Pets at Home

Oh okay thanx! I have got a hamster so I will know what to do!

Hi,I applied for a store colleague position online over a week ago and haven't heard anything back.
How long should I expect to wait?
A friend of mine from uni said she applied at the same store last year and never heard anything back

Hi, closest thread I could find, I have a group interview at West Midlands Safari park today for learning work experience, and I was wondering whether I should wear smart clothes or more casual animal clothes to the interview.. I don't want to be the odd one out! Help!

I was told at my pets at home interview to wear clothes that are not too casual, but fit for the place of work as you would be doing some hands on things.

Dont go in a suit/dress but dont go in tracksuit bottoms if you get what I mean.

I have a group assessment on Sunday. I'm quite confident with most things I've read but I was just curious on what sort of questions they will ask? also my role Ive applied for is part time as it's all they had on offer and they rarely recruit where I am from so I whipped the offer up. It's 16 hours so obviously I'll have to try and get a second job too. My worry is will petsathome try to spread the 16 hours throughout a week which will make things difficult for me or do you think they will put them together? Also so you reckon they would consider full time even though they ask for part time

Thank you for the answer that is brilliant and so good of you to give me so much information. I've always wanted to work at pets at home as I've such a passion for working with animals, I always check to see if there are vacancies but like I said in my area there rarely are anyway so I was very happy to spot this one. It makes sense that they take on fully trained staff full time so at least I know there is a potentiality to be taken on full time.
I am really looking forward to the group assessment but I am also slightly nervous. Do we get opportunity to have contact with the animals during the assessment? Thanks again for the reply

During the group assessment there is no contact with the animals, Ii would try not to stand there are stare at them at all, as after all you are entering a business, they want colleagues who have an interest and passion in animals, yet that wont just sit and stroke the animals during work... after I got the job they actually told me this caused some people not to be called back, as they weren't showing professionalism because they were fixated by bunnies (It is so hard but you will get through it - they are too cute just refrain from looking)

Oone good point to make is that pets at home after all is a bussiness, its main aim is profits, it really is not going to just be about caring for animals, you will do till shifts, face up the store etc. Please make it clear at interview that you understand that pets come first, but profits come a close second, they like to see that you know its a business and not a petting zoo, it makes you seem much more educated and employable!

Before you go in for your assessment I urge you to go and look into the VIP membership scheme, its a HUGE part of pets at home and I was asked about it at interview! If you need any pointers about what its about then please ask me!

At your work trial you have to clean out an animal cage, they give you half an hour to do a cage that instore you would have to do in no more than 5 minutes (you get used to working thoroughly and quick) and that is the only contact you will get with the animals.

When your working you will only come into contact with the animals when cleaning them out, feeding them, giving them water, selling them or doing a workshop - 99% of your time at work is spent with customers and their pets giving advice

Thanks again for such a good response. Just being in an animal environment makes me so happy so I'm looking forward to this job hopefully I will get it.
I do have a Vip card myself but I don't know too much so if you can give me some info that will be great I will of course do some research too. Also do you know what the wage is approximately? It just said competitive. The role is store colleague

Basically every customer that has a VIP card is a saint at pets at home, as it brings them back in to buy more. - this is the main advantage of the card hence why they like it - this is good to know for your interview.
With a VIP card a certain proportion of every shop you do goes to charity (think its 5% but dont quote me) which is chosen from a range of national and local charities.
you then get sent vouchers through the post to use, and are entitled to the VIP magazine which has vouchers in the back!

In terms of the pay I started at £6.40 a year and a half ago, now I think its £6.60 but again dont quote me... once you are fully trained (so after 9 months) you go onto £7.04 an hour!!

Thank you for the information. Will the salary then stay at 7.04 or will that increase at any point again? Also i have read online they may ask which is more important the pet or customer?(or something along them lines) my opinion would be pet but would there's be customer? And about refusing a sale? Thanks again I really appreciate your answers

The salary increases often, it increased just after I passed my training and is set to increase again soon, when it increases it is usually by 2-3% which can equate to around 30p in some cases. In terms of pay, there is always bonus and incentives which help you get more pay!! - there is no time and a half on weekends or bank holidays though!

In terms of what is more important, definetly pets but make sure you stress the the customer is also important, you have to meet their needs and educate them! But pets come first, if a pet is ill you treat it before serving any customers!

in terms of refusing a sale, it is done on many occasions such as the customer being under age (need to be 18) - or them being intoxicated. Or if they have said something that is totally inappropriate, like they are going to cook the pet, or are keeping it in inadequate conditions. You have to trick the customer into saying the wrong thing, so instead of do you have a cage suitable for a rabbit, you ask what size/type of cage do you have, that way they have no idea what we deem suitable and will tell the truth (usually) so we can see if it really is suitable! In terms of refusing a sale the best way to do it is explain to the customer that you cannot sell them that particular pet and explain in depth the reason why. Even offer for them to rectify that in store by buying the correct size cage etc.

Just think on your feet!

Thanks so much and one more question how do pets at home like complaints dealt with? I read one of the interview questions may be how would I handle a customer complaining and causing problem on shop floor?

I want a part time job for after school and weekend well paid and around my area and good times sutied to me and my family saw I can still see them