: »

Hiya,

I used to work for them myself and I can safely say they are a great company to work for. My contract was 9 and 3 quarter hours a week (saturday morning and thursday after college) and when yearly bonus came around I took away about £150 extra (because it's a partnership profits get given to the staff as a bonus). They also offered a leisure thing where they'd pay you back half of the money towards a gig/cinema trip/festival etc. up to £50 over the year. I went to Glastonbury and claimed back £50 from them in one go! They like to keep their staff happy.

When you go for your interview I would ask them if they have any different positions available, but not at the start of the interview. I found that they never interviewed for only 1 job at a time. When I was interviewed there were about 10 different vacancies available, all with different days and hours. From what I remember they actually swapped some about there and then because I was unable to work the evening originally specified in the vacancy. They could only do this by mixing up 2 vacancies though, so this would only be possible when the hours were available somewhere else. I would NOT say that you want a social life, just explain that you could only regularly commit to one weekend day because of COLLEGE WORKLOAD....your very commited to this etc. etc. but obviously you'd love to sign up for overtime during the holidays/when you haven't got lots of work at the weekend.

I suggest that you think of the hours you would be able to do before you go to the interview. If they're looking for 2 shifts then they might be able to swap, but will probs still want two shifts e.g. a weekday evening and a weekend day. I would do the interview and make them really want to employ you and then either discuss it if they ask about your availability or at the end of the interview (because you don't want them to begin with a negative....you need to make them see how fab you are first). Also, try to make it sound positive.....you really want the job, you want to give it your full commitment, it's the only thing you can't do, but here's what you could do instead (try to offer flexibility whilst also saying you can't do both Saturday and Sunday).

If you need anymore advice then please PM me. I'd be happy to help.
Oh and finally the thing about Waitrose staff is the level of customer service. You must show them that you're a great people person and smile smile smile. I guess their customer service is good because they treat their staff nicely, unlike some other supermarkets! Also, because it's a partnership the better the company do the better it is for the staff.

Hope this helps,
C x

Sounds like a really good place to work! Also thanks for this, real helpful coming from staff who work there;)
Have pm'd you too

Welshwoofs

waterhouse_melons wrote: »

As I go to a 6th form, Im finding that after choosing the Saturday + Sunday option, I won't have anytime for socialising and not doing any work! :(.
So does anyone know if they would be flexible with my hours when I get to the interview? Need some help to keep my social life :beer:

Oh I would definitely turn up to your interview and let them know that their weekend shifts clash with your social life. It'll be a great introduction to work for you...

wontfallforit

waterhouse_melons wrote: »

I got a call from my local Waitrose today that I can have an interview with them on Tuesday:eek:. My first interview for my first (hopefully) job! There is a slight problem with the application though which I didn't really take into consideration at the time. On the phone the staff member said that I could work either 14:00-22:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday or 14:00-22:00 on Saturday and Sunday.:A
As I go to a 6th form, Im finding that after choosing the Saturday + Sunday option, I won't have anytime for socialising and not doing any work! :(.
So does anyone know if they would be flexible with my hours when I get to the interview? Need some help to keep my social life :beer:

No offence intended here, but if you have college commitments (fair enough) and want to keep a busy social life, why are you looking for a job? As others have said, the interview is extremely unlikely to go in your favour if you mention that you'd like to re-jig your hours for social life purposes.

If you're looking for some flexibility with your hours (which may or may not be granted), I wouldn't mention it in the interview, especially for the reasons you've given here.

I did FT college (later uni), and a practically full time job at the same time (including Friday and Saturday until 10pm, and all day Sunday), and still managed to have a decent social life. It can be done, but you have to show some willing towards your employer...they'll appreciate that you have social commitments, but will expect you to manage these around your job.

solodanceparty

waterhouse_melons wrote: »

I got a call from my local Waitrose today that I can have an interview with them on Tuesday:eek:. My first interview for my first (hopefully) job! There is a slight problem with the application though which I didn't really take into consideration at the time. On the phone the staff member said that I could work either 14:00-22:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday or 14:00-22:00 on Saturday and Sunday.:A
As I go to a 6th form, Im finding that after choosing the Saturday + Sunday option, I won't have anytime for socialising and not doing any work! :(.
So does anyone know if they would be flexible with my hours when I get to the interview? Need some help to keep my social life :beer:

Welcome to the real world, where you have to make sacrifices in socialising to pay your bills. Millions of people work Saturday and Sunday, get over it.