Are you eyeing a position in one of the fastest-growing employee-owned supermarkets in the United States? Well, worry no more because we have the perfect guide to acing a Public Super Markets interview. We will delve deeper into some of the aspects you should train on while preparing for your upcoming interview to increase your chances of landing the job. Remember, how you present yourself will also determine your success chances and therefore, make sure that you are well-groomed and confident enough while answering the following questions:
1. Why Are You Interested In This Company?
Public Super Markets has a great reputation, which greatly attracted me to it. Being one of the largest employee-based companies is encouraging, as it shows that even an employee like me can dream of having stakes in such a huge corporation one day. You have also been lauded for excellent customer service and good treatment of employees, which is a plus. I would therefore love to use my skills and experience to better this organization.
2. What Do You Know About Us?
This is an employee-owned supermarket chain based in Lakeland, Florida. You are popularly known as Publix and were founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins. At the moment, this private corporation is exclusively owned by the Jenkins family and its present and past employees. You operate throughout the Southeastern United States, as seen from your Alabama, South Florida, Virginia, and Tennessee stores.
3. Have You Ever Been To Any Of Our Stores?
Yes, I live just around the block and rely on this store for my groceries and dairy shopping. I particularly love your store arrangement and the excellent customer service I get whenever I stop by, encouraging me to come back. I am a regular shopper here and will continue shopping with you regardless of the results of this interview.
4. Mention Your Availability
I just sent a notice to my former workplace and should clear in the next two weeks, which I suppose is when your recruitment exercise will end. I will then be available then to work around the clock since I have no engagements. I can also work during the holidays or weekends, provided I was informed earlier. Additionally, since I value teamwork, I can step in for a busy team member.
5. Do You Know Our Offerings?
Yes. I have been to several of your stores and realized that you have pretty much the same offering. Each of your store’s deals in grocery, bakery, produce, meat, floral, and seafood products, are arranged in different departments. However, other stores also have additional departments such as sushi bars, valet parking, cafes, liquor stores, and pharmacy departments. On can also access services such as lottery tickets, money orders, rug doctor rentals, western union services, and check to cash. I have also been to stores that offer DVD rental services, which is quite commendable. All in all, your offerings are appealing regardless of the store.
6. How Will You Ensure That Our Customers Enjoy Good Customer Services?
One of the most important qualities for anyone working in the retail setting is excellent customer serviceability. Having worked in different establishments in this category, I know that excellent customer service entails welcoming customers to the store, listening to them, helping them around with their shopping, stationing one’s self in a public location for easy access, and ensuring that they do not spend lots of times queueing and talking their reports seriously and, where necessary, referring them to a higher authority that can help them.
7. How Do You Handle Customer Feedback?
Working in the retail industry means that one has to be ready for all types of feedback. Even though some shoppers may find you helpful, others will find your services underwhelming. I have learned that the best way to deal with customer feedback is to avoid taking anything too personally but rather pick the constructive parts and work on them. I normally listen to what customers say, however harsh or unpleasant they are. Thanks to customer feedback, I have managed to grow in this field.
8. Why Do You Deserve This Chance?
First, my regular shopping experience in this entity has made me conversant with most of your products. I can therefore advise people on your offerings and, where possible, even recommend some that I have personally used. I also have vast experience in customer service, given that I was a customer care attendant at one point in life. I know how to deal with different people and ensure that customers are satisfied the moment they step out of the entity. I am confident that I will succeed in this job if given a chance.
9. What Motivates You In This Job?
My motivation stems from my passion for service. I love serving others by attending to their needs and believe that the greatest gift to humankind is to serve. I normally feel fulfilled whenever a shopper leaves the establishment happy or with a smile on their face. This job has also made me meet and interact with lots of amazing people, experiences that I always cherish. Even though it can be exhausting, it is highly rewarding at the end of the day.
10. What Gives Us A Competitive Advantage Over Our Competitors?
There are a number of things that make you better than your competitors. The first and most common is that you are an employee-owned company, which instills a sense of pride in your employees, urging them to give their all and always be at their best. Secondly, you also offer free medications for the ailing, including several antibiotics since 2007. These include Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, Metformin for those with diabetes, Amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, and Montelukast, which treats allergies and asthma. All these are available if one has a prescription. You are definitely one of the best supermarket chains in America.
11. What Is The Main Challenge That You Foresee In This Role?
Honestly, I haven’t thought of any major challenge since I will be happy to work and be here. I believe that I will be better placed to handle any challenge that comes my way, provided that I am in the right mental and headspace, which normally happens when I am content with my job. I, of course, expect challenges such as increased workloads during peak seasons, demanding and difficult customers, and occasional long shifts.
12. How Would You Deal With A Demanding Customer?
I have dealt with several demanding customers in the past, experiences that have prepared me for this role and put me in a position to succeed. I believe that all customers should be treated equally, despite their attitude or nature. I will give this particular one time to raise their issue, apologize without blaming anyone and then try as much as possible to offer the right solutions. However, if they insist, I will refer them to the supervisor so that I can also attend to other customers since everyone should get the same level of attention.
13. What Would You Do If You Noticed That A Customer Was Having A Hard Time Locating An Item?
The only sensible thing to do in such a case is to help the customer find whatever they are looking for. I will walk over to them, offer greetings and enquire about what they want before guiding them to the right section. I also normally position myself well in an accessible place for easier reach and access. I am confident that I will be of great help to your customers when I get the chance to work here.
