Interview hints & tips

Tailor your CV to the job you are applying for making sure it is complete, up to date and accurate. Make sure you include your experience, skills and importantly your strengths.

Interviews are a two-way process they allow you to gain a better understanding about the role we are recruiting for and they help us understand what you are looking for in a position and to gauge your suitability for it. Be yourself and try to be positive.

Hiring managers and interviewers love to ask the question “what do you know about us”. This is your chance to show them what research you have done. Researching the business shows that you are keen and enthusiastic to work for us. It also shows that you are organised.

Try to find out as much information about Bakkavor as you can. It would also help if you did site-specific research on the factory/area of the business you are applying for. If you know someone who works, there already you could ask them or contact our central Talent Acquisition team by calling 0345 266 1843 or sending an email to MyHR.EmployeeServices@bakkavor.com.

Read through your CV and see what makes you a good fit for the role, make notes if you need to.

Before you go into the interview if you are nervous, take some deep breaths to help you to remain calm and focused.

Plan your journey and if possible, do a dummy run at the same time of day that your interview will be so you can gauge traffic.

All questions in our interview are competency and behavioural based

Common Behavioural Interview Questions

• Give an example of an occasion when you used logic to solve a problem
• Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it
• Give an example of a goal you didn't meet and how you handled it
• Describe a stressful situation at work and how you handled it

Common Competency Interview Questions

• Teamwork – “Tell me about a time you led or worked in a team.”
• Problem solving – “Describe a situation where you solved a problem.”
• Decision making – “Give an example of a time where you made a difficult decision.”

Think about what is your unique selling point? Why would you be a good fit for the role and the team you are applying to work for?

Before your interview write down 3 or 4 points that make you the perfect candidate for the position, making sure you have an example ready for each of your selling points.

Put yourself the hiring managers shoes, have you read through the job description and picked up any points that do or do not match your experience fully?

If so then there is a very good chance they will ask you about it. Before your interview prepare yourself with answers to possible questions and make sure you add positive points that will sell you to the interviewer.

During the interview and especially towards the latter stages this will be your chance to ask the interviewer the questions you have on your mind. Before the interview take some time to prepare.

We recommend that you think about the questions that you would like to ask in advance and make a list to take to the interview.

If you have ever done public speaking or had to say some words at a party you may realise that practice makes perfect. This is also true with interviews. 

Have someone you know ask you interview questions and within time your answers will sound smooth and professional. You could even record your voice and listen back to it.

• Bring a copy of your CV, and copies for people who are interviewing you. This shows that you are organised
• Be on time if not 15 minutes early
• The interview is a two way meeting, to see if they like you and YOU like them
• Prepare any questions
• Look at company info/website
• Listen to questions, think, answer clearly & concisely, don't waffle
• Smile