Category Exec, Category at Associated British Foods (Grocery)

The following is a Graduate Review for Associated British Foods (Grocery).

Associated British Foods (Grocery) scores 3.5/5 based on 154 reviews.

All reviews are based exclusively on results of feedback from employees from Associated British Foods (Grocery). Employees are asked to rate Associated British Foods (Grocery) on a wide range of work place topics, which is broken down through star ratings on the right hand side.

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What hours do you actually work, on average?

Start: 8:30

Finish: 17:00

What advice would you give to someone applying to this role?

Get some experience that is relevant to the scheme, whether a part time job or an internship. The greatest mistake that students can make is not working while at university. Thousands of students will get degrees and you need something that will make you stand out. Some people are good at blagging their way through interviews with very little experience, but the majority will need a working background that can demonstrate their suitability. I came from a retail background so had some experience at the opposite end of the grocery spectrum to my current role. There are plenty of summer internships to apply for too. Do some research on the FMCG sector and ABF before you apply. Think about why the scheme appeals to you and why you'd be good at it.

Do you have any interview tips?

Try and get some interview practice before the real thing, whether through university or a careers service. Don't try and be someone that you aren't because the interviewers will probably be very experienced and will see through any kind of act. Don't make up scenarios that prove your skills for the same reason. Try and stay relaxed - interviews are as much about assessing your personality as your capability. If you appear too flustered and nervous then that might raise questions about your ability to keep your cool when dealing with stakeholders. Be professional but not to the point of being one-dimensional - assessors will want to see how easy you are to be around and how well you work in a team. They aren't after a robot who can provide answers perfectly but who has no interests or experiences beyond that. Think about your answers to questions carefully before you speak to make sure you cover all bases.