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How to apply

We want to help you be brilliant, right from the start of our recruitment process. Here’s what to expect from the moment you apply to the day you’re hired. 

How to apply
01

Find your role

Once you’ve read up on a role and are confident it’s right for you, click apply. 

02

Give us your details

As well as your essential info, we might ask you to upload documents. If we ask for a CV, make sure it’s up to date and in great shape so we can truly understand your experience and background.

03

Online assessment(s)

To get a feel for how you do things and what the role involves, we might ask you to do an online assessment or two. This could include verbal or numerical reasoning tests, a personality questionnaire or a situational judgement test. 

04

Next steps?

Are you through to the next stage? We hope so. And we’ll let you know by email or SMS (the choice is yours).

05

Interview time

If you’re selected for an interview, nice work! For store, depot or fulfilment roles, we’ll send you a booking link so you can schedule an interview online. For corporate or commercial roles, our recruitment team will get in touch to sort it out.

06

After the interview

We’ll get back to you as soon as we can, to let you know how it went and what happens next.

07

Final stage assessment

You might be invited for a second interview or a further assessment stage. This tends to be for corporate roles and could include an exercise like a presentation or a case study.

08

Decision time!

Our recruitment team, or the store you’ve applied to, will quickly let you know the outcome. If you’ve been successful (fingers crossed), we’ll offer you the job and email you your contract to accept. Welcome to the team.

How to apply

Worried about your interview? Don’t be. We want you to do well and we’ll be rooting for you all the way through – starting now.

Here are some tips for proper preparation and an incredible interview.

How to apply

Getting ready to shine

  1. Look back at your achievements

    Look back at your achievements What are the highlights and what have you learned? This could be from a previous job, at school, volunteering or as a member of a sports team. We want to hear what you can do, so make sure you can talk confidently about your experience and achievements.

  2. Research the role

    Research the role Go through the key skills and details on the job advert and think of examples from your background that you can share to show what a good match you are.

  3. Read up on Sainsbury’s

    Read up on Sainsbury’s We want to know you’re passionate about what we do and keen to be part of it, so take a look at about.sainsburys.co.uk

  4. Come with questions of your own

    Come with questions of your own We want you to be sure this role and our business are right for you, so feel free to give us a grilling.

  5. Know what to expect

    Know what to expect We like a competency-based interview, where we’ll ask you to talk about different scenarios to understand whether you have the right skills for the job. We may also ask you how you’d respond to hypothetical scenarios. If you are offered an interview, we’ll send you more information in your invite.

Dazzling on the day

  1. Give yourself enough time to log on or get to your location

    Give yourself enough time to log on or get to your location We use Microsoft Teams to hold our virtual interviews, so make sure your device can access this before your interview. If you’re interviewing at one of our business locations, make sure you know where you’re going and plan your travel.

  2. Turn up ready

    Turn up ready This means being practiced and well prepared. Trust us, you’ll feel confident and more at ease if you do.

  3. Take your time

    Take your time Breathe. Relax. Listen to the questions you’re asked and then take a few moments to think about what you want to say or what example you’re going to use. Try to answer the questions fully and don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.

  4. And finally, be yourself

    And finally, be yourself This is the big one. We want to meet the real you! And we really want you to do well.

Getting a role with us - FAQs

Got a question about applying for a role with us? Here’s where you’ll probably find the answer.

