Advice about job interview prep - will this make me look like a massive weirdo?

[AnnaFender]

I've recently been made redundant from a job I loved, which is very sad. But onwards and upwards and all that, I'm now in the market for a new job.

I work in marketing. I have an interview coming up for a well known British supermarket. I would love to go in my local store and see if the manager has a spare 10 mins so I could understand some of the goals/challenges they are facing. For example, what is average basket spend? Are they looking to improve this? What products are popular with customers? Do they find own brand products sell better or stocked external brands? I'm thinking that this would give me lots to talk about at the interview and hopefully I would look proactive and they would be impressed I took the initiative? I'm worried it's a bit 'too much' though and the store manager wouldn't appreciate some random interviewee wasting their time.

I'm really excited about this interview and would love to get the job, so worried I may be overthinking it a bit!

Vote:
YANBU - The interviewer will be well impressed at your initiative and you'll have some great talking points at the interview.

YABU - The store manager will think you're a self important, time wasting weirdo.

Hmm I'm not sure. It's not useful data to work from; what is true for one store will be completely different to the store down the road.

If I was interviewing you, I'd worry that you didn't value the importance of quantitative data. It's too anecdotal.

If I were you I'd go to various stores and understand their current campaigns, and spot where there are gaps you think could be capitalised on. You'd still look proactive but be demonstrably aware that there will he different ways to understand the entire current landscape.

I think some of that information is commercially sensitive & that they wouldn’t tell you anyway.

I voted YABU. But not because the store manager will think you’re bizarre- they might, but who cares? They won’t have any input on the interview process.

I don’t think you should because I don’t think it’s helpful. As above, it’s anecdotal and too location specific.

I’d look to get a copy of The Grocer, which is the industry publication. That will
Provide you evidenced data and statistics which will
Accomplish the same goals of discussion points and taking initiativez

I think you could could appear desperate and not a weirdo but to be treated with caution. It’s not usual behaviour from a random member of the public. Just be yourself, you sound enthusiastic and keen, those are good qualities.

Why can't you just say all this in the interview that if you had the job you would find out this that and the other and then do whatever then you're still telling them what you'd do

I do think you have the right idea, though - like maybe not go and try to get their details, but think it through it your interview preparation.

Like say you've been wondering about own brands versus external brands for them and you would do X if it is own brands or what to know more about Y if it is external brands.

That way you show them that you are capable of thinking these things through, and that you prepared well, but you are not wasting their time or seeming like you make lots of presumptions about their work?

Good luck with the interview either way!

Hi OP, don't go to the store. Find recently published data about the overall company, try Marketing Week etc and see what their strategy is.

They will then realise you are interested and professional - but not desperate! Also, it is shocking the number of people who turn up at interview (for senior jobs even) who have no clue about the company, the recent ad campaigns (please look these up before you go in) and the target market (who is their ideal shopper) as well as turnover and size.

Know all of that and you will know more than 95% of the other candidates. Then focus on what you bring (remember to link your past experience to something they are doing or want to do).

Good luck.

I think it would be better to think/prep how you'd use their data to inform your campaigns. So like you said, but on a far larger (national?) scale. Or how you'd localise social media campaigns based on store data.

I'm not sure. I'm a dental nurse and when ever I've applied for a job in a dental hospital I've always called the manager and asked to have a look around and they've always been very impressed and I've always got the job but this just seems abit different and I don't know why

I would be surprised if a store manager would pass that information on to be honest. I would definitely get familiar with their opening times, and look online for data that has been released to the public to get an overall idea about the company itself; and then as others have said, say that you would ask x, y and z if you were successful.

Don’t. The store manager will be run off their feet and it will demonstrate, if anything, that you don’t understand that. Use publicly available information.

I think it really depends on the interviewer. Some people would be impressed that you were inquisitive and thought outside the box, other people would hate that.

I would think it's a positive to try for a chat with someone in store management but I would tend to ask them what their current priorities are, what head office are focusing on and suchlike so your questions and answers are informed by what the organisation's priorities are at the moment.

Good luck.

But just as a starter:

www.statista.com/statistics/300605/grocery-retailers-spend-per-visit-united-kingdom-uk-by-retailer/

I'm not sure the store manager would even have time to do this. Ours always seems to be incredibly busy but it could just be he doesn't want to talk to his staff.
Like others said though not every store is the same and what works for one won't for another.

There is massive tension between HQ staff and store in retail, ime. I wouldn't feed into that drama before you even work there.

What role are you going for?

Thanks so much, really good points here. I have already done most of what has been suggested. For clarification it would be to give a good starting point, say local store said selling own brand is a challenge, if this was a marketing goal I would propose x, y and z. And obviously I've been a bit vague but my role would be in a specialist niche area of marketing - so I think it could have given me some starting points. But I will go with the majority and not do it. I liked pp's suggestion of just incorporating it into the interview as a kind of 'this is where I would start'. But yes, looking like I have no idea of how busy store manager is or coming across a bit desperate is what I was concerned about, so I'll definitely leave it! Thanks!

I don't think a store manager will have the time/inclination to indulge you HOWEVER you can find a lot of this info out/info about the company with a good dig around the industry mags and websites, and financial/retailer website or stories from FT~ or wherever.
SO yes deffo research as much as you can - and remember that they don;t expect you to know the industry inside out and will appreciate your bringing outside experience and ideas to the role.

Good luck!

It;s a bit of an old one but works - sit down now and thing what your first 30,60 and 90 day plans would look like in the job. Sketch out what you can about it.

Nothing to stop you going to the store for a look around yourself. See how things are currently done.
I've always been in roles where they appreciate you taking the time to visit, as questions etc so doing research can't hurt I don't think and what harm can it do to speak to a store manager.

I know the grocery sector. My advice is 100% do it.

Do all of your online research but go to stores and sign in as a guest, watch to see how people shop, talk to key staff and just generally ask what are their key focus areas - even a 2min chat will give you insight. If the store manager says 'sorry can't chat we've got all hands stacking shelves' then you've deduced that shelf replenishment to ensure product availability to satisfy every customer visit is currently their number one priority.

Also look for seasonal campaigns - right now Easter is on the horizon and valentines round the corner.

I would drop it into the interview but not base my pitch on it. They will be impressed you made the effort. The people telling you the interviewers will think it's 'weird' or 'desperate' are completely incorrect.

They may even ask "have you visited our stores and what are you thoughts?" People who cannot answer this or haven't been out... we'll come to your own conclusions how they are viewed.

Don't just go into the supermarket you are applying for, go to all the Top4 plus some discounters. Look at the similarities but also the differences and share your findings. And do an online shop, make notes about the process and how hard / easy it is to get what you want in your basket. Again, look at competitors as well - there are significant differences in how they all merchandise their assortment.

Good luck, it's a fantastic sector to work in.

@alwaysmovingforwards yeah this is more how I imagined my plan! No problem visiting, I go there all the time 😁

Crack on then and good luck!

I am 50\50 tbh. If the manager was interested in helping it would be okay, though if you are met with a frosty reception they may say to H.O you're odd.
I'd do the research online hather what you can. Overall I'd say don't risk it.