12 Job Interview Questions and Answers for Greggs

This article will help you to prepare and to pass your next job interview in 3 separate ways.

1. You will learn over 10 common asked interview questions for your job position.

2. You will be given an explanation of the type of answer the interviewer is looking for ( a guide to what the employer wants you to discuss )

3. You will be given an example job interview answer for each individual interview question, allowing you to tweak this answer, making it relevant to your own experiences.

Job Interview Questions and Answers for Greggs

When applying for a job with Greggs you first have to complete an online application form – this takes around 30 minutes and is relatively easy to complete. Following this you will be asked to complete a Right Fit Quiz.

“Applying for Retail and Bakery roles will include a set of questions designed to assess how you respond in certain work situations. If you’re successful at this stage, you can then complete our Right Fit Quiz to help you decide if the role you are applying for is right for you. ”

Source

Successful applicants will then attend an interview and/or assessment day.

These 12 questions will help you prepare for your job interview

Job Interview Question 1:

“Tell me about yourself?”

One of the most common asked questions in interviews, normally asked at the beginning of an interview, this question gives you the opportunity to deliver a short statement about your experiences and skills relevant to the Greggs job position you are applying for.

- Start with a “selling” line that will highlight your main strength and/or achievement

Keep each point brief as you can explain each point again in more detail throughout the interview

You want to interest the interviewer and get them to want to know more about you

End this answer with a reason why you’re looking for a new job

Potential Interview Answer

“I’ve been working in retail for 8 years. I enjoy the interactive and customer service part of my role. In all my roles I have used my personality to build relationships with customers which results in higher customer retention increasing profits. I have researched Greggs and I believe this is the opportunity I have been waiting to apply for”

Job Interview Question 2:

“Why did you leave your last job?”

Be positive with this answer and smile – employers like to hear that you left for a good opportunity or reason, a chance to do something special or for a good career move.

- Start the answer with a look back

Explain what you enjoyed about your previous role

Give a Positive reason for leaving

Potential Interview Answer

“I enjoyed working at Company Name and really enjoyed the interaction of working with a wide range of individuals-I feel I gained a lot of transferable skills from this experience, which I can use in this role. It was a hard choice to leave but I felt that this great opportunity is the next obvious step for me”

Job Interview Question 3:

“Why do you want this position with Greggs?”

Your research will pay off with this question; explain you have always wanted to work for Greggs and the reason why. Discuss how your goal has always been to work in this industry as you always wanted to (job criteria) and finally finish by explaining how your previous experience or qualifications will add value to the company.

Potential Interview Answer

“Since working in retail my goal has been to work for Greggs, as I believe my vision is in line with your company mission and values. I have always enjoyed baking and customer interaction and for me Greggs offers both of these. My long term goal is to work towards becoming a manager of a Greggs store”

Job Interview Question 4:

“Do you work well within a team?”

Some people are thrown when they are asked this question when they are applying for a position to work alone. Every company works as a team, so you are a good team player, give an example of when you have worked well within a team. Greggs are very keen on the team approach and you need to highlight how you are a team player in the Greggs interview.

Potential Interview Answer

“A team always works better than an individual as you have a wider skill base and more collective experiences to rely on. You also have the advantage of motivating to achieve goals and targets. Remember TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves More. In my last job, I worked as part of a small team dedicated to improve sales, by sharing all our experiences and ideas we were able to come up with an achievable action plan”

Job Interview Question 5:

“Did you get on well with your last manager?”

A dreaded question for many! When answering this question never give a negative answer. “I did not get on with my manager” or “The management did not run the business well” will show you in a negative light and reduce your chance of a job offer. Answer the question positively, emphasising that you have been looking for a career progression. Start by telling the interviewer what you gained from your last job

Potential Interview Answer

“I enjoyed my last job, I quickly learned how to multi-task and prioritize work and over the last 3 years I have seen myself grow. I am now ready to take the next step up the ladder with my career and feel I would suit working for company such as this”

If you were made redundant, let the interviewer know, this is not a negative!

Job Interview Question 6:

“How would you be an asset to Greggs?”

Think again about the job specification and the skills needed for this role. Have a paragraph prepared highlighting how you will be able to do the job and what you can bring to the team. It goes without saying that this paragraph should be positive.

Potential Interview Answer

“I’m the type of person who likes to get a task completed; I am driven, hard working and have excellent time management. I have worked in this industry for 5 years and I possess string customer service and team work skills, for me I feel my key skill is encouraging repeat customers.”

Job Interview Question 7:

“What are your strengths?”

Give an answer relevant to the skills and qualities relevant to the position you are applying to. The interviewer is trying to find if your strengths match the job. For example, if you are applying for a job where accuracy is an important issue (Greggs Management), one of your strengths could be that you have an eye for detail. It may useful to find different words to describe similar attributes and qualities in order to avoid repetition.

Potential Interview Answer

“I have often been told that I have an eye for detail and that I am very accurate and precise. This was very important during my last role where I managed a large retail team. An example of this is when I A, B and C….”

