Farmfoods Graduate Programme
Interview process
My one-to-one interview took place at the assessment centre. After completing a presentation to an area manager, he then asked me a variety of questions relating to my background and motivation for the role. This was unusual due to the fact two other candidates were presenting and being interviewed in the same room as me while other assessors were circling the room. My tip here would be to focus on yourself and ignore what is going on around you. After asking about my University life and work experience he moved onto specifics about the role. Questions ranged from 'What do think the key skill of a retail manager is?' to 'How would you improve your current shop (I work in a charity shop)?' I was also asked if I had visited a Farmfoods store so would definitely recommend going to one beforehand. I was then asked how I would improve the store/what impressed me. He also asked about how I would deal with difficult/unmotivated employees.
Most difficult question
How would you deal with an uncooperative employee?
Interview tips
Do your research on Farmfoods and retail in general. Make sure you visit a store and have ideas on what you would do to make it run better. Know your presentation inside out before you arrive as this is the one aspect you can control. Be focused during the interview and presentation as assessors are circling and other interviews are taking place so the room can be noisy. Just focus on your own performance. During the group task always look for the simplest/cheapest solution and don't over complicate answers.
Experiences at the assessment centre
Split into two groups of 3. Had to introduce yourself and say a fun fact. Then had to complete an icebreaker with the assessors by finding out information about them. Next was a group task in the groups of 3 where we were given two fictional issues in a store which we had to come up with solutions for and present back to the other group and assessors. Following this was a ten minute solo presentation which I had prepared beforehand (you have to send in your slides a month before attending) to a member of the senior management. After the presentation you complete an interview with this person. Returning to the main room, our group then completed a short spelling and situational judgement test. The assessment centre started at 1pm and was completed by 3pm.
Interview steps
Interviews:
- Phone
- 1:1
- Group / Panel
- Senior Management
- Video
Tests:
- Numerical
- Personality
- Verbal reasoning
- Psychometric
Other:
- Assessment centre
- Group exercise
- Background check
- Presentation
- Competency based questions