1. Introduction

Should you practice tests to prepare for the John Lewis online assessment tests?  According to research, 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude test results. It is proven that practice increases your chances of getting hired.

In a nutshell:

How to prepare for John Lewis online tests and get the job?

1. Complete your John Lewis Application Process Online

• Fill in your John Lewis online job application.
• Match your application to John Lewis’ values and partnership capabilities.
• Use keywords from the job post in your resume.
• Tailor the information you provide with the role’s competency needs.

2. Practice For John Lewis Online Assessment tests

John Lewis uses a variety of assessments and ability tests and may also include personality questionnaires for some roles. These may include:

• Personality Questionnaire
• Situational Judgement Tests
• Numerical Reasoning Tests
• Verbal Reasoning Tests

3. Prepare for the John Lewis Final Interview

Prepare for your John Lewis interviews by running mock interviews and answering typical interview questions for the role you are applying for. For John Lewis interview practice, use the following:

• a smartphone to record yourself
• Zoom or
• Our reliable video interview platform

Use the STAR+R method for your answers and practice each answer several times.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

What is John Lewis?

John Lewis is a British retail company that runs the John Lewis & Partners department stores, Waitrose & Partners supermarkets, and other retail-related activities. John Lewis is also known as the John Lewis Partnership, or JLP.

John Lewis is a large employer as the company offers a variety of roles in different aspects of the retail industry. As of 2022, the company has 80,000+ employees who are also referred to as partners.

Therefore, competition for John Lewis jobs is very high and John Lewis screens thousands of applications annually to select the best candidates. 

Discover some of the many areas that these applicants apply to at John Lewis below.

Business Areas in John Lewis

What roles can I apply to in John Lewis?

John Lewis is a leading company in the retail industry and operates in major key areas of the sector, thus offering various roles. Some of these business areas are:

Manufacturing	Finance	Human Resources
Supply Chain & Logistics	Digital/IT	Data & Insight
Marketing	Customer Service	Professional Services

So how do you get jobs such as these at John Lewis? The John Lewis recruitment process has different stages, which we cover in the following sections below. 

Read on to find out!

2. John Lewis Online Application

How do I apply to John Lewis?

The John Lewis online application begins your journey to landing your dream role with the retail giant. Start by going to the John Lewis Partnership’s official careers website, browse through current vacancies, and apply for your desired role.

When you apply, the John Lewis application form will contain questions that assess your suitability for the role. You will be required to provide the following information:

• Personal information 
• Qualifications/Experience 
• Contact information 
• Resume Upload
• Diversity e.g. race, ethnicity, etc.
• Additional information, e.g. voluntary disclosures

John Lewis Application Form

Source: John Lewis Jobs

What are the John Lewis Core Values?

John Lewis has 6 core values that you will be assessed against throughout the recruitment process. The values represent how John Lewis expects all its employees to behave with everyone. The John Lewis Partnership values are:

John Lewis also has crucial partnership capabilities that it looks for in new Partners. The John Lewis Partnership Capabilities are:

1. Happier People – Teamwork, communication, growth, and inclusivity.
2. Happier Business – Problem-solving, adaptability, ownership, and courage.
3. Happier World – Delivery, customer focus, innovation, and authenticity.

John Lewis uses data from the application form to select qualified candidates for the next stage. 

If you are selected, you can move on to take one or more John Lewis online tests.

3. John Lewis Online Assessments

What are the John Lewis online assessments?

The John Lewis assessment tests are provided by Sova, a leading psychometric test provider. The assessments will evaluate you for important cognitive abilities and work behaviours that are crucial for your success in the role.

What should I expect in the John Lewis Partnership online assessments?

Depending on the role, expect to complete at least one or a combination of the following John Lewis Sova assessment:

1. Situational Judgement Test
2. Numerical Reasoning Test
3. Verbal Reasoning Test

Let’s find out what each of these John Lewis tests are, what they entail and what they assess.

John Lewis Situational Judgement Test

What is the John Lewis situational judgement test?

The John Lewis situational judgement test will assess you for desired work behaviours. In this test, you will be asked to read a scenario and choose the best course of action. The scenarios will relate to your desired role.

Want to understand more about the John Lewis Sova situational judgement test? Watch our short video below.

Get a glimpse of what a situational judgement test looks like, from the following similar John Lewis situational judgement test sample question provided by our experts.

John Lewis-style Situational Judgement Question Example 

Below, we have curated a few handy tips to help you prepare and pass your John Lewis situational judgement test.