14. Have You Ever Been Involved In A Verbal Or Physical Altercation With A Customer?
No. I usually avoid any heightened argument with customers since one thing may lead to another on a bad day. I normally ensure that I am polite when dealing with customers and may call the supervisor to intervene instead of having a verbal or physical altercation with the customer. I also keep a safe distance whenever I notice a customer getting angry and always call security at the slightest sign of aggression. I am glad that I have never been physical with any of them.
15. What Would You Do If A Customer Threatens The Peace Of Others By Becoming A Nuisance?
Whenever I notice that a customer is threatening the peace of others, I walk up to them while maintaining a safe distance to know what is going on. At times they were wronged first and were getting down to the root cause of the issue. However, if they become a nuisance and make others uncomfortable, I will call security on them since other shoppers should be at peace in the workplace.
16. Have You Ever Gone Above And Beyond For A Customer?
Yes. I have gone out of my way to satisfy customers several times since I am a great believer in excellent customer service. When shopping for a skincare product, a customer once walked up to me after noticing that we have the same skin tone and asked me for advice on what to buy. I recommended an ointment that had done magic on my skin and even went ahead to show them my before and after photos. She took my word for it and later returned to the store to thank me two weeks later since it worked on her face.
17. Tell Us About A Time When You Received Excellent Customer Service
I have received excellent customer service several times, especially in this establishment, which I am grateful for. A shopping attendant noticed that I was struggling to locate a product and came up to me at one point. After one of the warmest greetings I had ever received, she inquired about what I was looking for before leading me to the exact location. An attendant offered to help me load items into my car, which was a kind gesture.
18. What Do You Love Most About The Retail Setting?
The retail setting may be overwhelming owing to the number of activities involved, but I am generally happy with the experiences I normally have. I got to help and interact with different people, some of who became my friends later. I also get a chance to sharpen my people’s skills and work on how to respond to various circumstances, which I am extremely proud of. Lastly, most of the employees I meet are good people who have helped me in life. I am blessed to have met them and hope that I will continue meeting them.
19. What Don’t You Like About Retail?
Even though this set has several advantages, it also brings forth unmotivating situations or occurrences. You have to be at your best, smile at the customers, and offer all the needed help even on your worst day. You also meet unkind customers who leave unpleasant comments and reviews that may mess up your entire day. All in all, I normally keep on pushing despite the negative parts. Also, the fact that the pros outweigh the cons is motivating.
20. Mention A Time That You Failed In This Role And The Lesson You Learned
I normally exercise a level of care and tact when going about my roles and leave no room for failure. However, some instances are unavoidable, however much we try. I was once held up in traffic and, realizing that I was running late, made calls for a colleague to cover up for me. However, I didn’t follow up, and he was also caught up on an issue, which earned me a serious reprimand from the shift supervisor, who even threatened to get me fired. Even though it wasn’t entirely my problem, I learned an important message and vowed to plan out my day instead of waiting on others.
21. Why Do You Believe That You Are The Most Suitable Candidate For This Role?
I have extensive experience in account handling, given the time I have spent as an accountant, which dates back to my college days. In my final year of college, I would be called to balance and audit accounts for different small entities as a junior accountant in my school. I have since worked in several institutions in several accountant positions, which I believe have prepared me for this role. I am confident that I will live up to this precedent if given a chance.
22. Have You Ever Solved A Conflict Among Two Colleagues? How Did You Do It?
I am normally proud of myself for being a good conflict solver. Through my conflict resolution skills, I have managed to quell the tension between several employees in my former places of work. At one point, two colleagues were fighting over shifts, with one complaining that they deserved to work during the day since she had been working several nights. I asked them what they both preferred, and on seeing that both wanted day shifts, I sacrificed my day shift for one of them, ending the conflict. I then made them agree on alternating shifts, which they did.
23. What Extra Skill Will You Bring To This Establishment?
Even though I am applying for a store manager position, I am excellent with inventory, which I believe you will find useful. I know how to take, manage and supervise stock and use several inventory management software, which I believe will come in handy in this job. I also know how to solve conflicts and foster good relations among colleagues.
24. Can You Work Over The Weekends And During The Holidays?
Yes. I am usually flexible and can work over the weekends and during the holidays with the proper notice. I don’t usually have engagements during those periods and wouldn’t mind making some extra cash. With that said, I can also step in for an employee that calls in sick or whenever you are understaffed. However, I also need some rest time and will need some weekends off. All in all, I am flexible, and therefore, the establishment can reach out anytime.
25. What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
My greatest strength is my quest for perfection, which normally leaves me stressing over little things. I normally want to do things perfectly and be at my best, and at times, at the expense of my well-being. However, I am constantly learning to be easy on myself and that everything does not have to be perfect at all times.
I also used to be a workaholic, which I managed to overcome by ensuring proper delegation of duties and that work is given based on experience and expertise.
Conclusion
These 25 questions will definitely come in handy in preparing for your upcoming interview. Ensure that you are conversant with Publix’s operations as you may be asked related questions. Also, consider behavioral questions in your preparations. We wish you all the best in your upcoming interview, and remember, you won’t succeed without giving a good first impression.
