Assessment with Marks and Spencers

[Petal~flower]

Hi all, I posted this last night in J&E but had no replies. Got the assessment tomorrow, so could do some advice please..... I am so nervous!!

Heres the question

Been asked to go for an assessment for a temp sales position in Marks and Spencers.

Has anyone been for one of these, if so, what can I expect?

Also, has anyone got any questions I could ask. I always get stuck on that part of an interview.

Thanks in advance

[VillageVicar]

Petal: It will depend on which methodology the HR interview team will use. Some of the new practices are so psychologically focused, you tend to think they�re having you on in the questions you ask: Just don�t be surprised if someone asks you if you were an animal or a car, what type would you be.

You may be involved in a good guy/bad guy scenario to test how you work under pressure. What they don�t want to hear you say is that �it�s someone else�s department or responsibility, etc.� They want you to take ownership of the situation and give the consumer options. This includes saying what you�re �able� to do, rather than what you�re not able to do: providing contact numbers, directing them to someone who �has the answers,� etc.

An interesting question is: What do you feel is your worst character trait? Or what disappoints you?

The bog standard answers of your interview will be quickly passed by: you like working with people, you like serving, blah blah, etc. I�d say recognising the importance of the external customer as well as the internal customer will put you in good lead. Other staff can�t do their job unless you do yours to its best. Also, recognising that the long standing name of M&S plays an important part of customer expectations and whilst you may have been asked the same question two hundred times already that day, it�s the first time this person is asking.

I wish you success

Fr Bill

[Petal~flower]

Thank you very much for that Fr Bill

[society]

Great advice from V Vicar. Whenever I'm asked what my down fall or worst fault is I always say - completing a job and making sure everyone is satisfied. This shows loyalty and dedication.

[banned-dot]

Hi petal
It is probable they will be looking for flexibility to start with, but if it is a group assessment they are looking for someone with confidence that can shine in a group activity, at work we use break out groups with sesions where people have to learn something about the person next to them and then make a short presentation, quite informally, introducing the person they have just met, this is to show a persons listening skills, their ability to evaluate facts and present them concisely and accurately, and their confidence in tackling new situations.

[Petal~flower]

Thanks society for your help there. Its when employers ask me a question such as, give me an example of how you used your initiative in a works situation, or what are your good and bad points, that I suddenly go brain dead!

Hi dot, Thanks for your help. From what I gather, its a one to one interview, involving role play, and question such as, Why do you want to work for Marks and Spencers, then they take you to the shop floor where you have to approach 2 members of the public, ask them if they need any help etc.

Its only for a temporary Christmas position, but I am nervous as hell!