I work at Waitrose AMA

[Pratners]

What do you want to know about Waitrose?

I had to do an online assessment that asked me questions about how I'd deal with certain situations. Once I passed that, I was offered an in-person interview.
The first part of that was a group task - we were given a list of priorities for the store and had to agree on which order the priorities should be prioritised in, if that makes sense. The manager interviewing us was much more interested in those of us who spoke up and could give sound reasons for our decisions, even if those decisions were wrong. It was more about seeing how we worked as a team, how we solved problems etc. Then we were taken one by one for the proper interview. I was asked about relevant experience, what interests I have, and what hours I could work. It was fairly informal but I suppose it depends on who is doing the interviewing!
I got a call a few days later offering me the job.

We get 20% off at Waitrose and 25% off at John Lewis, so that's pretty good!

Not sure what you mean by extras?

Yes I do my main shop at Waitrose. It's just easier for me to order it online and pick it up at the end of my shift. I find it funny that my colleagues literally do my shopping for me 😁 But the discount also helps. I still shop elsewhere though, as we don't sell all the things I want.

Do you know what's going on with Waitrose washing powder, specifically the Colour version, which has been out of stock for months. Really don't like the gel (plastic bottles, gel clings to the bottle)

Any advice for the job interview? Have one for a store assistant coming up in a few weeks

Thanks, I had stopped going to my local Waitrose but will be persuaded back for fish Friday!

I haven't done a re-scan in a while so I'm a bit rusty, but...

When you're selected for a re-scan, our handset will either tell us to scan a number of random items, or to scan until we reach a random monetary value. So it could tell us 'look for 2 items' (which we pick at our discretion) or it might tell us 'scan items to reach a value of £18.50'.

What I think happened with you is that the handset didn't tell them to look for 2 particular items, it just asked them to scan 2 random ones.

If you had scanned those 2 items while shopping, you're good to go. If you hadn't scanned those 2 items our handset would tell us that you hadn't scanned them. It could be shoplifting or it could be an honest mistake - either way, it's flagged to us.

Fun fact: if shoplifters are caught in this way, we can block their MyWaitrose card, meaning when they try it again in a different branch, they can't.

Hope that makes sense

I'm an Asian. I live in maybe 95+%, could be more, white community. I had horrible experience. One white old gentleman, he seems to be very popular among customers, but threw money at me, mumble when I shop, basically completely being racist. I avoid him now, but if I complain, does it change anything? Or just stay way from him?

I'm on annual leave just now but I can look it up for you when I get back. Unless any other Partners are lurking on this thread and can look it up sooner?? 😉
It could be having a packaging redesign or there might be a manufacturing issue of some kind. If you ask a Partner in your local branch, they can look it up on their handset and see if any other stores nearby have it. If they do then it could be that your local branch has stopped stocking it for some reason. Don't just ask them if they still sell it, ask them to actually look it up on their handset 😉😉

Ooh a few questions -

What happens to the reduced food at the end of the day that doesn't sell? Are staff allowed it for free or does it automatically get given to charity?

Do you get free food on shift / is there a subsidised canteen? Is the food nice and is it Waitrose products?

What happens if you suspect someone has shop lifted through the scanning thing (say 5 items in a 60 shop). Not me personally, but I saw this happen to someone as I was on my way out. They looked really shifty in my opinion, but how do you determine what to do?

Why did they change the butterscotch pecan yum yums to those dreadful square things filled with over sweet crap. Bloody ruined my day when I bought one and took a bite. Find out who made the decision and sack them for me please.

Do they still have holiday cottages employees can go and stay in?

Friend of mine worked in Waitrose many moons ago, and they had some in Cornwall or Devon..

See my previous post about the recruitment process. But basically, in the group task you want to make sure the interviewing manager can hear that you are discussing the task with the other interviewees. It doesn't matter too much if the answers are wrong - they're looking at whether you are a team player. You need to sound confident, even if you don't feel it - fake it if you have to! But don't be overbearing - make sure others get a chance to speak too.
Be chatty and friendly, with the others as well as the interviewer.
Dress smartly - it shouldn't matter but it does make a difference! First impressions count.
For a shop assistant role you need to be willing to get stuck in to different things. So maybe mention that you're willing to work various sections in your interview.
You'll likely start on checkouts, but there will be stock replenishment, shopping for dot com orders, reductions and date checking, food counters, and you'll be expected to train on most or all of these unless you have a disability/medical reason why you can't.
They're fine with you disclosing disabilities/conditions at interview btw.
Good luck and let me know how you got on 👍

do you do your own weekly shop there, can you afford to, do you get as much for your money compared to other supermarkets with a staff discount

I'm really sorry this happened to you. If you feel you can, please report it to the Branch Manager. He may have done this before to customers or to Partners, so your evidence may be the last piece they need to build a case against him and terminate his contract. Alternatively, you might be the first, and reporting it lessens the chance of him doing it again (well, in Waitrose at least.) Waitrose is serious about its Partners upholding good values and I can't imagine he'll last long with that attitude.

I did ask but they didn't know the answer, and have personally checked 5 other branches locally (we live in Waitroseland, very near Bracknell, so have Twyford, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Henley, Woodley, Yateley, Reading.... so have looked every time I head off in any direction!)

Food at the end of the day is given to local charities through an organisation called Fareshare, and anything left goes to Partners for free. Some food has to be binned by law if it's not fit for human consumption such as raw meat that's been held at the wrong temperature, fresh fruit that has gone mouldy, etc.

There is a subsidised canteen, we call it the PDR (Partner Dining Room). PDR food has been free in the past for a limited time, during the lockdowns if I remember rightly. It's about to become free again to help Partners with the cost of living. The PDR is stocked with Waitrose products - sandwiches, ready meals, pastries, salads, bread, everything you could want really! Some branches also have dedicated Partners who cook breakfasts, lunches etc (also made from Waitrose ingredients) although I think branches like this are few and far between. Partners also get free tea/coffee and 2 free pieces of fruit per day as standard.

As for shoplifting, I would hope they would be seen by security and/or get selected for a re-scan. Managers can also challenge shoplifters.

I remember those, they were very popular (though I have to admit I really like the replacements). I'll try and find out who made the decision and sack him (it probably was a him) 😁

I'm not aware of any holiday cottages (that's not to say there definitely aren't any) but there are John Lewis Partnership hotels that Partners can go and stay in.

Just want to say I love Waitrose and the staff who are always helpful. Keep up the good work

Yes I do most of my weekly shop there, and yes I can afford to because of the staff discount. I would probably do my weekly shop elsewhere if there was no discount. But the problem with working at Waitrose is that you see all the nice things and then you want them and find you can't necessarily get them anywhere else! It's a problem 😆

@Ariela
I did ask but they didn't know the answer, and have personally checked 5 other branches locally (we live in Waitroseland, very near Bracknell, so have Twyford, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Henley, Woodley, Yateley, Reading.... so have looked every time I head off in any direction!)

Oh blimey ok! Well then I would assume it's no longer being sold unfortunately. I don't have any way of finding out why 🤔 This is definitely something you can feedback to your local branch manager though. They might have an answer that shop floor partners don't know about.

I used to have Waitrose shopping delivery. If the delivery was more than 5mins late I got a free bottle of wine, then it changed to a free bar of chocolate. Now if they are late, they are late. 😕

I do love Waitrose. Wish I had one nearer.

That's so lovely of you to say, thank you! 💚

I remember that thread lol