NEXT interview questions

I initially applied to Next online for a Christmas Temp position. I received a call 2 days later, where I had an informal interview with the store manager. She asked me a few simple questions and then asked me into store for a team assessment the next day. For this, I dressed in smart black trousers and a plain black jumper. The team assessment consisted of spending time on the shop floor; working the fitting room, the shoe department and the stockroom. This was slightly nerve wracking at first, however if you just throw yourself into it and smile a lot (definitely approach customers and politely greet them, ask if they're okay, even make small talk about the weather!) you'll be absolutely fine, they just want to see you'll be confident and happy to talk to customers. The staff would make notes on your approach to the tasks given and your attitude towards customers! If there's nothing to do, just tidy up and size order the clothes and even make a bit of chat with the staff as it shows you're willing to be a team player and will easily be able to fit in and effectively communicate with the team! After my time on the shop floor (roughly 20 minutes) I was then taken to the staff room and offered a permanent position instead of the Christmas temp position, which was great news and they were lovely enough to give me £10 cash for travel expenses and a £10 gift card for Next! That was a lovely surprise! My advice to anyone applying would be to just be yourself, and smile a lot, really be willing to show you're capable of following instructions and completing tasks correctly and definitely above all, approach the customers! That's the main aspect I found they looked for! Even if customers don't want to speak, don't be disheartened, just approach another :) Good luck to anyone with an interview at Next in the future!

Online application with an invitation to attend an interview. One on one interview with hands on tasks on the shop floor. I was very disappointed with how Next delt with this recruitment process. I went through the time and effort of filling out the online questionnaires and was successfully shortlisted for a telephone interview. With a successful telephone interview I was invited to a face to face interview the following day! The interview was a one on one with a team leader/manager. The interview itself involved a few brief questions about the job i.e. Why do you want to work here? What do you know about next? Etc.. Then there was paperwork to fill in which includes your right to work in the UK, NI number, availability and a 'brief employee contract'. The hands on tasks involved helping out in the changing rooms in the women's department. Here I was shown how customers should be approach and delt with when wanting to try on clothes. Next have a rail system in which clothes are categorised into 'styles or collections'. The clothes that are unwanted but have been tried on by customers go on a temporary rail in the changing rooms ready to then be put back out on the shop floor. This task wasn't really observed by the team leader/manager much.. if I'm honest I didn't see her again until she came to collect me around 20/30 mins later. After the shop floor task, I went back into the staff room and looked at other paperwork before leaving. Pre booked holidays must be noted before starting and obviously your availability to work. Once all the paper work was completed I was given a £10 note which was to 'cover my interview expenses'... this was the most bizarre thing I've ever witnessed during an interview, mainly because it was cash and not a store gift card??.. Despite the confusion I took the cash and was told I would receive feedback within the next 2 days. I waiting for a phone call back but never received one. I even called the store asking for the lady I was interviewed by so I could receive feedback but I had no luck. She was either 'busy' or not even working. After the whole process I never found out anything about the job... I assumed that I was rejected as I was not contacted before the induction day even though I called the store myself asking for feedback or an answer. Awful experience... never again!