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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to deliver exceptional catering service and support food preparation.
- Company: Be part of John Lewis, the UK's largest employee-owned business.
- Benefits: Enjoy free meals, flexible hours, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a difference in customer experiences while working with food you love.
- Qualifications: Passion for food and a keen eye for detail are essential.
- Other info: Great opportunities for personal growth and teamwork in a vibrant setting.
About the role
Our Catering Assistants in our John Lewis shops, you\’ll work in either our customer restaurants or behind-the-scenes in our Partner (employee) dining rooms. Wherever you work, you\’ll offer the great customer service we\’re known for. It can be fast-paced but by taking great pride in your food preparation and presentation standards, you\’ll ensure the best possible catering experience. You\’ll also support with other catering related tasks, including stock replenishment and storage of deliveries. Our Catering Partners enjoy free food in our dining rooms on their working days and being based in our shops, there is no split shifts or late evening work.
Key Responsibilities
- Work as a team to ensure a smooth catering service.
- Provide positive customer and Partner interactions with a friendly and welcoming attitude. Being an ambassador for the John Lewis brand at all times.
- Follow procedures and instructions using the \’Health and Safety at Work Act\’ and \’Food Safety Act\’ when completing all relevant tasks.
- Ensure stock is replenished and available for our customers.
- Reduce food wastage by ensuring care and due diligence when rotating food stock.
- Act promptly and use your initiative to resolve any issues that arise in the operation.
- Maintain personal hygiene standards.
Essential skills/experience you\’ll need
- Ability to be flexible to work across the whole Catering team and and use your initiative to ensure the smooth running of the operation.
- Passion for food.
- Keen eye for detail and high standards in food preparation, hygiene and cleanliness.
Desirable skills/experience you may have
- Ability to work in a fast paced physically demanding environment.
- Team Work.
- Great customers service.
- Experience of working in a kitchen or a catering environment.
Varied hours of full time work (37.5) across seven days to include early starts, late finishes, evenings and weekends between the hours of 08:00 – 21:00.
The partnership
We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.
We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.
As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.
We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.
As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.
Important points to note:
It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.
We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.
We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.
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Catering Assistant employer: John Lewis Partnership
Contact Detail:
John Lewis Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Catering Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture! Before your interview, check out John Lewis's values and mission. This will help you connect with the team and show that you're genuinely interested in being a part of their community.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your customer service skills! Since you'll be interacting with customers and Partners, think of examples from your past experiences where you provided excellent service. Be ready to share these stories during your chat!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for food! Whether it's discussing your favourite dishes or sharing your cooking experiences, let your enthusiasm shine through. It’s all about making that connection with the role!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the John Lewis family. Let’s get you that job!
We think you need these skills to ace Catering Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When you're writing your application, let us know why you love food! Share any experiences you've had in kitchens or catering environments. This will help us see your enthusiasm and fit for the role.
Highlight Teamwork Skills: Since you'll be working as part of a team, make sure to mention any past experiences where you collaborated with others. We want to know how you contribute to a positive team atmosphere!
Be Detail-Oriented: We value high standards in food preparation and hygiene. In your application, give examples of how you've maintained cleanliness and attention to detail in previous roles. It shows us you take pride in your work!
Apply Early!: We sometimes close vacancies early if we get a lot of applications, so don’t wait around! Head over to our website and submit your application as soon as you can to avoid missing out on this opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis Partnership
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of food safety and hygiene standards. Familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Food Safety Act, as these are crucial in a catering role. Showing that you understand these regulations will impress your interviewers.
✨Show Your Passion for Food
Let your love for food shine through during the interview. Share any experiences you have in food preparation or catering, and talk about what excites you about working in a kitchen environment. This enthusiasm can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Team Player Attitude
Emphasise your ability to work well in a team. Give examples of how you've collaborated with others in previous roles, especially in fast-paced environments. John Lewis values teamwork, so demonstrating your collaborative spirit will resonate well with them.
✨Be Ready for Scenarios
Prepare for situational questions where you might need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Think of times when you've had to act quickly to resolve an issue, whether it was in a catering setting or elsewhere. This will show that you can handle the demands of the role effectively.