Читать книгу Checkout - Anna Sam - Страница 10

I’ve forgotten to mention something very important about your job interview. I’ll put that right straight away. It doesn’t matter if you have never worked before, you don’t know how to count, you are agoraphobic or afraid of the dark as long as you are available immediately, you accept the wonderful salary offered, you have a bank account and you can answer this question:

‘Why do you want to work with us?’

Yes, even to be a checkout girl, you have to come up with a good reason.

Try one of the following:

‘Because I’ve always dreamt of working in a supermarket!’

If you want them to believe you, say it with a lot of conviction and make your eyes sparkle with enthusiasm at the same time. Not easy.

‘Because my mother was a checkout girl!’

Same conviction and enthusiasm required as for the previous suggestion.

‘Because like you I want to “make life taste better”.’ or ‘Because, as you say, “Every little helps!”’

Stretching it a little, I know, but such devotion is always well received. So you might as well. You have to be careful though. Not all the slogans work. You might be wary of passing yourself off as ‘Everyone’s favourite ingredient’.

‘I’m a student. I need a part-time job to support myself.’

The classic answer but very convincing. And managers really like students. They grumble less than old people and don’t mind working at weekends. So it’s an excellent answer. Of course, if you’re not actually a student you have to look young enough to be credible. You shouldn’t have too much of a problem up to the age of thirty or thirty-five.

‘I need a job to survive.’

Avoid this answer – even if it’s true, the manager will think you’re ‘not very motivated’, ‘lacking team spirit’, ‘unsuited to the store’s commercial ambitions’ and your application risks being relegated to the bottom of the pile (which is enormous, by the way).

But there are many answers that will impress. For inspiration pretend that you’re applying to be a lawyer, instead of a checkout operator. Come on, use your imagination!