[Samus2]

I saw there was a Waitrose thread and so created one for current partners of John Lewis Department Stores.

My name's Niamh - I've worked in John Lewis for two years now - started when I was 16.

I've worked in Beauty, Tills and now Womenswear and Fashion Accs

Any questions about the application process or just starting there let me know and I'll do my best to answer them

EDIT: I have now left the partnership because of uni but i'll try to answer any of your questons!

[merryhappy]

I remember applying for John Lewis around Christmas before last, they ask some damn hard questions.

[ilovefashion90]

Thanks for making this thread

Has anyone who has been put on hold for stratford been given a call yet?

[MaliMalibu]

I was put on hold for Stratford AGES ago and they havent got back to me
Does anyone know if they will ? or the number to call them ?

[Spellstheend]

how long exactly have you been on hold?

What did the email saying you were on hold say?

[St Nikodim]

Evening people. I just started at John Lewis but not at the stores but behind the scenes at warehouse branch whilst I'm in my last year of university. Thought I would pass through and say hi to you all.

[ilovefashion90]

(Original post by Spellstheend)
how long exactly have you been on hold?

What did the email saying you were on hold say?

Ive been on hold since about the 20th june. My email says this...
======
Thank you for attending the recent assessment for a position at John Lewis Stratford.

I am very pleased to inform you that you have passed the assessment centre. Unfortunately we cannot match the hours you have told us you are available to work with any vacancies in suitable departments. We will keep your details on hold for six months, and in the meantime if a position becomes available we will contact you.

If there are any changes to your contact details, please can you keep the branch informed, if you do not we may not be able to contact you when an opportunity becomes available.

Thank you again for your interest in wishing to join John Lewis.

Kind Regards,
Recruitment Team
John Lewis Stratford


Please tell me whether I should not get my hopes up. OP kindly told me that this email is a good email and I should be patient but SOO many people have been put on hold, I am seriously doubting I'll get a call. Good luck to everyone!

[Spellstheend]

(Original post by ilovefashion90)
Ive been on hold since about the 20th june. My email says this...
======
Thank you for attending the recent assessment for a position at John Lewis Stratford.

I am very pleased to inform you that you have passed the assessment centre. Unfortunately we cannot match the hours you have told us you are available to work with any vacancies in suitable departments. We will keep your details on hold for six months, and in the meantime if a position becomes available we will contact you.

If there are any changes to your contact details, please can you keep the branch informed, if you do not we may not be able to contact you when an opportunity becomes available.

Thank you again for your interest in wishing to join John Lewis.

Kind Regards,
Recruitment Team
John Lewis Stratford


Please tell me whether I should not get my hopes up. OP kindly told me that this email is a good email and I should be patient but SOO many people have been put on hold, I am seriously doubting I'll get a call. Good luck to everyone!

Hmm it has been quite awhile

Perhaps ring up and ask if anything is going to come of it? I saw on the waitrose thread that some people had answers once they rang up the recruitment section of the place they applied (and waitrose is in partnership with JL). Worth a try if you've heard nothing I guess?

[ilovefashion90]

(Original post by Spellstheend)
Hmm it has been quite awhile

Perhaps ring up and ask if anything is going to come of it? I saw on the waitrose thread that some people had answers once they rang up the recruitment section of the place they applied (and waitrose is in partnership with JL). Worth a try if you've heard nothing I guess?

Yeh, I tried phoning and the guy just said..."yeh erm there are like...no vacancies, if there were...vacancies...you would have had a call, yeh." I just said okay, thank you so much and hung up.
Im going to keep trying though. The thing is, people who have had interviews after me have been given jobs on the weekend etc which I thought was quite unfair, as it makes me wonder if this email is just a polite rejection giving people false hope. Also, they continued interviewing well after my interview when they sent that email. I specified that I can work evenings and weekends so if they couldnt give me ANY hours, I was confuused as to why they continued interviewing so many people.

[the-mazter999]

Has anyone been to the John Lewis assessment day, ive got mine next week and just wondering what to expect? What sort of questions do they ask? and what sort of things do they ask us to do? etc

[ilovefashion90]

Has anyone whose applied to the recent advertisement for osford st sales assistant, heard anything/been invited to an interview?

