I applied online. The process took 1 week. I interviewed at Lidl (London, England) in Jul 2014
Interview
I applied online and received an email asking me to attend an interview in a few days. I attened the interview which was extremely short; maybe 5 minutes in total. I met with the store managers and was asked a short set of questions. I was told they'd get back to me in a few days.
2 hours after my interview they called me and asked me to attend a work trial in a couple of days. I attended that, where they greeted me then immediately gave me a numeracy test. It was easy with a calculator but would be medium-difficult without one. It was 5 pages long I think. After I had completed that I was shown around the store by the store manager who told me all about the store, the features within the store and the general day to day life.
She answered any questions I had and seemed very approachable and friendly. It was fairly informal, and we chatted a little as we went around the store, I imagine they were trying to get a feel for the type of person I am. I did a few small tasks; quality checking fruit and vegetables and throwing away rubbish. Then I was shown how they inventory and did a small amount of inventorying.
That lasted around an hour and a half and concluded their interview process. The next day they called me up to offer me the job.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
They asked why Lidl, do I shop at Lidl and if so where. Be prepared to answer these questions.
Had a 20 minute work trial first up.. (Expiry date check for just one aisle)
Then got called into the office to finally have my interview with the manager.
Took at most 10 minutes hardly any questions really.. Just asked if I'm flexible and the usual . Main 2 questions you will need to prepare are
Why lidl? And what do you know about the company? If you've got good answers for those 2 questions, are bubbly and look very presentable (suit)
Then you should do just great! :)
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Lidl
Interview
Went through the hiring stage via the job centre. Had to attend a massive group meeting where they showed us a presentation and everyone there did a maths test. Was picked for a final interview. It wasn't an interview, an interrogation would be more appropriate.
"Why were you unemployed for a year?! Why weren't you getting interviews?! Why wasn't anyone hiring you?!" When I said no to "Have you visited one of our stores?" He told me I had had a week to go and visit a store so why hadn't I? The reason being for that is because I wasn't going to waste what little money I had, whilst being unemployed, on getting the train to wherever the nearest Lidl was just to look around and say I'd been there...Ridiculous.
He didn't ask me any relevant questions about customer service, or what I could offer them as a company. He just kept hammering in the fact that its hard work, and also made some slightly sexist (?!) comment a long the lines of "You don't see girls in the fruit and veg isle of a supermarket do you. Or pushing 15kg crates around. Wouldn't you prefer to be on the make up stands in Boots?"
Not a bad interview if you don't mind people talking down at you and getting interrupted every time you try to speak.