I had applied for a full time vacancy at an Ernest Jones store. From applying, having a short telephone interview and the 1:1 interview - it was about a 2 weeks process.
I was told in the telephone interview by the store manager that the 1:1 is quite lengthy and in depth so I anticipated that.
During the 1:1 interview I was asked a number of ‘describe a time’ questions where I had to explain how I handled a certain situation. This part of the interview was quite lengthy however it allowed the manger to really hear about some of my achievements.
During this, myself and the manager was also casually chatting. I could tell that she was trying to get to know me which really put my at ease and made the interview less formal in a good way. This is what separates this interview from other interviews I have done.
The last part of the interview was a role play exercise. I had a sheet with some products on it, including ones that were out of stock, I was also given a short brief and 10 minutes to prepare. The aim of this exercise was to show how I would sell a particular product and how I interact with customers.
Towards the end of the interview I was given brief feedback about the interview which I appreciated. The interview as a whole lasted around 2 hours (the questions, chatting with the manager for around 30 minutes and the role play exercise).
Unfortunately I was not offered a position but I did receive this news by telephone (which I have never had) and was given more in depth feedback about my interview whilst also saying they would keep my details for any future positions.
In conclusion, extremely positive interview. The best one I’ve had in my opinion. Lovely company.