Job Interview Question 8:

“What are your weaknesses?”

Again, another commonly asked question. A frequent mistake to make when answering this question is to say something negative like “I can sometimes let things get on top of me”. Be positive and sell yourself with every interview question, turn a negative into a positive. For example,

Potential Interview Answer

“In the past I felt I needed to improve my product knowledge, to improve this I requested to attend a training course which taught my all I needed to know. From this I found that I increased sales and customer satisfaction.”

This will show that you can identify your weaknesses but at the same time, you are willing to improve. Most importantly: do not mention a weakness that is any way related to the job you are being interviewed for! This might sound obvious but it is a common mistake!

Job Interview Question 9:

“Do you know anything about this Greggs?”

Often one of the first questions you will be asked during the interview, employers want employees who will stay with the company, this question and answer will show the employer that you know the company’s history and feel they will be a good employer to work for.

It also shows the employer that you think ahead and carry out research. Answer this question with:

- The length the organisation has been operating for.

How the company started

What services/products the company offers

Where they are going (have they won any new contracts)

All this information is normally found on the internet; on the company home page or about us page.

Potential Interview Answer

“I know a great deal about your organisation, before I applied for the job position I researched the company. Greggs originally started by delivering yeast and eggs to local families before John Gregg opened a small bakery on Gosforth High Street in 1951. Following the death of his father, Ian Gregg took over the family business in 1964. Under Ian’s leadership, Greggs developed a reputation for good quality and great value by the 1970s there were shops in Scotland, Yorkshire and the North West.

By 1984, Greggs had more than 260 shops in four main areas of the country and continued to expand, opening shops in the Midlands, Wales and North London. Today, Greggs has nearly 1,700 shops. The reason for Greggs success is quality and the friendly faces you see behind the counter at Greggs, this was one of the reasons why I applied for the position”

Job Interview Question 10:

“Do you think you have enough experience?”

If you’re asked this, then the interviewer does not believe you have enough experience. If you have you need to make this clear, explain about your previous experiences and give detail to the parts that are relevant to this new job role.

If you do not have the experience they need, you need to show the employer you have the skills, qualities and knowledge that will make you equal to people with experience but not necessary the skills. It is also good to add how quick you can pick up the routine of a new job role.

Potential Interview Answer

“All together I have 8 years experience in this industry, in my current role as a sales assistant I am responsible for working in a busy shop, creating a warm and friendly experienced and ensuring that customers receive quality products. I possess excellent customer service skills and work well within a team, this is why I have been so successful in all my previous roles”

Job Interview Question 11:

What is your biggest achievement?

We have all achieved many things throughout our lives, from losing weight to passing a driving test. If you make your answer relevant to the job you are applying for. Talk about how you had a goal you initially thought you couldn’t achieve and then through working hard you achieved your goal.

Potential Interview Answer

“I was once asked to give a presentation, at first I thought I wouldn’t be able to deliver it without embarrassing myself. I wrote the presentation and practiced it in front of small groups, until I had the confidence to deliver it to a large group. I was really pleased with the result on the day and I was good feedback from my line manager.”

Job Interview Question 12:

“Do you have any questions for me?”

Good interview questions to ask interviewers at the end of the job interview include questions on the company growth or expansion, questions on personal development and training and questions on company values, staff retention and company achievements.

Conclusion

Once you have completed your interview Greggs will let you know the outcome often within 48 hrs.

Many people are afraid of job interviews. The truth is if you prepare for your job interview, by predicting the job interview questions, you can easily prepare your job interview answers. If your job interview answers highlight your unique selling point, are stated in the positive and are said in a confident manner, then you can influence the job interview to increase job offer.

May 12, 2015November 30, 2020

How to attract the Recruiter even if you do not have experience

Recruiters are like the gatekeepers of numerous unannounced positions in the industry. So, one needs to constantly keep in touch with a few prominent recruiters to stay informed.

This can best be done by making yourself active and visible to recruiters in the online market. A LinkedIn profile is highly important to do so. It is one of the most preferred sites of recruiters to discover good candidates.

Why is LinkedIn so important?

To answer this question, we must draw reference from a recent survey conducted by a popular software recruiting firm, they revealed in the study that almost 87 percent planned on using LinkedIn to staff candidates on 2011. And the number has only increased over the past 3 years.

There is a huge chunk of positions that remain under the covers in the job market and only these recruiters are aware of that. But if a person is not on the website with a lucrative profile he/she will go unnoticed and will not be discovered.

There are two main reasons why most people tend to avoid LinkedIn than any other job site.

They do not want their present employer t know that they are in the market for a new job.
They want to keep their privacy intact ad don’t want to disclose too much personal information on job site.

But both of these are very common misconceptions among people. As one need not reveal what they don’t want to on LinkedIn and also most active persons on LinkedIn are not in the market for a new job.

Also it is not only enough to put your name out there through a LinkedIn profile, your profile needs to be right to attract good recruiter attention. The main mistake made by most candidates on LinkedIn is that they do not have a complete profile.

