Safeway Interview

Job Interview Experience

Read on to prepare for an interview at Safeway.

Hiring Process

During the Safeway interview process, the average applicant spends time discussing employment history, the position desired, job skills, and availability with hiring managers. Applicants may either apply online for Safeway jobs in Canada through the company website or fill out an application in-store.

Expect a Call
Hiring managers review submitted applications and call prospective employees back to schedule interviews. Most job seekers participate in multiple interviews over the course of the formal process.

Interview Duration
Though brief and only lasting a maximum of 30 minutes in most cases, Safeway job interviews provide hiring managers with a close look at the personality and potential fit of an aspiring candidate.

Expect Questions About the Job
During the interview sessions, entry-level employment hunters and experienced professionals respond to various questions related to the desired job.

Second Interview Expectations
Often, second interviews occur the same day immediately following the first. Prospective managers and supervisors may need to return to the local Safeway store of choice in order to interview on a successive day.

Multiple Interviews
In some cases, three or more interviews may prove necessary for aspiring managers and supervisory job candidates. Safeway hiring staff typically let prospective workers know of subsequent interview opportunities at the conclusion of each session leading to eventual hire. Applicants must meet all hiring requirements laid out by the grocery store company in order to move on to the next phase of interviews.

Testing
Background checks, skills assessments, and drug screening generally prove necessary for managerial candidates.

Video interview with a Safeway Cashier employee

Video Transcript

Interviewer:
Please describe your job title and primary duties.

Safeway Cashier :
Okay, so I was a cashier at Safeway. So basically, just doing cash, bagging customers’ items and cleaning the work area.

Interviewer:
How would you describe the application and interview process?

Safeway Cashier :
There, you had to fill out a paper application and basically, they just called you in if you met the criteria. The interview wasn’t really long or anything, it was just like… There’s not much you need to be cashier, right?

Interviewer:
What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?

Safeway Cashier :
The questions are basically dealing with customers, because it’s all customer based, right? It was like if we had a customer that was angry, if you had a customer that wanted to make a return, how would you react to them and that kind of stuff, right? It was more like, how would you deal with customers in certain situations, right?

Interviewer:
What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?

Safeway Cashier :
I think it’s a good place to work, because I worked there for about a year and a half. I only left because I actually… I worked at Safeway in Alberta and I moved here to Ontario. So it’s a great place to work. You just have to really get to know people and product knowledge, of course, because you have to know all the codes for all the stuff. But otherwise, it’s a great place to work.

Possible Interview Questions and Answers

Q: Why do you feel you are the right fit for the job?
A: I play football for the high school and lift just about every day. Being able to lift heavy objects and stock shelves should prove no problem for me.

Q: How will you go above and beyond to help the customer?
A: If someone needs something, can’t reach on a shelf, or is wondering where a specific product is, I would be more than happy to assist them.

Q:Tell me about a time where you encountered a problem at work and how you solved it.`
A: I’ve never worked before, but I’ve had issues with my brothers about chores at home, and we generally take a vote on who does what to avoid any sort of conflicts.

Learn How to Answer Interview Questions

Video interview with a Safeway employee. Listen for tips!

More Safeway employee videos from US stores.

Interview Tips

How to Dress
As an esteemed chain of supermarkets, Safeway imposes several hiring requirements based on appearance. Applicants should not attend job interviews with messy or unruly hair. Some locations limit facial hair growth and put caps on hair length in general. Applicants should dress professionally at all times.

What to Wear
Business-casual attire proves advantageous for potential entry-level associates, while managerial candidates may want to wear more formal business attire, including button-down shirts and dress pants for men and professional dresses or blouses with conservative skirts and sport coats for women.