Bunnings is an Australian home and garden store chain with stores scattered around Australia and New Zealand. If you’re interested in the DIY home niche or you love gardening, it can be a great place to work!
For those that are lucky enough to land an interview at Bunnings, you’ll need to know how to answer any potential questions. In general, interview questions at Bunnings revolve around availability and customer service skills.
However, there’s a bit more to it than just that. This guide breaks down some of the top interview questions at Bunnings and how to respond to them like a pro!
1. Tell Me About Yourself
The first question you’re likely to be asked when applying for a position at Bunnings is “Can you tell me about yourself?” When employers ask you this question, they’re looking to get a brief summary of your resume.
Your response can touch on any past experiences you’ve had that are relevant to the job. You can also talk about your education and how that’s prepared you for the position you’re applying for.
Just remember that your answer to this question should be short and sweet. Usually, one to two minutes is plenty of time for you to go over your experience for the position.
2. Describe How You Handle Working With Difficult Team Members
Although most of us get along fine with our coworkers, every now and then we’ve got to work with people who aren’t the easiest to deal with. Bunngings interviewers may ask this question to see how you work in a team and how you deal with conflict resolution.
To answer this question, start by setting the stage and explaining what made working with a particular team member difficult.
Next, talk about the steps you took to develop a positive working relationship with that team member. You can finish up by talking about what the outcome of that interaction was and what you learned from it for the future.
3. Describe a Time You Were Proactive at Work
Being proactive is an important part of any job, whether it’s at Bunnings or a different place of employment. Employers may ask this question to see how proactive you are and how you would ensure you’re meeting and exceeding expectations.
For this question, you’ll want to use the STAR method to go over an example of a time that you demonstrated proactivity at work. Start by setting the scene and explaining what the situation was. Next, talk about the steps you took and what the outcome was in that scenario.
Using a real-life example helps not only answer the question but also demonstrate how you would really act if you got the job at Bunnings.
4. How Would You Ensure Safety in the Warehouse?
Safety is a big priority for Bunnings, which is why this question is particularly common. You may be asked how you would ensure that customers are safe in the warehouse, especially with heavy lifting equipment on the floor at any given time.
Give a few examples of how you can protect customers, such as by putting up caution signs when you’re using machinery. You can also talk about any past training or experience you have that’s relevant to safety on the floor.
5. Why Do You Want to Work at Bunnings?
6. What Does Your Availability Look Like?
Bunnings typically looks for team members who have fairly open availability. This way, they can take on shifts that are on weekends, evenings, or early mornings.
Although you don’t have to have all of these time periods open, having at least some flexibility can make you a more attractive candidate.
7. What Can You Tell Us About Bunnings?
Employers will often ask this question to throw a curve ball and see how much the candidate actually knows about the company they’re applying for. This helps the interviewer gauge interest and see whether the candidate is serious about working at Bunnings.
Before heading into the interview, do a bit of research. Head to Bunnings’ about us page to learn more about their history, who they are, and what they do. A couple of facts to get you started are:
- Wesfarmers took over the chain in 1994
- Bunnings was founded in 1886
- Bunnings was originally a company that focused on sawmilling
8. Who Are Our Competitors?
Similar to the above question, this query is to help employers get a feel for how much you know about the company. Knowing about competitors is particularly important so that you can ensure Bunnings is taking the lead in its industry!
At the moment, Bunnings two big competitors are Mitre 10 and Home Timber & Hardware. However, you can also look up local competition on a smaller scale as well.
9. How Would You Handle an Upset Customer?
Most of us think of upset customers as being exclusive to places like Starbucks and froyo shops. However, even hardware stores get their fair share of upset clientele!
For this question, make it clear that you would listen to the customer’s complaint. You would also want to make it clear that you’d show the customer you care about their problems and are committed to finding a solution.
Finally, express how you would find a solution for the customer that adheres to store values while also going above and beyond to make things right for the client.
10. Are You Comfortable Standing for Long Periods of Time?
Although you’ll absolutely be able to take breaks from time to time, a big part of working at Bunnings will involve you being on your feet.
When answering this question, make it clear if you have any physical restrictions that would make it tough for you to be on your feet for lengthy periods at a time. That way, your employer (and you) can make sure this position is a good fit.
11. Are You Comfortable Lifting Up to 25kg at a Time?
This question looks to get an idea of how well you can handle lifting heavy loads. Although Bunnings has machinery that can be used to help employees reach items that are on high shelves, you’ll still need to be okay with doing some lifting from time to time.
Answering this question honestly is important for both you and the employer because it helps the employer know where to place you in the store. If you’re not able to lift heavy loads at once, you may be better suited to the cash register, for instance.
Blast Off to a Career at Bunnings
Landing a job at Bunnings can be a great career move, especially if you’re interested in gardening and DIY home projects. Just remember—many of these questions test your customer service skills and availability, so be sure to come prepared!
With that in mind, you’ll be all set to head into your interview and land your job. So, put on your hard hat, grab the hammer, and get ready to start helping clients find all the bobs and bits they need to complete their home projects!