You need to have a complete profile to gather more recruiter attention. And your profile also needs to be search optimized and compelling enough so that the employers contact you.

As per reports a complete profile is viewed 40 times more than an incomplete one. The right hand side of one’s profile states the information about how complete ones profile is and what more does the person need to do.

Also being transparent and keeping your work and profile info up to date is key in LinkedIn to attract recruiter attention. You should also keep a profile in the popular job portals like monster.com or Indeed. But trying to find a niche job search website pertaining directly to your field is also important.

What do employers’ look for in a good resume?

Here are a few tips to get your resume noticed in the pile of hundreds or thousands of other resumes on the employer’s table:

A very precise and short objective
An information about how long you have been working at your current position in the present company
A note about what you are presently working on and how that knowledge can help your company
Previous job experiences and time period of how long you’ve worked for those companies and positions
Educational qualifications

Also there are a certain number of things that makes recruiters fret:

Do not be inconsistent: this is one point that always puts employers off. Although we all go through ups and downs in our career. But major inconsistencies that strongly indicate a lack of focus about professionals should be avoided.
Do not be afraid to interact with recruiters on LinkedIn. Build up your professional network and be proud of it. Recruiters really like a person with a robust professional network and quality resumes and cover letters with their profiles.

Some other innovative ways you can grab recruiter’s attention are:

Host live events to connect with people in real life: This does make a huge difference in lives of professionals. You can host a networking event or an open house to attract recruiters as well as fresh talents for your own company.

Optimize your profile for increasing job portal visibility on search engines: When people put up a profile in a social networking site, they believe that recruiters read every last word in their profile. But they don’t, they only read a few key words to judge if you are a potential candidate or not. And if do not optimize your profile, recruiter’s relative to your field of expertise may never find you. Including numerous buzz words in your job search profile is key to make you more visible and discoverable to employers.

Author Bio

Harshit Singh Tomar is a blogger and a professional career author with proven expertise in writing for topics related to jobs, job trends, different job opportunities, various workplace and industry information, tips and strategies for job seekers.

May 12, 2015November 16, 2020

12 Job Interview Questions and Answers for a Dental Nurse

12 Job Interview Questions for a Dental Nurse

To increase your job chances of securing a job offer you will learn the answers to 12 dental nurse job interview questions.

This article will help you to prepare and to pass your next job interview:

You will be given an explanation of the type of answer the interviewer is looking for ( a guide to what the employer wants you to discuss )

You will be given an example job interview answer for each individual interview question, allowing you to tweak this answer, making it relevant to your own experiences.

interview prediction grid

Job Interview Questions and Answers for a Dental Nurse

Job Interview Question 1:

“Tell me about yourself?”

One of the most common asked questions in interviews normally asked at the beginning of an interview, this question gives you the opportunity to deliver a short statement about your experiences and skills relevant to the job position you are applying for.

Start with a “selling” line that will highlight your main strength and/or achievement relating to your dental nurse experience
Keep each point brief as you can explain each point again in more detail throughout the interview
You want to intrigue the interviewer and get them to want to know more about you
End this answer with a reason why you’re looking for a new job

Potential Interview Answer

“I’ve been working as a dental nurse for 8 years. I am highly experienced in reassuring clients to help them walk in to the dental room in a confident and calm manor allowing the dentist to progress quickly with the dental operation. I am now ready for a new challenge and with your company having a great reputation, I believe this is the opportunity I have been waiting to apply for”

Job Interview Question 2:

“Why did you leave your last dental nurse poistion”

Be positive with this answer and smile – employers like to hear that you left for a good opportunity or reason, a chance to do something special or for a good career move.

- Start the answer with a look back

Explain what you enjoyed about your previous role

Give a Positive reason for leaving

Potential Interview Answer

“I enjoyed working at Company Name and really enjoyed the interaction of working with a wide range of patients -I feel I gained a lot of transferable skills from this experience, which I can use in this role such as knowing how to sterilize instruments, how to pass on accurate patient details to the dentist and how to support the dentist during operations without getting in the dentist way . It was a hard choice to leave but I felt that this great opportunity is the next obvious step for me”

Job Interview Question 3:

“Why did you apply for a dental nurse job at this company?”

Your research will pay off with this question; explain you have always wanted to work for their company and the reason why. Discuss how your goal has always been to work in this industry as you always wanted to (job criteria) and finally finish by explaining how your previous experience or qualifications will add value to the company.

Potential Interview Answer

“Since becoming qualified my goal has been to work with your organisation, as I believe my vision is in line with your company mission. Your reputation as a dentist is procedures you and I want to part of a dentist that works to high standards. My own experience in preparing materials and using high tech equipment will allow us to work collaboratively together”

Job Interview Question 4:

“Give an example of working within the dental practice team?”

Potential Interview Answer

“A team always works better than an individual as you have a wider skill base and more collective experiences to rely on. You also have the advantage of motivating to achieve goals and targets. In my last job, I worked as part of a small dental team, we will were highly successful in completing a wide range of dental procedures, professionally and quickly”

Job Interview Question 5:

“Did you get on well with your last dentist manager?”