Top 7 Tips to Pass the John Lewis Situational Judgement Test

1. Read the job description carefully and research the role at John Lewis. Take note of the required competencies and ensure you have a deep understanding of the position.
2. Familiarise yourself with the John Lewis core values and partnership capabilities as the behaviours this test will assess will relate to them. This will help you determine your answers to the scenarios better.
3. Practice tests similar to Sova’s situational judgement tests beforehand to get a feel of the format and what to anticipate from the questions.
4. Focus on responding with practical, realistic actions as John Lewis values effective problem-solving. Consider what would be the most effective and appropriate course of action in a real-world setting.
5. Think about your past experiences that relate to the role. Reflecting on how you handled these situations can guide you in making decisions. John Lewis looks for individuals who continue to learn and develop themselves.
6. Pay attention to the details of each scenario presented. Understand the context, the people involved, and the situation before making your judgement. Attention to detail is a skill used by John Lewis employees daily.
7. Try to maintain a consistent approach to your decision-making. This will show that you can apply your judgement consistently across various situations and handle similar day-to-day scenarios at John Lewis.

After completing the situational judgement test, the next Sova assessment you may be asked to complete is the John Lewis numerical reasoning test.

John Lewis Numerical Reasoning Test

What is the John Lewis numerical reasoning test?

The John Lewis numerical reasoning test will assess your cognitive ability to analyse data and understand numerical information with questions on different mathematical concepts such as graphs, percentages, averages, and data tables.

What is the format of the John Lewis Sova numerical reasoning test?

The John Lewis Sova numerical reasoning test is timed with multiple-choice questions.

Check out the video to learn more about the John Lewis numerical reasoning test!

Below, we have curated a few handy tips to help you prepare and pass your John Lewis numerical reasoning test.

Top 7 Tips to Pass the John Lewis Numerical Reasoning Test

1. Practice is key to improving your numerical reasoning skills. Using our platform to practice will help you improve your speed, accuracy and test score.
2. Revise basic mathematical concepts such as averages, percentages, etc. Revisiting basic maths covered at the GCSE or equivalent level helps with the knowledge needed in a dynamic retail environment.
3. Practice mental maths. Being able to perform some calculations mentally can save time. Practice doing simple arithmetic in your head as you may be required to do some in a fast-paced setting like John Lewis.
4. Read questions carefully and pay attention to the numbers. Getting a single number wrong in your calculations will lead to errors and attention to detail is a necessary skill to perform well in John Lewis.
5. Develop a balance between speed and accuracy. Allocate time spent on each question and move on if you get stuck to ensure you complete all questions. Time management skill is taken into account and is likely important for the role.
6. Double-check your answers. If time allows, revisit your answers, especially for questions you found challenging. A second look might reveal a mistake in calculation or interpretation.
7. Create a quiet and distraction-free environment when you take the test. This will help you concentrate and perform at your best ensuring not to compromise your focus for the John Lewis test.

Access FREE numerical reasoning practice questions when you sign up with GF for a free trial today.

Using the tips we provided above, take the opportunity to try a question similar to the John Lewis Sova numerical reasoning test question below!

John Lewis-style Numerical Reasoning Question Example

Did you get the correct answer? Check the bottom of the page to find out.

Looking to practice more numerical reasoning tests ahead of your John Lewis assessment? 

After completing the numerical reasoning test, you may also be required to complete the John Lewis Sova verbal reasoning test.

John Lewis Verbal Reasoning Test

What is the John Lewis verbal reasoning test?

The John Lewis verbal reasoning test is used to assess your ability to understand information in written reports, paragraphs, or passages. You will be required to read short paragraphs and answer questions on them.

What is the format of the John Lewis Sova verbal reasoning test?

Just like the numerical test, the John Lewis Sova verbal reasoning test is also a timed test with multiple-choice questions. In most cases, the passages will be followed by ‘True’, ‘False’, or ‘Cannot Say’ options to choose from.

In our short video below, we explain more about the John Lewis verbal reasoning test.

Below, we have curated a few handy tips to help you prepare and pass your John Lewis verbal reasoning test.

