What to expect for a Tesco Warehouse Operative Interview (3 and a half hours)?

bpearce00

I have an interview for a "double days" Tesco Warehouse Operative position and my local Distribution Center next Wednesday.

It is supposed to take approximately 3 and a half hours to complete. I was wondering if anyone has had one of these interviews and could tell me what to expect from it and even give me some advice on what to wear.

I've done warehouse interviews before and it was just casual dress, but these were through agencies and this is a full time position so I want to make a good impression but obviously not over do it.

Thanks in advance

T.rainer

Three and a half hours?

I'd say there is most probably going to be some form of testing as well as a traditional interview. Perhaps, literacy, numeracy, aptitude/personality testing and maybe a team exercise if they are recruiting a number of people.

As for dress style, I always advise going in clean, smart & tidy clothes whatever the job. It helps portray the message to them that you care about the interview and aren't just turning up for the fun of it. Interviews are hard enough to get at the moment, so always try and do a bit more than what may be required. Better to be safe than sorry.

You could contact them and ask what the three and half hours entails, although I appreciate that not everybody feels comfortable in doing that.

Good luck with the interview, I hope it goes well.

swingaloo

Where do you live? The job may be where I work.

bpearce00

T.rainer wrote: »

Three and a half hours?

I'd say there is most probably going to be some form of testing as well as a traditional interview. Perhaps, literacy, numeracy, aptitude/personality testing and maybe a team exercise if they are recruiting a number of people.

As for dress style, I always advise going in clean, smart & tidy clothes whatever the job. It helps portray the message to them that you care about the interview and aren't just turning up for the fun of it. Interviews are hard enough to get at the moment, so always try and do a bit more than what may be required. Better to be safe than sorry.

You could contact them and ask what the three and half hours entails, although I appreciate that not everybody feels comfortable in doing that.

Good luck with the interview, I hope it goes well.

Thats sort of what Im expecting, maybe a health and safety quiz too, thanks for the reply!

swingaloo wrote: »

Where do you live? The job may be where I work.

I'm in Southampton.

bristol_pilot

That's about an hour and a half longer than a technical interview for a 'rocket scientist'. Ridiculous. No wonder Tesco are going down.

swingaloo

I work for a Tesco distribution warehouse and I think they all follow the same pattern.

Probably a group interview, go dressed casual but clean and tidy, many turn up in scruffy hoody and jeans and still get jobs although I wonder why. However dont go dressed in a suit as its a more casual environment. We see some interviewees sat waiting in the canteen in polished shoes and suits sometimes even clutching a file or briefcase and we always feel really sorry for them as they are clearly cut out for different roles.

Short film amd talk through.

Short numeracy amd language paper test (about 20 very easy multipple choice questions)

Short one to one interview

Health and Safety talk followed by a trip round the warehouse showing all the departments.


Good luck.

bpearce00

swingaloo wrote: »

I work for a Tesco distribution warehouse and I think they all follow the same pattern.

Probably a group interview, go dressed casual but clean and tidy, many turn up in scruffy hoody and jeans and still get jobs although I wonder why. However dont go dressed in a suit as its a more casual environment. We see some interviewees sat waiting in the canteen in polished shoes and suits sometimes even clutching a file or briefcase and we always feel really sorry for them as they are clearly cut out for different roles.

Short film amd talk through.

Short numeracy amd language paper test (about 20 very easy multipple choice questions)

Short one to one interview

Health and Safety talk followed by a trip round the warehouse showing all the departments.


Good luck.

That sounds exactly like what I was expecting, only bit I get nervous about is the one to one but usually the thought of it is worse than the actual interview!

Thanks alot for taking the time to respond, feel a bit better about it now

T.rainer

If they ask you tell them something about yourself ~ remember, you're the expert on this particular answer/topic, not them.

Have a few things ready to mention. Name, Where you live, hobbies/interests and a bit about where you've worked before. This is an icebreaker to get you relaxed a little, don't think of it as trickery as some people do. Good interviewers want a relaxed candidate in front of them who is able to answer their questions, so why trick them?

And ..... don't be frightened of nerves, everybody has them. It's a natural reaction. The most experienced stage actors/pop stars get stage fright in some form or other; they wouldn't be Humans if they didn't. Admitting that it's ok to be nervous can actually help you deal with and control your nerves.

bpearce00

Hi all, just got back from the interview which lasted about 4 hours, it went really well.

I just thought Id come back and post here incase anyone searching for information ever stumbles across this thread.

I arrived early and spent the first half an hour waiting in the canteen. There was only 4 of us, 2 of which already worked in the warehouse for an agency. We were taking up to a board room where a few trainers and managers introduced themselves. We were made to feel very comfortable, and any akwardness soon passed.

Next we were taken one by one for 20 minute interviews with a manager. It begun with a bit of small talk to settle nerves. The interviewer had a checklist he was ticking off. I had to read back a paragraph to show I can actually read and then answer to questions. The first was something like "Name a time you have done more than necessary in a work placement" and the second "Describe a time working in a busy enviroment". Easy. Then he went over all the benefits of working for the company, the hours, the pay etc. I was then given the opporunity to ask any questions.

Next was a one hour "work task". I was taken into the warehouse by a trainer and spent one hour seeing what the job was all about, learning the basics and showing that I could listen to instructions. It was simple, everyone was friendly and I enjoyed it.

Lastly we did a small group activity. Placed around a table and given 20 mins to discuss a fake scenario provided to us on paper. We had to come up with 6 health and safety precautions to use in that scenario. It was a little akward, but suprisingly easy. We then had to present our ideas to the managers. It sounds really bad, but it was really informal and easy going. The managers then asked us questions about the task such as "How would you change it if you did it again"?

Lastly we had drugs/alcohol tests. Breathalyser and pee in a cup.

Find out my fate next Tuesday

Darenth87

3.5 to 4 hours interview for a warehouse worker job?

honestly thats keeping some HR dept nice and busy and employed.

can you remove items from a shelf can you.work safely can you log stock its all basic stuff.if i was told id have to sweat it for 4 hours to even get past first base my pride would tell them to stick it......

piglet25

Thats a bit rude Darenth87, I recall years ago attending an interview for Adsa and it was a full day - maybe they want to get to know the person they may employ? You can't really do that in a formal interview environment.