A dreaded question for many! When answering this question never give a negative answer. “I did not get on with my manager” or “The management did not run the business well” will show you in a negative light and reduce your chance of a job offer. Answer the question positively, emphasizing that you have been looking for a career progression. Start by telling the interviewer what you gained from your last job

Potential Interview Answer

If you were made redundant, let the interviewer know, this is not a negative!

Job Interview Question 6:

“How would you be an asset to us?”

Potential Interview Answer

“I’m the type of person who likes to get a task completed; I am driven, hard-working and have excellent time management. I have worked in the dental industry for 5 years and have made excellent customer contacts and built good working relationships with dental suppliers which will be of advantage to any employer who employees me”

Job Interview Question 7:

“What are your strengths?”

This is one of the most common questions you will be asked. Give an answer relevant to the skills and qualities relevant to the position you are applying to. The interviewer is trying to find if your strengths match the job. For example, if you are applying for a job where accuracy is an important issue, one of your strengths could be that you have an eye for detail. It may useful to find different words to describe similar attributes and qualities in order to avoid repetition.

Potential Interview Answer

“I have often been told that I have an eye for detail and that I am very accurate and precise. This was very important during my last role where we used expensive equipment and materials for a range of dental procedures”

Job Interview Question 8:

“What are your weaknesses in relation to working as a dental nurse?”

Potential Interview Answer

“In the past, I felt I needed to improve my knowledge of new x-ray machines to ensure I could work it correctly. To improve I have studied the manual, attended a training course and now I fully understand how to operate it”

Job Interview Question 9:

“What are the key roles and duties for a dental nurse?”

This question is asked to ensure you understand and have experience in the day to day running of the dentist. Break this question into at least 3 different key roles (this may depend on your past duties)

Potential Interview Answer

“There are 3 key main roles for a dental nurse, first preparing and tidying the dental surgery, secondly a key part of the running of the dentist – sterilizing instruments and keeping dental operation areas sterile and finally helping the dentist record information about each patient and carrying out stock control.”

Job Interview Question 10:

“Do you think you have enough dental nurse experience?”

If you do not have the experience they need, you need to show the employer that you have the skills, qualities and knowledge that will make you equal to people with experience but not necessary the skills. It is also good to add how quick you can pick up the routine of a new job role.

Potential Interview Answer

“Altogether I have 8 years of experience as a dental nurse, in my current role I spend a large amount of time on the welfare of patients. Ensuring the are relaxed and prepared for the dentist, talking to patients during the dental treatment and supporting them with techniques to improve cleanliness”

Job Interview Question 11:

What is your biggest achievement as a dental nurse?

Potential Interview Answer

“I was once asked to give a presentation with the lead dentist as part of a dental conference, at first I thought I wouldn’t be able to deliver it without embarrassing myself. I wrote the presentation with the dentist and practiced it in front of small groups until I had the confidence to deliver it to a large group. I was really pleased with the result on the day and I was good feedback from the lead dentist”

Job Interview Question 12:

“Do you have any questions for me?”

Conclusion

May 11, 2015November 30, 2020

Does a Handshake Effect a Job Interview?

Interviewees are always looking to get an advantage over other applicants.

We already know that the way you answer the job interview questions; the structure you use, the tone of your voice and the passion you state your words with have a powerful influence in a job interview.

You will also understand the power of a first impression.

A first impression isn’t just based on what you wear (which is what most people wrongly believe) The first impression is assessed at an unconscious level, and your facial expressions, body language and handshake effect the outcome of the employer’s prejudices.

Visual and Touch

Your brain is in its own world. The mind cant see or feel. Instead, it relies on electrical impulses that are fired off via your senses – what your body see’s, hears and feel’s sending a different electrical impulse to your brain, your subconscious then through learned experience tells you how to respond.

If you see an overweight man, as an example, you will have an instant opinion about this person. Maybe your experience has taught you that overweight people are lazy? Or maybe you have the belief that overweight people are kind and hardworking. We all have and make instant opinions about new people we meet, and we make them instantly.

These opinions can be changed, but often the opinion the interviewer has created about you is a filter that they will use when they interview you – which means you need this first impression to be a positive one.

Your handshake, which is physical, which means its a highly powerful influence, has to help you to create a positive first impression.

Powerful Handshake in a Job Interview

Below you will learn a basic technique to give you a powerful handshake. It will sound so basic, that you won’t at first believe the power of it. So, I recommend you test the different shakes out on a friend. Do this with your eyes closed and focus on the feeling you get when shaking their hand in the following ways

As we said before, handshakes like all body language give away how you are feeling – nervous or confident? And employers prefer to offer jobs to confident interviewees. Employers are not taught what a certain handshake represents but unconsciously your handshake and body language will give clues to the employer’s subconscious mind.

If your Palm is facing up this can be taken as a sign of submission
A palm facing down can be taken as aggressive

A palm facing sideways is taken as a sign of equality

May 8, 2015November 30, 2020

Can You Sell Yourself During an Interview?

