Associate Interview

• Interview date and time

  Date

• Candidate name

• Location
  Address

• Interviewing manager

• PORTW checked

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does candidate have a UK bank account

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Screening form available

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Job description available

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Please refer to the screening form that was completed when the candidate applied, ensure that you talk through any points that were highlighted. For example: incomplete sections/gaps in employment. Welcome the candidate, seat them in a suitable location, away from any distractions. Offer them any refreshments prior to commencing.
  
  Introduction: “My name is ……… etc. This Interview will last approximately 30 minutes and is an opportunity to talk to you in a bit more detail about what you have achieved and what your motivations are for wanting to join JD Wetherspoon. If at any time you want me to repeat a question you haven’t understood just say so. At the end if there are any questions you wish to ask you can do so then. Please don’t be put off by me taking notes, it’s something I have to do as we will be referring to them later. Ok lets get started.”
  
  We are looking for confidence, smiles and positive attitude. Cross out a face every time they smile, we are looking for at least 3 smiles during the interview in order to make a job offer.

Refer to application form and check the following details

• Address and Phone number

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• What position they are applying for

  Bar

  Kitchen

  Cleaner

  Floor

• Where did you see the job advertised?

• Have you applied for any other companies?

• Have you had chance to read the job description?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Can you talk me through your job history, telling me a bit more about each job and why you left. Start with historic roles and lead up to the most recent.

• Please refer to application form and cross check details Please obtain an explanation for any discrepancies or gaps in job history Look for : Company name, job title, main responsibilities, reason for leaving/wanting to leave, sales volumes etc.

Company Culture

• What do you know about JD Wetherspoon and why do you want to work for us?

• Which of our pubs have you visited? What did you like about the pub on your visit?

• What could we have done better?

Personal Qualities

• What do you think your best personal quality is? How do you display this in your current role? (previous roles if not currently in employment)

• What skills have you learnt in your previous job that you are proud of? How will you use these skills in this job?

Customer Service

• Could you give me a recent example of something you’ve done for a customer to go the ‘extra mile’.

• Could you tell me about a time when you have dealt with a difficult customer situation, or come into conflict with a customer?

• How important do you think it is for bar and floor staff to get to know our customers? (Inform applicant of the 100 club initiative) What do you think of this scheme?

Customer Service Scenarios

Bar

• Provide the candidate with a menu and allow them a couple of minutes to see what desserts we offer. I am dining in your pub and you have just cleared away my plates, how would you sell me a coffee or dessert?

• A customer approaches you whilst you are on the floor, and advises that they would like to make a complaint due to their chips being cold, what would you do?

Kitchen

• It’s a very busy lunchtime and orders are coming in fast, there’s a possibility that the customers are going to wait slightly longer for their food, what would you do?

• A customer is unhappy with their meal and a member of bar staff returns it to the kitchen at your busiest time of the day, what would you do?

Cleaner

• It is early in the morning and someone is knocking on the door and trying to enter the pub, what would you do?

• You are just finishing your shift, ready to go home and a customer approaches you and advises that they wish to make a complaint, what would you do?

Teamwork

• What size of team are you currently working with?

• What has been your best experience of working in a team and why?

• What do you think is so important about team-work?

• What motivates you to do a good job? How do you motivate yourself when others around you may be having a bad day?

Business Experience

• What experience do you have of - Cash handling/operating tills - Stock control/rotation - Working with spec cards - Pre-portioning

Bar questions

• Q1. How do you feel about regularly asking customers to produce identification? Q2. What would you do if they could not provide any? Q3. You would be expected to sign our company’s Challenge 21 policy (explain what this is) How do you feel about that? Q4. As part of your development you will be cross-trained in the kitchen. How do you feel about that?

Kitchen questions

• Q1. Whilst working in the kitchen, good hygiene practices are of the utmost importance, can you tell me of an occasion when you had to follow set standards or procedures in a previous role? Q2. We ensure that all of our meals are served to the customer with 10 minutes of them placing their order. How do you feel about that? Q3. At times you may be working on your own in the kitchen how do you feel this? Q4. What type of kitchen equipment have you worked with before?

Career with JD Wetherspoon

• What challenges do you think you will face?

• What training and development needs do you think would you will have?

• How would you want to progress your career with JDW/Where do you see yourself in 2 years time? If applicable

Hours and availability

• Number of hours per week

Commitments outside of work

• Monday

• Tuesday

• Wednesday

• Thursday

• Friday

• Saturday

• Sunday

Availability

• Monday

• Tuesday

• Wednesday

• Thursday

• Friday

• Saturday

• Sunday

• How flexible are you? I.e. If there are any shifts that need covering at short notice due to sickness etc.

• Current rate of pay / salary

• Hourly salary expectation

• How long did the journey here take you today?

• Any holidays booked in the next 6 months?

• If you were successful for the position when would you be available to start?

  Date

• Do you have any questions?

INFORMATION TO ENSURE YOU SUPPLY TO THE CANDIDATE ▪ Work trial – explain that they will need to attend a 2 hour unpaid trial as the next stage ▪ Hours and rates of pay ▪ Probationary period ▪ Time and attendance – clocking in/out and finger scanning ▪ Uniform and what we expect their appearance to be ▪ How busy the pub is – what time you normally finish work ▪ What type of work they will be involved with (use the job description) ▪ Explain it is very hard work, what the progression prospects are etc. ▪ Induction & Training – you will be expected to attend a full induction on day 1. If this is at a different pub your travel expenses will be reimbursed on production of a valid receipt ▪ The training covered includes – Challenge 21 & the Licensing Law, health & safety, customer service and cross training ▪ Opportunities for progression

• Outcome

  Offer

  Regret

Offer

• Manager making offer:

• Date offer made

  Date

• Offer Accepted

• Offer Rejected

Regret

• Reasons for regret?