I went to the Marks and Spencer store for the interview. The interview process began with a role play. I was asked to take on the role of a Customer Assistant in an imaginary retail store and interact with the interviewer who would play the role of a customer.
I was given a few cards to read which had information on them pertaining to the situation given (description of the situation , stock information, on-going promotions, delivery options) . You are given 5 minutes to read the cards and take any notes after which the interviewer comes in as the "customer" along with a silent observer who takes notes while you interact with the "customer". I was given a situation where a customer was looking for a particular suit jacket that she had seen before in the store, which is currently out of stock. You are meant to approach the customer, ask if she needs help, help her find an alternative suit ( the customer was in a rush, as she needed the suit for an interview the next day). Make sure you save time by reading the stock information carefully. You should consider suggesting another color in the same style that she originally liked (I wasted time suggesting other styles when there was the same style in another colour). The lady who interviewed me was very encouraging put me at ease throughout the process. Make sure to be as natural as possible. Smile and greet the customer, listen carefully to what she/he wants (size, style etc) and mention in-store promotions in order to sell more products.
After the role play, you are asked to fill in a short feedback form to assess how you felt the role play went ( where you think you have fared well, where you could have improved). When the interviewer returned, she went over times and schedules with me to help me find a suitable time slot. Unfortunately, none of the times offered were suitable for my needs so I had to decline. If a suitable schedule was agreed upon, the next steps would have been a short interview with the manager.
Overall it was a highly organized, efficient and comfortable process. the lady who interviewed be was a gem of a person and she was really encouraging throughout.
Please note that you must bring in your passport to begin the interview process. The interviewer will confirm that you have all the required documentation (including originals) before the interview begins, so please make sure to bring them in.