The interview is the step where the prospective employers get a chance to learn more about you, the job applicants. In theory, it’s a chance to present yourself, and hopefully increase your chance of getting hired.

However, many interviewees enter the room thinking of the interview as a test, where they can possibly “pass” or “fail”.

The fact is that you need to perhaps think of it in a different way.

The interview actually can be seen as a sale opportunity. The buyer is the employer, who is considering paying for your work. The seller is you, who is hoping to be able to sell your service.

The product? That’s you. You, as a potential employee, is the product in question here. It’s not just about your skills and experience, those can easily be seen on your CV.

It’s also about you as a person and how you may fit in the company culture. Knowing that going into the interview, your main objective is to sell yourself, to persuade the interviewer that you are the best option for their company.

Interview Packaging

In marketing and sales, everyone knows that packaging is a tremendously important factor that influences purchasing decisions.

That is why companies throw thousands of dollars in packaging design. That is why real estate agents stage the house before opening day. And that is why you need to make yourself presentable on this very important day.

As we often heard, dress for the job that you want. For most office job, business formal is the way to go with interviews.

More than the way you dress, the “packaging”, or your appearance also largely depends on how you carry yourself. You want to come off as a friendly, approachable person, but not without confidence.

Learn basic body language and gestures, such as how to properly shake hands or how to make eye contact during the conversation. Remember, interviewing is all about the first impression and attention to details will definitely pay off.

Know Your Best Selling Points

Ask any salesman about a product he is selling and you will get a detailed report on all the features and benefits. Similarly, in order to sell yourself, you need to know your strengths or the selling points that you can use to entice your potential employers.

Before the interview, take a moment to evaluate and select the biggest strengths that you want to present. It can be your great problem-solving skill, your creativity, or your ability to connect with others.

The most common mistake that people make is to confuse the selling points with their credentials and experience. Remember, your interviewer has already seen your resume. Therefore, there is no point of reading out your past experiences and degrees to them. The interviewer decides the questions, but it is you who decides the answer. Therefore, use any opportunity you get to highlight your strength.

Know What Your Buyer is Looking For

Let’s say the sales staff is presenting to you a top-notch gaming laptop, but if you are just looking for something that can check emails and process simple spreadsheets, would you buy it? Of course not. No matter how good the product is, there will be no sales until the buyer decides that the product fits their needs.

Going into the interview, it’s important for you to know what the employer is looking for. What are the most important characteristics that would make a candidate successful in this position? And how do your skills, experience, and personality fit with these characteristics? Knowing the answers to these two questions, you can tailor your answers to demonstrate these characteristics.

Author Bio

Vanessa is a professional blogger and copywriter, who is passionate about education, lifestyles and travel topics. Currently, she is working with Facts.net, an online collection of random facts on different topics.

May 7, 2015November 30, 2020

Yoga Teacher Interview Questions

Job Interview Questions for a Yoga Teacher

- - - - Job Interview Question 1: What is your experience as a Yoga Teacher?

- - - - Job Interview Question 2: How do you design a yoga lesson to meet the needs of your client?

- - - - Job Interview Question 3: How do you recognise the needs of beginners, experienced students and mixed ability groups

- - - - Job Interview Question 4: How do you teach students?

- - - - Job Interview Question 5: How do you adapt postures for individual conditions such as pregnancy or arthritis?

- - - - Job Interview Question 6: How do you assess the progress of your students

- - - - Job Interview Question 7: Why is it important to review your lessons?

- - - - Job Interview Question 8: What hours are you happy to work?

- - - - Job Interview Question 9: Why is Yoga important?

- - - - Job Interview Question 10: Do you have any questions for me?

May 6, 2015November 30, 2020

Job Interview Questions for a Beauty Therapist

- - Job Interview Question 1: What is your experience in beauty therapy?
  - Job Interview Question 2: How do you welcome a customer when they arrive for treatment?
  - Job Interview Question 3: Which treatments can you offer?

- Job Interview Question 4: What does electro-therapy improve?

- Job Interview Question 5: What is important to know when completing a facial?

- Job Interview Question 6: Give an example of when you have advised a customer about applying make-up

- - Job Interview Question 7: Have you experience with non-surgical skin improvement treatments?

- - Job Interview Question 8: Have you any experience of reception work, such as answering the telephone and receiving clients?

- - Job Interview Question 9: What is your process for keeping notes of clients’ medical histories and treatment programmes

- - Job Interview Question 10: Do you have any questions to ask?

April 28, 2015November 18, 2020

Job Interview Questions for a Tyre Fitter

Tyre Fitter Job Interview

In a tyre fitter job interview, employers will ask questions based on the tyre fitter job duties, which, in the main, is the repair, maintenance and replacement of tyres on a range of vehicles.

Some tyre fitting companies specialise in HGV, coach or specialist vehicle tyre-fitting, but in the main, most tyre fitters work on cars and small vans.

