Lidl customer assistant interview guide
How Lidl GB hires customer assistants: an online application, a telephone interview, then a face-to-face interview with scripted questions and 2 interviewers.
About Lidl GB
Lidl GB has over 1,000 stores and 13 distribution centres in England, Scotland and Wales, and 35,000 colleagues, salaried and hourly paid.1 It became Britain's fifth largest supermarket, with an 8.6% market share in the 12 weeks ending 17 May 2026, and more than 3 in 5 households shop at Lidl.2
In the financial year ended 28 February 2026, turnover was £13 billion, up 10.8% from £11.7bn in FY25. Operating profit was £345 million, up from £314m. Customer visits were 43 million higher than the year before. Ryan McDonnell is the CEO.3
The interview process
As Lidl GB's careers pages describe it. Its FAQs say there will only be a two-stage interview process (telephone interview and face to face interview) for all Lidl GB roles.4
- Online application7-14 days
Upload an up-to-date CV through your online profile; Lidl cannot accept CVs by email. At this stage Lidl looks at your hours ("availability vs. role requirements"), your experience and your CV ("accurate dates and details"). The Talent Acquisition team reviews applications within 7-14 days and asks you to wait the full 14 days before following up.5 Lidl contacts candidates by email throughout, but "may, however, call you if we need any additional information or to schedule an interview."4
- Online test. Lidl says "Some of our roles do require an online test". The Talent Acquisition team can confirm whether a given role requires one.5
- Telephone interview
"If successful at application stage, you'll be invited to book a telephone interview slot". Lidl frames it as a chance for it to learn about you and for you to understand the role. Before this call, Lidl suggests its "Day in the Life" videos "may help you prepare for store or logistics interviews".5
- Face-to-face interview30–90 min
Depending on the role, this "will be held with a Store Manager, Department Manager, or relevant Team Manager". Lidl says "You should expect scripted questions and 2 interviewers", and they will take notes. It gives the duration as "30–90 minutes (this may be longer if an assessment task is required, we'll inform you advance if this is the case)."5
- What it covers. Lidl calls it a chance to share your motivations and skills, and says to expect "a chat about what you've already read about or seen on our website, your experience and past career".5
- Outcome
If you're successful, you get an offer call, then "We'll send your contract by email", followed by a training schedule and a call from your manager one week before your start date. If not, "You'll be notified by email if you've been unsuccessful this time", and you can ask your recruiter for feedback.5 Lidl asks you to "please allow 6 months before applying for the same role again".4
If Lidl asks you to join its candidate community, you were successful at interview, and "you will not have to interview for our Store or Warehouse roles again."4
The customer assistant job
- The work. Lidl says the duties range from "setting up the bakery at the start of the day to hopping on tills and even helping to train new colleagues", and include helping customers with "questions, queries and requests".6
- Shifts. "Shift patterns will differ depending on the requirements of each individual role", and "these are usually specified in the job advertisement".6
- Perks. Lidl lists "30-35 days holiday, 10% store discount card" and a contributory pension scheme for store teams.6
- Entry-level pay across Lidl GB. In February 2026 Lidl GB announced that from 1 March "entry-level hourly pay will rise to an industry-leading £13.45 nationally", rising to £14.45 with length of service. In London, hourly pay went from £14.35 to £14.80, rising to £15.30 with length of service.1
Lidl's five values
Lidl shares its company values "across all Lidl countries":7
- "We thrive together and surpass our own limits".7
- "We put People at the centre of what we do".7
- "We believe each other and in each other".7
- "We dream big while staying down to Earth".7
- "We are stronger together than we are alone".7
The behaviours it lists under them include "Passionately pursue ambitious goals", "Treat each other fairly", "Communicate openly and honestly", "Focus on results" and "Stand up for each other".7
Questions to expect
Based on what Lidl says each stage tests. The three face-to-face questions marked as Lidl's are its own published examples; the rest are ours.
Telephone interview
What hours can you work, and how do they fit the shifts in the advert?
What do you think a customer assistant does on a normal day at Lidl?
Why have you applied to Lidl rather than another supermarket?
