[Mathsgirlll]

Hey, I'm looking for help from anyone whose gone through a WHSmiths job interview before. I've got one on tuesday and it's my first one ever! I've been looking for a job for months and finally i've got an interview! Hahaha
yeah I know there's been a few threads like this before but all the ones I have found are from a couple years ago so I was wondering if anyone had any up to date info

So any information would be great! Like questions they asked, was it one to one, group? you know the stuff.
And what you would think would be appropiate to wear?

Thanks guys

[thomasking02]

Hi. I used to work at WHSmith and kept working there when I was back from uni. I just finished there in January. My interview was years ages ago one to one with just the store manager.

It seemed fairly relaxed and she understood that I hadn't really had a job before. She asked about times when I've worked in a group/team, how I had organised my time in the past. I also remember she asked me " if there was two things due in at the same time and you knew you didn't have time to do both in time what would you do" I answered that I would work really hard at it, but I think I should have said that I would ask for help or tell someone that it wasn't possible rather that putting yourself under too much pressure. I related lots of mine to school work and GCSE coursework when we had done things in teams for Graphics. Make sure you talk about what you personally did in those situations to help the team or how you cope in organising your time to meet deadlines. Relating to similar type of work or situations will come in handy.

I think making sure you come across polite, easy to talk to will look good because there are lots of times you are communicating with customers.
In my job I worked on the till most of the time and moved stock around so being good with money comes across well. I also had targets to meet such as selling the sweets and chocolate on the till (called TPC's) and selling the Richard and Judy book club book which was on offer. My WHSmith's was quite a small one so I don't know if they work any differently in bigger ones.

I think its better to go quite smart because its better to be overdressed than under dressed to give a good impression. I wore a smart shirt and smart trousers

Hope this helps
Tom

[Mathsgirlll]

Thanks for the help, I've just got back from it
You were right most of those things came up but it was pretty relaxed and everything. They'd mentioned that they'd had a lot of interviews, but I'm hoping they liked me :/ Just gonna have to wait and see!

Thanks again

[quaveralien]

(Original post by Mathsgirlll)
Thanks for the help, I've just got back from it
You were right most of those things came up but it was pretty relaxed and everything. They'd mentioned that they'd had a lot of interviews, but I'm hoping they liked me :/ Just gonna have to wait and see!

Thanks again

What type of interview was it, a group or one to one?

[Henna x]

Hiii, I have my interview with WHSmith tomorrow and I am exteremly nervous. I could really use some tips on how to act. This is my first ever interview and i'm not very confident about it right now. I also dont know what to take to my interview, so would anyone help with that please? Is there any necessary documents required?

Thank You x

[question11]

Hi, I have a one-to-one interview on Thursday. I was told they will be a recruitment process then the one-to-one interview. Does anybody know what happens in the recruitment process, also what documents I need to bring to the interview? THANKS!

[Henna x]

Hey Question11, I'm not sure what they mean by the recruitment process "/ but in my one-to-one, there was the manager who conducted the interview and an assistant who was taking notes. The manager just went through a load of questions really. Stuff like 'Describe a time you worked successfully in a group' or 'What skill would you bring to the team' or 'when have you used your own initiative' and in my interview they also asked me What I knew about WHSmith and who I thought there main competitors were so make sure you research their company. I hope this helps. Each store may have their own way of interviewing so take this with a pinch of salt. And I took my CV, passport and Provisional licence just as proof of address. Not that they asked for it. Good luck anyway x there's loads of threads on here, just read around and prepare answers to any possible questions, no matter how unlikely just so your ready. Hope you do well

[question11]

Thanks Henna x, highly appreciate it.

[KellySapphire]

(Original post by question11)
Hi, I have a one-to-one interview on Thursday. I was told they will be a recruitment process then the one-to-one interview. Does anybody know what happens in the recruitment process, also what documents I need to bring to the interview? THANKS!

Hey i work at whsmiths and have been for like 3 months and a so now, the recruitment process is like a group interview where you have a question bit about the history of whsmiths and infomation, then some tasks in groups followed by a maths test, pass all of these then you get a one to one interview Documents should be passport (or something to show your identity like birth certificate) N,I number and i think that was it Good luck!

[question11]

(Original post by KellySapphire)
Hey i work at whsmiths and have been for like 3 months and a so now, the recruitment process is like a group interview where you have a question bit about the history of whsmiths and infomation, then some tasks in groups followed by a maths test, pass all of these then you get a one to one interview Documents should be passport (or something to show your identity like birth certificate) N,I number and i think that was it Good luck!

Thanks KellySapphire , were u told in the one to one interview if you got the job or you had to wait a couple of days? Were the maths question hard?

[KellySapphire]

(Original post by question11)
Thanks KellySapphire , were u told in the one to one interview if you got the job or you had to wait a couple of days? Were the maths question hard?

Maths questions were simple stuff really anyone with at least a C in maths GCSE would do fine and they told me in the one to one interview i got it as they gave me hours then and booked my induction are you applying at a high street store or a travel store?

[question11]

(Original post by KellySapphire)
Maths questions were simple stuff really anyone with at least a C in maths GCSE would do fine and they told me in the one to one interview i got it as they gave me hours then and booked my induction are you applying at a high street store or a travel store?

I applied to a high street store. How many questions were there on the test?

[KellySapphire]

(Original post by question11)
I applied to a high street store. How many questions were there on the test?

can't remember it was like 2 double page worth i think,

[Mathsgirlll]

(Original post by quaveralien)
What type of interview was it, a group or one to one?

Sorry just saw this! Ha! Yeah it was one to one, and I got it! Started in August so i've nearly finished my 3 month probation now! Thank for the help

[quaveralien]

(Original post by Mathsgirlll)
Sorry just saw this! Ha! Yeah it was one to one, and I got it! Started in August so i've nearly finished my 3 month probation now! Thank for the help

Haha Don't worry, thanks. Well Done

[nikkif99uk]

(Original post by quaveralien)
Haha Don't worry, thanks. Well Done

What should I wear to the W H Smiths Induction? same as interview smart trousers, shirt and suit jacket?

[question11]

(Original post by nikkif99uk)
What should I wear to the W H Smiths Induction? same as interview smart trousers, shirt and suit jacket?

I just wore smart trousers, smart shirt, and tie and grey thin jumper (u can wear suit jacket as well)