Top 6 Tips to Pass the John Lewis Verbal Reasoning Test

1. Practice verbal reasoning questions regularly to improve your reading comprehension skills so you can interpret passages and statements accurately as you may be required to do so daily in the role.
2. Learn from mistakes in practice tests. Review your incorrect answers in practice tests to understand where you went wrong and how to avoid similar mistakes.
3. Practice speed reading techniques to increase your reading speed while maintaining comprehension. This helps you read through written reports more quickly and is an important skill for John Lewis’ fast-paced environment.
4. Familiarise yourself with different text types. Practice with a variety of texts, such as technical reports, summaries, book passages, etc. to be ready for any style of passage in the test.
5. Pay attention to the details and major points in the text. Highlight key points and make mental notes of details that stand out as you read through the text.
6. Use the elimination method. Eliminate clearly wrong options to increase your chances of choosing the correct answer and help hone your decision-making skills for the John Lewis role.

Practice a free sample question similar to John Lewis’s Sova verbal reasoning test question below using the tips we provided above!

John Lewis-style Verbal Reasoning Question Example

Did you get the right answer? Check the bottom of the page to find out.

Looking for more John Lewis verbal reasoning test practice? We’ve got you covered.

After you complete the John Lewis Sova assessments, John Lewis recruiters will review your results. If you perform well, you may then get an invitation to the next stage which is the John Lewis final interview.

4. John Lewis Final Interviews

What is the John Lewis final interview round?

The final John Lewis interviews are the last hurdle of the recruitment process. In these interviews, John Lewis will try to get to know you better with questions relating to your experience, skills, and workplace behaviours.

What is the format of the John Lewis interview process?

The format of your John Lewis interviews differs depending on the role and its location. It may include a one-on-one interview or a John Lewis group interview.

What to expect in the John Lewis interview rounds?

Depending on the role, you may be required to complete one of the following John Lewis job interviews:

1. Telephone Interview
2. Group Interview

Let’s take a quick look at what these John Lewis job interviews are and what they might assess.

John Lewis Telephone Interview

What is the John Lewis telephone interview?

The John Lewis telephone interview is a one-to-one interview that John Lewis may conduct in the early stages of the selection process. In this interview, you will be asked questions focusing on John Lewis’ partnership capabilities, skills, and experience.

Watch our short video below that explains how you should research John Lewis before your telephone interview.

Top 5 Tips to Pass Your John Lewis Telephone Interview

1. Research the role and John Lewis thoroughly. Read the job description properly to help guide your preparation. Make notes on the key areas that stand out for you.
2. Ensure you understand the John Lewis values and capabilities and tailor your answers to them. John Lewis wants to know how well you fit with their culture.
3. Practice your tone and pace before the interview. Your voice is the only tool you have to convey your body language. Practice speaking at a moderate pace and maintaining a professional tone. 
4. Listen carefully. Pay close attention to the interviewer’s questions and comments. Listening actively allows you to give more precise, relevant answers.
5. Articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently. Keep your answers concise and focused, ensuring your enthusiasm and professionalism come through.
6. Use the STAR+R Method for competency questions. The STAR+R method (Situation, Task, Action, Result, Reflection) helps you to provide clear and organised answers.
7. Leverage your experience when giving your answers. Answers with personal examples and evidence will carry more weight and credibility.
8. Keep your resume, the job description, and any notes you’ve made about John Lewis or your answers to potential questions with you for quick reference.
9. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask at the end of the interview. This shows your interest in the role and your proactive approach towards John Lewis.

John Lewis Group Interview

What is the John Lewis group interview?

The John Lewis group interview is simply a group exercise. In this interview, you will be paired with other shortlisted candidates and required to analyse and discuss a situation, industry trend, problem, John Lewis business, or any role-related topic.

What does the John Lewis group assessment measure?

The John Lewis group assessment will typically assess your ability to think critically, articulate and present your thoughts, as well as your ability to collaborate with others and work in a team as John Lewis values teamwork.

6 Top Tips to Pass Your John Lewis Group Interview

1. Practice beforehand. Practice your answers before the interview. Practice in front of a mirror or with friends until your flow and delivery are impeccable.
2. Demonstrate good body language. Your tone, responsiveness, and attitude will play a huge part in the impression you leave with them.
3. Listen actively: Pay close attention to what other participants are saying. Actively listening to your team members’ perspectives is essential for effective collaboration which is valued at John Lewis.
4. Contribute constructively: Offer your input and ideas when appropriate. Be constructive in your contributions and support your statements with reasoning or evidence.
5. Showcase your problem-solving skills: John Lewis uses group interviews to assess candidates’ problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Ensure to contribute thoughtfully to the group discussions.
6. Balance contribution and courtesy: While it’s important to make your voice heard, ensure you’re not dominating the conversation. Allow others to speak and show that you value their contributions.
7. Respect differences: Respect diverse viewpoints and approaches within the group. Differing perspectives can lead to innovative solutions and valuing people is one of John Lewis’ ethics.
8. Ask insightful questions: John Lewis group interviews often include Q&A sessions. Ask thoughtful questions that show you’ve been listening and participating in the exercise.