[Samus2]

(Original post by the-mazter999)
Has anyone been to the John Lewis assessment day, ive got mine next week and just wondering what to expect? What sort of questions do they ask? and what sort of things do they ask us to do? etc

Hey! I did my assessment day over two years ago now so the process may well have changed.
I've now left the Partnership but I'll try to answer your question.

you'll be placed with quite a few other people on tables (I think there was something lke 30 people in my assessment!) You'll be given tasks in a group and it'll also give you the chance to ask any questions that you have about working in the partnership. In my assessment we had to look at the shopfloor and suggest improvements - this may well have changed though! I think I remember something being said about a selling task but I wouldn't know unfortunately.
I was given a solo interview on the assessment day which gave me a chance to just talk to a current partner.
Also, dress smartly!
Good luck

[Cybele]

I'm starting soon. Is it difficult to pick things up? I'm on Christmas/gifts which is what I asked for.

Also, what's the uniform? Do you HAVE to purchase the clothes from John Lewis?

[Samus2]

(Original post by Cybele)
I'm starting soon. Is it difficult to pick things up? I'm on Christmas/gifts which is what I asked for.

Also, what's the uniform? Do you HAVE to purchase the clothes from John Lewis?

Nope! If you get stuck or are unsure! Just ask That's what the partners are there for!

Smart. You should have recieved a business dress guide. No, the clothes do not need to be purchased from John Lewis.

[Cybele]

(Original post by Samus2)
Nope! If you get stuck or are unsure! Just ask That's what the partners are there for!

Smart. You should have recieved a business dress guide. No, the clothes do not need to be purchased from John Lewis.

I've worked in retail before, but I was at the same place for 4 years and got stuck in the same routine. Hopefully I don't find JL too intimidating a place to work at. Is it easy to get overtime? The woman who asked me what hours I wanted to work seemed really nice, I asked for part-time Monday-Friday which she said was fine. I THINK she's given me 20 hours a week, but I'd like to push it up to 30. I'm waiting for the contract to come through.

Oh, good! I have loads of nice but cheap blouses to wear but I was worried they'd have to be a John Lewis brand.

[Samus2]

(Original post by Cybele)
I've worked in retail before, but I was at the same place for 4 years and got stuck in the same routine. Hopefully I don't find JL too intimidating a place to work at. Is it easy to get overtime? The woman who asked me what hours I wanted to work seemed really nice, I asked for part-time Monday-Friday which she said was fine. I THINK she's given me 20 hours a week, but I'd like to push it up to 30. I'm waiting for the contract to come through.

Oh, good! I have loads of nice but cheap blouses to wear but I was worried they'd have to be a John Lewis brand.

You shouldn't do! I loved it when I was there! It's daunting at first but you'll get used to it!

It depends entirely on your branch and department... I managed to get a lot of extra hours in summer and christmas
You'll also be expected to work extra hours over christmas anyway

[Cybele]

Sorry, I should have mentioned I'm only a Christmas temp. She said there's a possibility they'll keep me on after January though.

[Friendly_cow]

I have an interview for a stock management position soon, will this be the same format as the other interviews, as I'm presuming there will be less customer contact?

[Samus2]

(Original post by Friendly_cow)
I have an interview for a stock management position soon, will this be the same format as the other interviews, as I'm presuming there will be less customer contact?

I can't really answer that as I've had no experience in that area I'm afraid!

[ilovefashion90]

(Original post by Friendly_cow)
I have an interview for a stock management position soon, will this be the same format as the other interviews, as I'm presuming there will be less customer contact?

I havent been to an interview for stock management at John Lewis but I have worked in a stockroom at another department store. You should mention things like "stock replenishment" and deliveries. You should talk about using you initiative and emphasise the importance of doing things on time, e,g processing a delivery. Also talk about how you love being part of a team and working together with other people, as working in a stockroom is all about teamwork. Talk about how you will go the extra mile to find something for a customer. There will be less customer contact but still mentipon the importance of customer service. The stockroom has alot to do with customer service. If deliveries arent actioned on time and if things arent in the right place then you will lose sales as you wont have the correct stock availability, e,g if a customer is looking for something that isnt on the shopfloor, and someone has put stock in the wrong place in the stockroom, then you wont be able to assist the customer and the customer will leave unsatisfied.
It will probably be a group interview. Dont think that because its stockroom, you wont be doing much "customer service" so make3 sure you mention customers. Also like I said, team work, and working for deadlines etc.

And then obviously smile, dont talk over others, contribute as much as you can but also listen to others and talk to the others at the interview etc.
Good luck