Whereas garages will often recruit mechanics that are also responsible for tyre repair and replacement, employers running a tyre fitting centre require skilled tyre fitters.

Depending on the job position, some employers will recruit an apprentice – someone with the perceived work ethic and skills for the role, whereas others need an experienced tyre fitter.

Job Interview Questions for a Tyre Fitter

Below you will find 12 job interveiw questions that are commonly asked during a tyre fitting job interview, with an explanation of how to answer each of the questions.

Job Interview Question 1: What is your tyre-fitting or garage experience?

If an applicant has any previous tyre-fitting experience it is good to state this at the job interview start, linking the duration in the job role to the applicant’s knowledge base:

‘I have been working as a tyre fitter for X number of years. In my current role, I am responsible for welcoming customers to the centre, diagnosing the tyre issue – if the tyre needs replacing or repairing. I am experienced in wheel-balancing, removing nails from tyres and selling new tyres to customers.

For a new entry to the tyre-fitting career, the applicant needs to promote their skill set and worth ethic. This is a common approach for a school leaver or someone making a career change:

‘I recently left college where I gained a Level 2 diploma in vehicle fitting. During the course, I learnt how to check and replace tyres, tyre maintenance and basic automotive tasks; carrying out MOTs for example. During the course, I undertook a 2-week tyre-fitting work placement and was highly praised by my manager.’

Job Interview Question 2: How do you welcome a new customer?

The customer ‘welcome’ is an important part of the business.

The ‘welcome’ helps to set the standard of customer service but also helps to create a quick turnaround which increase profit.

This interveiw question can be answered by explaining the process in several ‘steps’

‘Welcoming a new customer is important as , when it is done properly, it shows the professionalisum of the business creating a good first impression. When I welcome a customer I follow these 3 steps:

Step 1 – I check if they have been booked in for a wheel change or if they have just turned up. In busy periods pre-booked customers take priority. For ‘just turned up customers’ I would explain the potential wait time.

Step 2 – Next I explain the process; how I will check the tyres for damage and wear, and how I will give advice on the tyre replacement, explaining how long this process will take.

Step 3- Finally, I show them where they can wait and offer to get them a hot drink to help them feel comfortable.

Job Interview Question 3: Explain how you check a vehicle’s balancing?

When answering technical problems, it is best practice to start by explaining the reason behind a task, before giving an answer as this who the applicant’s level of job confidence and competencies.

‘Wheel alignment and balancing important in terms of driver safety. Unbalanced wheels cause vibrations and can be dangerous when driving, especially in icy conditions. When checking wheel alignment I look at the angles of the wheels, check the balance before making any adjustments. I also explain the importance of regular checks to customers, telling them how accurate wheel alignment ensure that the vehicle runs staright.’

Job Interview Question 4: What was the quality of standard of work/customer service in previous positions?

In the automotive trade employers need employees with a strong work ethic.

This question is trying gage each applicants qualities. This is deemed to be important because manual work requires mental strength. Working in a tyre-fitting company means that employees will work weekends as part of buisness-as-usual.

‘My work ethic is very strong. With every task I undertake from fitting tyres to wlecoming customers I approach with professionalism and enthusiasm.’

In addition to the above example opening answer, interveiwees need to provide a reallife example of strong work ethic.

Set the scene – start by explaining the situation, as an example, an increase in workload on a partcialur busy day.

Action – discuss what actions you took, highlighting your work ethic.

Success – end the interveiw answer by stating the positive ouctome; this could be feedback from the manager.

Job Interview Question 5: What does balancing and re-aligning wheel mean?

As a technical question, this interveiw question can be answered with a detailed explanation of the reason behind the requirement for wheel realignment.

‘Wheel alignment is important for safe driving as it improves the vehicle handling and reduces stress on the vehicle suspension. Signs of poor balancing include the car pulling to the side, vibrating steering wheel and uneven tyre wear.’

If you have an out-of-balance condition on the steering, have all four wheels balanced, front and back. Unbalanced wheels on the rear can often be felt through the steering.

Job Interview Question 6: Give an example of going above and beyond on behalf of a customer

Customer service is important in the automotive industry as a happy customer will return for repeat business.

When answering this question, first explain your understanding of customer service before giving an example of providing excellent customer service.

‘I believe customer satisfaction is very important in this industry. A negative review on Google can reduce the number of customers choosing our garage for their tyres. With that in mind, I always focus on customer satisfaction. An example of this is when a new customer arrived before the centre was officially open. The customer needed a quick tyre change as they were late for an important meeting. I could see the customer was distressed, and even though we didn’t officially start my shift for another 20minutes I decide to start work early and help the customer out. Two weeks later the customer returned to thank me for my support, explaining that they manage a fleet of cars and would use this garage for the annual replacement of tyres.’

Job Interview Question 7: Name 3 different types of tyres and their pro’s and con’s?

Another technical interview question.

Depending on an applicants knowledge level depends on how they answer this interview question. One example would be talking about tyre tread.

It doesn’t matter what the interviewee discusses as long as they highlight their level of industry knowledge.