Watch our video below to learn more about what to expect in your John Lewis group exercise!

Using the tips we provided above and in the video, take some time to practice some typical John Lewis interview questions below.

John Lewis Interview Questions and Answers

Some John Lewis interview questions you may be asked in your John Lewis interviews include:

• What has attracted you to apply for this role?
• Why do you want to work for John Lewis?
• Give us an example of a time you worked as a team.
• Tell me about yourself.
• What do you know about John Lewis?
• What would excellent performance look like in this role?

Watch our short video below to get tips on how to answer the ‘Tell me about yourself’ John Lewis interview question.

Read on as we give an example answer to one of these John Lewis interview questions below.

Question: Why do you want to work at John Lewis Partnership?

How to Answer: When answering, demonstrate your understanding of what distinguishes the company, such as exceptional customer service, employee ownership model, and values. Tailor your answer to reflect a genuine interest in these qualities and how they resonate with your career goals and personal values.

Good Answer: 

I am drawn to the John Lewis Partnership because of its unique employee-owned structure, which I believe fosters a strong collaborative culture and a sense of pride and ownership among staff. I admire your commitment to providing excellent customer service, which aligns with my passion for delivering high-quality service. 

Your focus on sustainability and community involvement also resonates deeply with my values. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to a company that not only aims for commercial success but also prioritises the well-being of its employees and the community.

Watch our short video below to get tips on how to answer the ‘What has attracted you to apply for this role?’ John Lewis interview question.

Question: Give us an example of a time you worked as a team.

How to Answer: When answering this question, it is essential to provide a clear and concise example demonstrating your teamwork skills. Use the STAR+R method (Situation, Task, Action, Result, Reflection) to structure your response.

Good Answer:

And….that’s a wrap on the John Lewis application process! If you are successful in the process, John Lewis’ team will contact you with their decision. You will be informed during the final stage when to expect feedback.

While you’re here…

Don’t miss the captivating range of graduate programs that await you at John Lewis.

5. John Lewis Graduate Schemes

What are John Lewis graduate schemes?

John Lewis graduate schemes refer to the career opportunities that the retail giant has made available for students and graduates and are offered across different divisions of the business. John Lewis graduate schemes include:

1. John Lewis Apprenticeships
2. John Lewis Industrial Placements

Let’s find out what these John Lewis programs entail.

John Lewis Apprenticeships

What is the John Lewis apprenticeship?

The John Lewis apprenticeships are programs that enable you to learn while on the job in the Partnership and earn a nationally recognised apprenticeship standard of competency.

John Lewis currently has 26 apprenticeship schemes and they range across different business areas including Finance, HR, Supply Chain, Retail, and Hospitality.

Eligibility Criteria for John Lewis Apprenticeships

• Education: The academic requirements may vary depending on the role. However, the apprenticeship roles are not exclusive to recent school leavers.
• Experience: This may vary depending on the role and level of apprenticeship e.g. level 10 apprenticeships require prior apprenticeship certification or equivalent experience. Specific requirements will be stated in the John Lewis job application/description.
• Application: John Lewis recruits for its apprenticeship roles throughout the year. You can set up job alerts on John Lewis’ job portal to receive notifications.

John Lewis Industrial Placements

What is the John Lewis industrial placement?

The John Lewis industrial placements are opportunities for students to gain invaluable experience. These programs are designed to develop your skills and give you responsibilities through involvement in real-time projects, preparing you for real-life work environments.

John Lewis industrial placements offer openings in different business areas including Digital Marketing, Human Resources, Sales, Quality Assurance, etc.

Eligibility Criteria for John Lewis Industrial Placements

• Education: John Lewis Industrial Placements roles are curated for undergraduates, specifically second-year students.
• Experience: No specific prior professional experience is required. However, other valuable experience may be required/requested.
• Duration: 12 months
• Application: The final interview will be a virtual interview with a presentation exercise to complete. Recruitment for John Lewis industrial placements will commence soon. You can set up job alerts on John Lewis’ job portal to receive notifications.

And with that, we’ve covered all you’ll need to know about the John Lewis recruitment process, online assessments, and graduate schemes you could apply to.

But wait!

Before you start your John Lewis application process, explore our FAQ section below for more answers about the John Lewis assessment process.

6. John Lewis Assessment Tests FAQs