Why do you want to work at publix

How to Get a Job at Publix

The hiring process for Publix supermarkets starts at a specialized kiosk in the store where job seekers can apply for vacant positions. After completing the necessary steps at the kiosk, applicants must wait for a hiring manager to call and set up an interview. Receiving an invitation to interview depends on how high a candidate is ranked by the automated kiosk system. Not all stores have job openings available at the time of applying; however, individuals selected for interviews usually hear back from hiring representatives within a week. The supermarket chain usually interviews job seekers individually under the direction of an assistant or general manager.

What to Expect During the Interview Process

A typical interview can often be divided into two distinct parts. During the first part of the interview, candidates tackle questions like:

• "Why do you want to work at Publix?"
• "How would you define customer service?"

Additional questions about customer service frequently come up in the first half of interviews, as hiring managers need evidence that prospective employees can handle arguably the most important aspect of most grocery store jobs. To determine whether applicants are ready to serve customers, interviewers form questions around hypothetical but common supermarket situations, such as:

• "What would you do if a customer refused your assistance?"

Interviewees may also have to prove their ability to promote the merchandise by pretending to sell a basic product to the hiring manager.

Personality Questions

While the first part of interviews often focuses on job-related skills, the second half generally becomes more conversational, allowing hiring managers to observe and assess the personalities of candidates. Interviewers regularly make general inquiries about standard topics like academic backgrounds and previous jobs. Interviewees may also encounter seemingly unrelated yet potentially revealing questions, including:

• "What does success mean to you?"
• "What is your proudest accomplishment?"
• "Can you tell me about someone who inspires you?"

Verifying the schedule availability of job seekers frequently serves as a major topic of conversation at Publix interviews, as well.

What to Wear

Dress for the interview by wearing clothes appropriate to the position desired. Business-casual apparel remains suitable for entry-level job seekers, while potential grocery store managers should opt to wear something more formal.

Tips to Make a Good Impression

When scheduling the interview, make sure to confirm the site of the meeting, as Publix sometimes hosts interviews at area store locations other than the one that initially received applicant information. Arrive to the interview site no more than 10 minutes early and remember to turn off or silence your cell phone. Maintain an enthusiastic tone of voice and try to answer interview questions by focusing on customer service and a genuine desire to join the team as much as possible. End the interview by thanking the hiring manager for taking the time to meet and ask questions about the job opportunity, including when to expect a hiring decision.

Publix Deli Clerk Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Publix Deli Clerk: My job title was deli clerk. My primary duties were usually making the sandwiches, or slicing meat or cheese for the customers. There was a few side items that we had to make, like potato salad and egg salad, stuff like that. Fried chicken, rotisserie chicken. Usually the hot sandwiches were, during our lunch rush they’d throw you on there. There weren’t too many of those, and most of it, it was just deli slicing, for the most part.

Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Publix Deli Clerk: Work environment was a smaller group of people, probably about 5 to 10 people at most, behind the counter. Everything was, it’s hard to say. Typical, pretty good kitchen environment. People are looking at you from the other side, so keeping clean was more important than let’s say in another kind of kitchen. Working with customers, so the worst thing that would ever happen is that you’d have to deal with maybe a crappy customer or something like that, but everything was pretty pleasurable working there. It was not a bad working environment, as far as cooking jobs go. Not too stressful at all.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Publix Deli Clerk: I believe I filled out and application online, and they called me for a phone interview, and then there was one interview that I had with, I can’t remember if it was the deli manager or the actual store manager. It was a relatively quick interview, and there was the mouth swab drug test. It was a very short interview, about 10 minutes long.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Publix Deli Clerk: They asked about my kitchen experience, they asked my age. I was just out of high school, so they asked me my grades. They didn’t seem too concerned with it, but it was just formality, I guess.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Publix Deli Clerk: If you’re looking for pat time, they always have it. I don’t know, I think looking for full time work there would be probably pretty hard. Because they have their main people there who have been there a long time, generally.

Publix Stock Clerk Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Publix Employee: Job title was a stockman out on the sales floor of Publix. Primary duties… just restocking shelves, getting stock out of the back, making sure that anything is destroyed that needs to be destroyed, helping customers because you’re on the sales floor, being versed throughout the entire premises, and working with management in order to stock shelves. That’s the important thing.

Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Publix Employee: I’d say it’s like a family atmosphere because that company, they’re like a step up. You’re not going to… I don’t know if you’d recognize it in some areas, but Publix always wants to be the better store. They’re the next step up on grocery store chains. You walk in there, you’re going to find great service, clean floors, so they’re very focused on making it an enjoyable, comfortable environment to shop in.

Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Publix Employee: You go in, you clock in if you have to clock in. After you clock in, you just start with your duties. They may have lists of things they want you to complete or goals for that day, for that week. You might have a deadline you need to do. You might want to focus on that first. But, ultimately, you’re there to make sure there’s stuff on the shelves for customers to get as soon as the trucks come in. They have people that unload them and put them into your sections, then you move them out of your sections and onto the area of the sales floor.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Publix Employee: I started off as just a cashier, so my interview process was: “Are you energetic?”, “Are you going to do the job?”, “Are you going to be a team player?” – because it does take a team – “And are you going to conform to management?”, making sure what the goals are, what they want to accomplish, then taking that and using your energy to apply. The application process was just fill it out and make sure because everybody is applying to Publix. It’s that big of a corporation, so everyone’s applying. So, you want to keep trying to get back, saying: “Yeah, I put an application in. Do you know when you might be doing interviews?” Just remind them who you are.

Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Publix Employee: I showed interest. I showed interest, and I was a hard worker. It doesn’t hurt to have references. Depending on the job, do I check references? Yes, I check a reference, if it was something I wanted to confirm that I already knew. But for the most part, just show interest, show your willingness to work, and show that you’re going to be a team player.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Publix Employee: Just go in and act like it’s a conversation you’re having to to get a job. It doesn’t matter where you’re applying. You can be applying to Publix or any other place, just go in answering questions, showing that you’re especially interested in the company. Growth potential in your mind, so you’re ready to be energetic, knowing that this is the job that you want. And just have that conversation when answering Q and A.

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