Face-to-face interview: Lidl's examples
Competency: "Give an example of when you delivered excellent customer service?"5
Scenario: "You're working on a task, but a colleague asks for urgent help. How do you prioritise?"5
Skills: "How do you ensure accuracy when handling cash at the till?"5
Face-to-face interview: more to practise
What have you read or seen on our website that made you want to work here?
Talk me through your last job, or a time you took on responsibility outside work.
Tell me about a time you treated someone fairly when it would have been easier not to.
A customer asks where something is while you're setting up the bakery. What do you do?
Tell me about a time you helped someone learn a new task.
How to prepare
- Get your availability straight. Lidl checks your hours against what the role needs, and wants accurate dates and details on your CV.5 Shift patterns are usually in the job advert, so read it closely.6
- Watch the "Day in the Life" videos. Lidl says they "may help you prepare for store or logistics interviews".5
- Use STAR. Lidl's own tips include structured answers such as the STAR technique, taking time to think before you answer and asking for clarification if a question is unclear.5 Its FAQs add that AI can support practising answers with the STAR technique.4
- Cover all three question types. Build one story each for customer service, juggling a colleague's request with your own task, and getting things right at the till.
- Tie stories to the values. Fairness, open communication, results and backing up colleagues all appear in Lidl's list of behaviours.7
- Dress smart/casual. That is what Lidl's interview tips recommend.5
Worth mentioning in the interview
- Lidl GB opened over 40 new stores last year and, in October 2026, said it plans more than 50 new stores this financial year as part of a £600 million investment.3
- In January 2026 it announced it was opening 19 stores in 8 weeks, creating up to 640 roles, and that it would invest over £40m in modernising more than 70 existing stores.8
- In July 2026 it announced it was expanding its Lidl & Go self-scanning trial from an initial seven-store pilot to 37 additional stores across Scotland, the South East and the wider South of England.9
- Its February 2026 announcement doubled paid paternity leave from two to four weeks' full pay, and was "the seventh pay rise announcement from the discounter since 2023".1
Quick answers
How many interview stages does Lidl have for customer assistants?
Two. Lidl GB's FAQs say there will only be a two-stage interview process, a telephone interview and a face-to-face interview, for all Lidl GB roles.4
How long is the Lidl face-to-face interview?
Lidl gives the duration as 30–90 minutes, and says it may be longer if an assessment task is required, in which case it will tell you in advance.5
Who interviews you at Lidl?
Depending on the role, the face-to-face interview is held with a Store Manager, Department Manager or relevant Team Manager. Lidl says to expect scripted questions and 2 interviewers, who take notes.5
How long does Lidl take to reply to an application?
Lidl's Talent Acquisition team reviews applications within 7-14 days, and asks you to wait the full 14 days before following up.5
Does Lidl ask customer service questions at interview?
Its published example of a competency-based question is "Give an example of when you delivered excellent customer service?"5
More interview guides
Sources
- HIGHEST-PAYING SUPERMARKET LIDL GB INVESTS A FURTHER £29M IN COLLEAGUE PAY AND DOUBLES PATERNITY LEAVELidl GB · 6 Feb 2026
- MORE THAN 3 IN 5 HOUSEHOLDS NOW SHOP AT LIDL AS DISCOUNTER BECOMES BRITAIN'S FIFTH LARGEST SUPERMARKETLidl GB · 27 May 2026
- LIDL REPORTS STRONG SALES GROWTH AS IT MEETS HOUSEHOLD DEMAND FOR VALUE AMID BUDGET PRESSURESLidl GB · 5 Oct 2026
- FAQsLidl GB Careers
- Application supportLidl GB Careers
- Customer AssistantLidl GB Careers
- Our company valuesLidl GB Careers
- NEW YEAR, NEW STORES: LIDL GB OPENS 19 STORES IN 8 WEEKS AND PLANS TO INVEST OVER £40M IN MODERNISATIONSLidl GB · 13 Jan 2026
- LIDL GB ROLLS OUT LIDL & GO TO 37 NEW STORESLidl GB · 2 Jul 2026
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