‘When I discuss the pro’s and con’s of tyres to customers, I often explain the various treads.: symmetrical tread is the cheaper option but doesn’t perform well it wet conditions. A second option is directional tread – great for wet roads but due to their soft rubber can become warn quicker. The final option I discuss is asymmetrical tyres; these tyers have excellent handling but need fitting in a certain way.’

Job Interview Question 8: Describe the process for repairing a puncture?

As one of the key task for a tyre fitter, this is going to be a common interview question.

When answering the technical question explain it in steps. New to the trade interveiwees can explain what they believe the process is using the below as a guide. Experience tyre fitters can add their own experiences to the answer, adding additional technical information.

‘To repair a tyre I would first search for the puncture or damage, also checking for potential second punctures. Once I have located the puncture I would remove the embedded object causing the damage. Next I would fill the hole before replacing the tyre.’

Job Interview Question 9: What do you need to look for when checking for signs of damage and wear?

Checking for damage and wear is a buisnes-as-usual task. Employees when conducting any repair on a tyre would also check the remaining tyres for wear. Therfore it is important to understand the different types of tyre damage.

Understanding the various damage types is what the employer is checking with this job interview question.

‘There are several types of tyre damage I check include; tread depth – checking that each tyre meets the legal requirement. Exposed cords, faults from previous repairs and foreign objects which could cause secondary damage. and Finally tyre deterioration.’

Job Interview Question 10: What does health and safety mean to you?

The tyre fitting shop is filled with machinery and moving vechiles.

Therfore, following health and safety is deemed as high importance. Employers expect all employees to follow the health and safety act. The employer asking the H&S interview question is wanting to check an employees current knowledge and understanding.

‘For me, health and safety is virtual for me and my colleagues. If you don’t follow the H&S rules it may result in injuries that take staff members out of work for long period of times. Due to this I always follow all H&S rules including keeping the garage free from obstruction, returning tools and equipment to their designated place and checking for danger before starting a task.’

Job Interview Question 11: How do you manage your day to day duties?

Working in a tyre fitting garage is a busy workplace with a mixture of pre-booked appointments and walk-in tasks.

Employers are ideally looking for a tyre fitter who can time manage their workload to ensure any additional work, gain on the day, can be dealt with.

‘I am a good with time management. At the end of each day I look at the pre-booked appointments for the following day and check what equipment and resources I require. I can then collect these saving time. I also have a good idea how long each duty takes and I can work out how mush ‘free’ time I have for any drop-in tasks.’

Job Interview Question 12: Do you have any questions to ask?

Are you looking to expand the business?
What other mechanical jobs do you carry out?
Do you offer any training or qualifications relating to tyre fitting?
How many people work with the tyre-fitting centre?
What is the average number of customers per day?

April 20, 2015November 18, 2020

Job Interview Questions for a Hospitality Receptionist

Hospitality Receptionist Job Interview

Hospitality jobs are on the increase and front of house hotel and receptionist positions are still on the rise even with an increase in online bookings.

For many hotel chains having a hotel receptionist skilled in customer service is key to customer retention. Employers, therefore, during the job interview will ask questions designed to understand if each applicant possesses interpersonal skills, organisational skills and experience of problem-solving.

This article will help you pass your next job interview by providing you with a list of commonly asked hotel reception job interveiw questions and an explanation of how to answer each interview question.

Job Interview Questions and Answers for a Hospitality Receptionist

Job Interview Question 1: What is your customer service experience?

The initial open question is designed to get an overview of the applicant’s relevant experience in reference to the criteria of the advertised position.

When answering the ‘experience’ question, start generally before giving specific details;

‘I have X years of experience working X customer service roles..’

Next add in any relevant, hotel-related, qualifications;

‘…I possess a national diploma in customer service and an NVQ in computer studies…’

The answer should end with a list of specific skills and/or experiences relating to working with the hotel trade or customer service roles;

‘…For the last 5 years, I have worked at X where I was responsible for taking bookings and cancellations, recording customer data on the computer, checking in guests, allocating rooms and answering questions about hotel facilities, local transport, places of interest and entertainment.’

Job Interview Question 2: How do you assess the success of a hotel front of house department?

What this question is really asking is if you understand what is required to make a successful front of house team.

As customer service is key to the success of a hotel, you can link this essential element to the interview answer. Next, list some of the key job duties, that if completed properly, will result in a successful department.

‘Customer feedback provides the overall success rate of a hotel reception. If the feedback has common areas of development then this is an area that needs improving. If the feedback is positive, then it is deemed that the front of house team is being successful. Behind the scenes, though, the front of house team have a number of key targets they have to meet. It is the meeting of these targets and the completion of business-as-usual duties that are key indicators of success.’

Job Interview Question 3: How does the hotel reception contribute to the strategies and goals of the hotel?

Hotel managers, when recruiting, require a team that all work together to achieve the objectives of the hotel. In the main, the goal of any hotel is to provide an excellent service to paying customers, as this increases repeat business and of course profits.