Where can I view current vacancies?
If you’re interested in working for us, you can find all our current vacancies here.
Can I apply for a role if I’m under 18?
You’ll need to be school-leaving age to be considered for one of our roles. This varies across the UK, so visit www.gov.uk/know-when-you-can-leave-school  to find out more. For some of our teams, you’ll need to be 18 or over – delivery drivers or convenience store roles, for example. The same goes for shift work that covers hours earlier than 6am or later than 11pm.
Do you offer work experience?
We’re committed to providing opportunities for students to gain relevant experience. The minimum age for work experience is 15. If you’re interested, contact the store directly to start your journey.
Can I apply for a role if I have a criminal record?
We’re interested in what you can do now rather than what you’ve done in the past, so an unspent conviction will not necessarily hold you back. However, there are some unspent convictions which may prevent us from taking your application further and there are some roles where we will not accept any unspent conviction – such as our Home Delivery Drivers. If you’ve applied for a retail and logistics role, someone from the recruitment team will be in contact to discuss your application.
Why can't I find the role I want?
If we don’t have any vacancies, they won’t appear on our website. It’s worth checking back regularly though, as new opportunities turn up all the time. And you can always join our talent community here, where you’ll be the first to find out.
There are no vacancies showing in my area, what can I do?
If we don’t have any vacancies in your area, they won’t appear on our website. It’s worth checking back regularly though, as new opportunities get advertised all the time. You can also set up job alerts via our talent community to get notified when a new job is advertised that matches your criteria.
Can I apply for more than one role?
The short answer is yes! As long as each role suits your skills, goals and working hours – you should also factor in whether you have suitable travel arrangements for the hours advertised on the role, especially for some of our night-time roles where public transport will be more limited. Please note, when applying for a role in one of our stores, only submit one application for each particular role in that location, as the store may advertise the same role multiple times due to varying shifts.
Can I just send my CV to you?
You should apply for a role you're interested in and upload your CV where required as part of the application. We can’t accept CVs directly. Please note, for some roles we don't ask for a CV, such as our colleague store-based roles.
I am applying for a retail management/Store Support Centre role and I do not have/cannot upload my CV. What should I do?
When applying for a retail management or Store Support Centre role, you do need a CV. If you're struggling to upload your CV, try saving it as a docx file, as this is compatible with our systems.
How do I track my application progress and view my application?
If you want to view the progress of your application you can access it by clicking the link sent to you when you initially applied or by using the below link: https://hdhe.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX/my-profile/sign-in. Once you've completed the verification code, you can review your progress against your application.
How will I know if my application has been successful?
Don’t worry – we’ll email or call you to let you know.
My application still says 'Under Consideration'. What does this mean?
This means that the final decision about your application has not yet been made, but you can expect to receive an update soon. If you’d like further information you could contact the hiring manager or the location you’ve applied to.
How can I withdraw my application?
If you no longer want to apply for a role with us, don't worry, you can simply withdraw your application by accessing your candidate profile: https://hdhe.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX/my-profile/sign-in. Find the application you wish to withdraw, select the 'status' and click the 'withdraw' button.
How long does the recruitment process usually take and when will I hear about my application?
This depends on the role you applied for. However, we strive to review applications promptly and you can expect to hear from us within 2-4 weeks for most of our retail-based roles. It may take a little longer for some of our head office roles.
If I need an update on my application who should I contact?
If you’re looking for an update on your application, you should contact the hiring manager/recruiter or store that you’ve applied to. You can find contact details for all stores here
What is your interview process?
This depends on the role you’ve applied for. And while we’ll do our best to fit around you, sometimes we only have limited dates available, so please be flexible where you can. For store roles, you’ll be invited to go online to book your interview. This can be changed later, as long as it’s not the same day as the interview. To change it, just use the link you used to book your initial slot. If none of the alternative times work for you, please get in touch with the store. For help finding the store: Argos Store Locator Sainsbury’s Store Locator For corporate and commercial roles, one of our recruiters will get in touch to arrange your interview. If you need to rearrange, just let them know.
I've been invited to book in for an interview but there are no slots/I can't attend any of the slots given/I am having problems booking an interview. What should I do?
The hiring team is on hand to help you with interview booking queries. You can reach out to them either by contacting the hiring manager/recruiter or store that you applied to directly https://stores.sainsburys.co.uk/ or replying to the interview invite email or SMS message. We'll always do our best to try and rearrange an interview if you're unable to attend, although sometimes this isn't possible.
How can I contact the store where I have my interview?
You can contact the store by phone, email or SMS (depending on the communication preference you have set). You can reply to the messages you received about your interview to reply via email or SMS to the recruiting manager. You can find the phone number for a store here - please ask for the hiring manager to discuss anything regarding your interview.
I’m nervous about my interview. Do you have any tips?
Yes, we absolutely do. There’s some advice on this site, which you’ll find here. And our recruiters will send you some interview guides to help you prepare.
How can I cancel my interview?
The easiest way to cancel your interview is by using the link sent to you on your interview booking confirmation email or send an SMS to notify the hiring manager/recruiter. Alternatively, for retail roles, you can contact the hiring team at the location you’ve applied to – you can find the contact details using the relevant store locator here
When it comes to Sainsbury’s technology team, what kind of candidate are you looking for?
We like to see candidates with a real passion for things like digital, technology and data, along with the required technical skills. And, as with all jobs at Sainsbury’s, we like to see people who live our core values.
What support is available for applicants with a disability/long-term health condition?
We want to be a truly inclusive employer, where every colleague can fulfil their potential. So, if you need support, please make this clear during your application so that we can put any adjustments in place for you. If you require support in completing the online application itself, please get in touch.
Why do I need to provide proof of my Right To Work in the UK? What documents do I need to provide?
It is a legal requirement for candidates to evidence that they have Right to Work in the UK. You'll be asked at application and interview stage to confirm that you have evidence of Right To Work in the UK. If you're offered a role, you'll be asked to submit your evidence before starting employment with us. If you have any issues uploading your documentation, please bring it with you on your first day of employment. To check what evidence is classed as Right To Work in the UK, visit: https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work
How do I get a reference?
If you are an ex-colleague and need to obtain a reference for a new employer, please send an email to reference.requests@sainsburys.co.uk who will be able to help.
How are colleagues paid?
Colleagues are paid directly to their own bank account. For most of Sainsburys and Argos roles this will be paid every four weeks on a Friday. For some Argos roles this is paid at the end of each month. The hiring team will discuss pay during your interview and confirm the timeframes.

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