General Questions Flashcards
Tell me about yourself
I am about to enter my 6th year at St. Aloysius College. I enjoy Maths, English, Business Studies and Computing Science, but at the moment I am still not sure what I want to study at university.
Outside school, I enjoy swimming and cinema. I am also in the Explorers, having joined the scouts around 10 years ago - we do a lot of outdoor activities and have attend various camps across Europe.
At school, I am about to start work on my Duke of Edinburgh Gold award - over the last few years, I have volunteered at a Food Bank, started cooking and taken up cycling.
Now that my Highers are complete, I am looking to get my first official job, to help develop my skills and experience for the future.
Why have you applied for this role?
Why have you applied to this company?
Now that I have completed my Higher exams, I am now looking for a part time job to support me financially through my studies.
Having studied Business Studies for the last three years at school, I would also like to work for a company where I can observe and learn best practices - such as with Boots, the largest Pharmacy group in the UK.
Finally, I am also looking to further develop my personal skills, including customer service, communication skills, multi-tasking and prioritisation.
What are your strengths?
- I am a very reliable person, and once I have committed to a task or a deliverable, I will not let anyone down.
- I am also an empathetic person, who likes to ensure that everyone is included. I do not like to see anyone on the outside, and will make them feel part of the team and be heard.
- I am a hard worker, particularly when I initially find something difficult. I will put the time and effort in until I manage to become better at it. E.g. physics.
What are your weaknesses?
- I am a naturally shy person, which would prevent me from speaking up or providing my opinions. However, I have done a lot of work on this over the last few years and feel more confident.
- My mum would said that I am laid back - I don’t get stressed easily, worry about things or take things personally.
- I also think I talk myself down - my teachers often tell me that I am much better than I think I am.
Tell me about a difficult situation you’ve managed.
SITUATION:
TASK:
ACTION:
RESULT:
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What are you planning on doing at University?
After school, I hope to go onto University to continue my studies. However, at the moment I am still open to what I study. I enjoy business, computing and maths, and going to look at options around these subjects. I think I will want to work for a large company with opportunities for career progression when I finish university.
What are you most proud of?
I struggled with English and Reading throughout primary school, so much so that I hated reading or doing any literature work. When I moved school in P7, this was recognised and I received supported studies. Although I was subsequently diagnosed with dyslexia, through hard work and patience from my teachers, I not only overcame my challenges, but I learned to really enjoy English. I particularly enjoyed Creative Writing and critiquing literature and movies. I obtained an A in my Nat 5, which was a huge achievement for me. It also taught me that with sheer hard work, you can overcome major challenges.
Tell me about a situation where you worked as part of a team?
SITUATION: In September 2022 I attended a 2-day expedition in the West Coast of Scotland for my Duke of Edinburgh Silver award.
TASK: I was part of a team of 8 individuals and we have the objective of reaching various geographical points, and getting to the final destination within the two day period. I was team navigator, and this required me to be able to use the map and compass appropriately.
ACTION:
- I reviewed the map in detail to establish all points of interest and the final destination.
- I analysed the grid references and contours to consider impact on our journey.
- I used the compass bearings to find the right path
- I estimated time and distance between points of interest
- And finally, I guided the team on route.
RESULT: As a team, we successfully reached the final destination, as well as the intermediary points of interest, within the required timescale. No support was required from the coaches.
How would your teachers describe you?
My teachers would describe me as a responsible, considerate and respectful student, who was popular with both teachers and other pupils.
My English teacher would describe me as determined and extremely hard working. Despite having dyslexia, and initially hating English, I learned to enjoy creating writing and analysing literature. I achieved an A at Nat 5 through hard work and determination.
Provide an example of when you delivered excellent customer service
Not having direct experience of working with typical customers, I will use another pupil at school as my customer.
SITUATION: During lunch break at school, I was part of a group of boys who had gathered in the common room, and we were all chatting, laughing and joking. There was a pupil who was standing in the corner on his own, looking quite sad. I was aware that he was autistic and didn’t have any friends.
TASK: I wasn’t comfortable that we were ignoring him, and I wanted to include him.
ACTION: I approached Sean and asked how he was. I went on to ask him if he would like to join the others, but he didn’t want to. I pulled over a chair and sat with him. Although the conversation was quite difficult initially, I decided to talk about something we had in common - Computer Science - as I knew this would trigger his interest.
RESULT: Sean eventually relaxed and we chatted for the rest of the break. I also learned that he likes to be on his own sometimes, and that is ok. Although Sean still doesn’t like to mix in larger groups, he does feel comfortable around me and we often spend time together chatting. In summary, I learned how best to support Sean.
How would your friends describe you?
They would say that I am loyal, fun loving and laid back.
They would see me as the one who arranges events - making sure we attend movies on their release night, or go for food!
Do you have any questions for us?
- Can I ask what the uniform requirements are?
- How would you describe a typical day in Boots Glasgow Fort?
- What is the single most important indicator of success in this role?
- What do you enjoy most about working at Boots?
At end:
- I think you have answered the other questions that I had.
- DO NOT MENTION WAGES. If they add you, say you expect to join on the lower end of the wage scale for the role given your age and experience.
