Wetherspoons interviews are not too difficult to nail. All you need to be prepared for the potential questions.
Company Background
- J D Wetherspoon was set up in 1979 by Tim Martin, the Chairman.
- Wetherspoon pubs also run Lloyds bars and Wetherspoon hotels.
- They have 880 pubs to date.
- 2013 – Named as one of Britain’s Top Employers – for 10 years running.
- Their pub managers are promoted from within.
- They have partnered with A4e to help the unemployed get back to work.
- They do apprenticeships to help people into the correct role.
Wetherspoons are very thorough on their Training and have designed a degree course in conjunction with the Leeds Metropolitan University in Leisure Management.
To apply for a role at Wetherspoons you usually apply online – there are various roles from running a pub, to working in a pub, management, head office etc, see which role suits your skills the best.
The interview process appears to be – application form and online assessment/test, followed by interview and then if successful given the job and provided with an induction.
Once your application has been successful it seems that the interview will largely be competency based with you giving scenarios and situations which are relevant to the role.
They will almost certainly want to know why you want to work for J D Wetherspoon so you need to prepare your answers carefully and remember the main focus of their business is to provide good quality customer service, you will need to be able to demonstrate that you can do this.
Make sure that you have been and visited a couple of their pubs and can comment on the location, the atmosphere, the food, drinks etc in case you are asked what you think about their pubs or that you can show that you know their locations and say what you think. You can be critical as well here just make sure it’s well thought out and not picky, they will respect feedback.
Remember to be yourself, it’s your personality that needs to shine through here to do these roles so relax, smile and try not to let the interview nerves get the better of you.
Wetherspoons Interview Questions
- Give an example where you’ve worked in a team?
- What do you know about Wetherspoons?
- Which Wetherspoons did you visit last? What was something you liked and something you disliked?
- How would you travel to and from work?
- Would you be comfortable asking for proof of age?
- Talk about your previous employment experience.
- What do you like about Wetherspoons?
- Would you be ok with working in kitchen?
- Are you able to work in a team, give examples.
- Describe how you have worked well as part of a team.
- Why do you want this job?
- What skills make you suitable for this job?
- Why do you think it is important to be kitchen trained?
- Tell me about a time you worked under pressure
- When has working as a team been most satisfying?
- What qualities do you have which are relevant to the job role?
- What do you know about JD Wetherspoons?
- How many pubs does J D Wetherspoon run?
- What is the name of the CEO?
- What year was J D Wetherspoon founded as a company?
- Why is good customer service so important?
- What training do you think you will need?
- In your previous job explain to me a difficult situation you had to deal with.
- Why are you interested in doing bar work and why specifically and J D Wetherspoon?
- What do you know about us?
- Why are you a good candidate?
- Have you had any past experience?
- I am a customer and I have just finished a main meal how would you sell me a dessert?
- What would you describe as the cornerstone product of the business?
- How will your previous experience help you?
- What can you bring to the company
- What are you going to do if you will come at work and everyone will be in mad mood?
- Tell me about yourself
- What are your weaknessess?
- Why do you want this job?
- What have you done to improve customer service in your store?
- What motivates you?
- How fexible are you around working unsocial hours
- Name a time when team building was essential in something you have done
- What Waitrose brand would you be and why?
- What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?
Good Luck.
photo by: elliot