Safeway Interview Questions

If you are looking for Safeway Interview Questions you have come to the right place.

We all know interview questions are stressful and competition is intense.

However, with a small amount of preparation you can ace the interview.

Here we will discuss how to prepare for potential interview questions at Safeway.

Please note that Safeway has no affiliation with worknearyou.com, therefore we cannot guarantee specific questions asked on the interview.



Safeway Interview Questions and Answers

1. Tell us about yourself?

  • It’s fine to discuss your hobbies and interests but keep it brief. Instead, try to emphasize your related work experience. Remember, having relevant work experience will give you an edge over the competition.

2. What can you tell us about Safeway?

Being able to answer this question is important because you want Safeway to see your interest in the company. When you demonstrate your enthusiasm for Safeway, it increases the likelihood that they will be interested in you as a candidate.

About Safeway

  • Safeway is an American supermarket chain founded by Marion Barton Skaggs in 1915.
  • Safeway’s parent company is Albertsons.
  • The supermarket stores typically offer a range of departments, including a deli counter, meat department, produce section, flower department, bakery, pharmacy, liquor section, and many aisles of non-perishable items.
  • Additionally, Safeway stores offer a variety of in-house private label brands, as well as name brands across all product categories.

DID YOU KNOW...

Safeway got its name because they did not offer credit to their customers during The Great Depression! It was the “safe way” to buy because a family could not get into debt via their grocery bill, as many families did at the time.

3. Why do you want to work for Safeway?

Possible answers are

 

  • Explain why you believe Safeway is the best grocery store, or what sets it apart from competitors in your area. Consider looking at positive reviews on the internet for ideas.
  • You would like a job that keeps you active.
  • You feel that your outgoing personality would be an asset when working with customers or other team members.
  • State as someone who values teamwork and a positive work environment, Safeway would be an excellent fit for you, and that you are excited about the opportunity to contribute to the company’s success.

4. Where do you see yourself in five years?

  • Having goals shows you are ambitious and goal-oriented.
  • Tip! If you don’t know what to say have a look at other jobs at Safeway and find a career you can find yourself doing in five years.

5. What is your greatest strength?

  • The best way to respond to this question is to describe the skills and experience that you have which directly correlate with the job you are applying for. Therefore review the job description and reassure the interviewer that you have the experience and skills to do the job.

6. What is your greatest weakness?

Don’t Say

  • You don’t have a weakness.
  • You can’t think of a weakness.
  • Something unrelated to the job
  • State a weakness that is critical for the job.

Do Say

  • Something related to the job
  • Steps to improve your weakness
Example

My greatest weakness is I take criticism too personally. I have learned not to overreact and think about what was said. I have found that I have become a better employee when I learn from feedback.

7. Who are our competitors?

  • Competitors include big-box retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Kroger, local grocery stores in your area.  
  • Note since Safeway is part of the Albertsons family companies such as Jewel-Osco, Vons, and other Albertsons companies are not competitors. 

8. What motivates you?

Do Say

  • Meeting deadlines, targets or goals
  • Mentoring and coaching others
  • Learning new things
  • Coming up with creative ideas to improve something, or make something new
  • Analyzing complex data in order to draw clear and simple conclusions
  • Working well as part of a team
  • Leading a team to success
  • Completing a difficult project, and seeing it through to the end
  • Spotting flaws and errors so as to make sure the end result of a project is as good as possible
  • Finding a way to solve a problem, or overcome a challenge 

Don’t Say

  • Money
  • Employee Discounts

9. What hours can you work?

  • Try and be flexible when answering this question. The more flexible you are with your hours, the better chance you will have at landing the job.
  • State that you understand if you need to work on weekends and holidays.

10. What are your salary expectations?

  • This is a stressful question because if you ask for too much, you will not get the job and if you ask for too little, they will gladly underpay you.
  • Be sure to research salary expectations for your role before you go into the interview. There are plenty of sites that will discuss salary ranges.
  • If you don’t know what to say, ask what the salary range is?  You can then counter with the high end of the range.

11. Do you have any questions for us?

Tip! Don’t be afraid to ask questions during the interview. Asking questions is important because it builds rapport between you and the interviewer.

  • What do you like best about working here? 
  • How would you describe your ideal candidate for this position? 
  • If I were to start tomorrow what would be my top priority be? 
  • What is the history of this position? 
  • What about this position is the most important? 
  • How would you measure my success, and what could I do to succeed in your expectations? 
  • Which part of the position has the steepest learning curve? What can I do in order to get up to speed quickly?

Safeway Courtesy Clerk Interview Questions

Why do you want to become a courtesy clerk?

  • I am outgoing and enjoy meeting new people, and I believe this quality will benefit me in this role. I am looking for a challenge and a job that keeps me active, even under pressure. Lastly, I am a big fan of Safeway’s products and services and would be proud to represent them.

What do you do if a customer has specific instructions for how they want their groceries bagged?

  • I would follow any specific instructions from a customer on how to bag their groceries. I would also handle items that are fragile or perishable with extra care to protect them from damage during transportation.

How do you manage the timing of cart retrieval to ensure that customers always have access to carts when they need them?

  • Usually, shopping carts can be found at the entrance of the supermarket, so I always keep an eye on the number of carts and ensure that at least 10% of the cart volume is available at the door. If the volume drops below 10%, I go outside and retrieve the carts. If there is an opportunity to get more carts, I take advantage of any idle time to retrieve them.

How do you manage your time to ensure that cleaning does not interfere with other tasks or customer service?

  • I would follow a cleaning schedule but I would always prioritize the needs of customers first.

How do you feel about helping customers with taking their groceries to their car?

  • I feel that helping customers with taking their groceries to their car is a great way to show them that I care about their satisfaction and convenience. It also gives me an opportunity to thank them for choosing Safeway and to make a positive impression on them. 

Does Safeway Drug Test?

  • Most employees report drug testing at Safeway.
  • Albertsons is now the parent company of Safeway and they do drug test also.

Safeway Open Interview Questions

  • An open interview is where you apply in person and they interview you on the spot. If you study the questions above and dress well you will do fine.

Safeway Hiring Process

  • After submitting your online application, you’ll undergo a phone screening. If you pass, you’ll be invited for an interview where you may be asked about your customer service skills, availability, experience, and motivation to work at Safeway. Background and drug screenings will follow either during or after the initial interview. Finally, you’ll attend an employee orientation and receive training on Safeway’s policies, procedures, and expectations.