When answering interveiw questions about the wider team and the overarching strategic objectives, you need to highlight how you understand that it is a team approach that is needed to be successful, from the cleaning team to the hotel manager, from the kitchen team to the front of house department.

Job Interview Question 4: What was quality of standard of work/customer service in previous positions?

Employers ask questions about previous positions as new employees can bring over good practice or bad habits. Often if the standards were poor in a previous job role, it can be assumed that the employee will expect the same level of standards in the new role.

It is important, then, to make it clear that either the standard of work was high in a previous role – and that you enjoyed working to this level of professionalism, or that it was the low standards that made you want to apply for a position with a more professional hotel.

Job Interview Question 5: Give an example of welcoming a customer to the hotel.

Example questions can be answered by stating the process you follow, in this instance, to welcome a hotel guest.

Give a friendly welcome
Check booking details
Give an overview of the room and the facilities
Ask if they require anything to if they would like an upgrade
So the guest to their rooms

Job Interview Question 6: Give an example of going above and beyond on behalf of a customer?

Customer service is gold in the hotel sector, with that old saying ‘the customer is always right’.

Employers expect the front of house team to offer exceptional customer service. Don’t fall into the trap of answering this interveiw question with business-as-usual customer service (even though this level of customer service may be above and beyond in a different industry).

A real-life example is required here. Previous, successful, examples have included:

Helping a guest gain a room when the hotel was full and the customer’s booking had been lost.
Taking extra time during a wedding to help the happy couple to have a lovely day by event managing the event that was starting to go badly.
Being an interpreter, once your shift had ended, for a group of non-English speaking customers on a trip from abroad.

Job Interview Question 7: How do you recall large amounts of information?

As a front of house staff member, the guest expects the receptionist to know all the local facilities.

Here, the interviewee, needs to explain their process for remembering all the required information needed for a potential guest.

‘When starting work in a new city I first check for the key venue, activities and facilities that a guest may require; theatres, bars, museums. I also use the internet to find the random request that may be asked for, this way I always have an answer for a guest.’

Job Interview Question 8: What is key when answering a call from a customer or business associate?

Taking calls from guests is a daily occurrence. Employers are looking for a polite, professional and friendly receptionist to help key the brand’s positive image.

As a technical interveiw question, the best way to answer it is to breakdown the steps embedded in the process for each duty.

Answer with a good morning/good afternoon and name the hotel
Ask how you can help
Listen to the query and check any details
Give advice, information or answer the question
Ask if there is anything extra you can help with
Wish them a good day

Job Interview Question 9: What does customer service mean to you?

Customer service is about going above and beyond the call of duty to keep the customer happy.

When answering the ‘customer service explanation’ question give a description, similar to the above statement, before giving an example of you using customer service in a previous role.

Job Interview Question 10: Do you have any questions to ask?

How many hotels are in the chain?
Can employees work across hotels?
What training is in place for employees?
What percentage of guests are repeat customers?
Does the hotel have an internal promotion programme?

April 19, 2015November 30, 2020

Robots Recruited for Low Skilled Jobs

Imagine a future where technology is so advanced that robotics has taken over low skilled jobs

Imagine a future where we no longer have a delivery postal person mailing letters through our doors, instead, drones will fly from the warehouse, warehouses, where robotic warehouse staff unload vans, pick and pack goods, before loading drones that will fly to our houses dropping parcels into our hands

Imagine a future where robots stack shelves in supermarkets, where robots clean hospital wards and where robots engineer driverless cars, space stations and computer programmed glasses

Imagine a future where we work in space, exploring new planets, mining minerals from asteroids that are shooting across the galaxy, a future where we even holiday next to the stars

Future Careers and Robotics

Imagine a future where science is so advanced that we can use the natural energy from the sun to power our computers, kitchen appliances and machines. A future where we collect free electricity from the power of waves and a future where cars run off natural gases

Imagine a future where we live to an average age of 110, a future where medical science has cured diabetes, cancer and even the common cold. A future where organs for transplants are grown in labs, where parents can choose the eye colour and skin tone of their unborn baby, a future where scientist grow strawberries in labs to the size my head, steaks as big as cars and carrots as long as my arm

Imagine this, no more starvation, a real reduction in illness, robots and robotics working in every industry, in every town and even in every home.

Robots in Jobs Now

To some, this sounds like something from a weird science fiction film but in actual fact, most of what I have quoted is happening right now.

Amazon has just been given permission by the UK government to test delivery drones, a hospital in Scotland employs robotic cleaners, the care industry is predicting a 10% rise in jobs due to the aging population and the UK government has predicted 100,000 space jobs over the next 10 years.

Virgin galactic is a plane that fly’s people into outer space, there are plans to put a human settlement on Mars, a bus in London is powered by human excrement and the oldest women who die a couple of months ago lived to the age of 116

With technology changing rapidly, we don’t know exactly what will happen in terms of the labour market but one thing is clear low skilled jobs are on the decrease and high-skilled jobs – science, technology, engineering and maths are set to rise.