Superdrug uses bespoke personality questionnaire from PSL to help recruit new store manager

Superdrug - the beauty, health and fashion retailer - has
commissioned a custom-built online personality questionnaire, from assessment specialist PSL, to help it select the right people as store managers, as part of a new store opening programme.

Weíre aiming to expand from 730 to 1,000 stores in the next five years and this questionnaire will help ensure we recruit managers who have the right blend of commercial skills along with the right leadership behaviours and personal and functional effectiveness, said Caroline Shine, Regional HR Manager at Superdrug.

PSL researched the qualities and competencies that make an ideal Superdrug store manager. After interviews and trials with over 200 store managers, area managers and HR managers, a bespoke assessment was created, featuring 25 questions. The questionnaire not only benchmarks each candidate against the desired behaviours but also provides probing questions that area managers can ask each individual at an interview.

Candidates work through the questionnaire online and we get a four-page report back on each person that really tells us about the individual, said Caroline Shine. It highlights their personality and gives a breakdown for each of our competencies. We get a colour-coded interpretation of their scores, ie red, amber or green. The report also lists probing questions against each competency that our area managers ask at interview to check the candidateís responses. These questions really help the area managers to conduct more in-depth interviews because they are not questions youíd immediately think of to ask and this ensures that they home in on exactly the right areas.

PSL is providing training for Superdrugís 44 area managers on how to conduct interviews and provide feedback from the personality questionnaire.

Superdrug has received over 40,000 applications for store manager positions, since it introduced its online recruitment website in 2004. The companyís six HR Managers conduct first interviews with store manager Candidates. Those with potential are asked to complete the personality questionnaire online. They then come back for a second interview with an area manager, who goes through their personality report. The candidates also have to analyse a Superdrug store and make a presentation.

The successful candidates join as store managers and undertake an 18-week programme which includes an induction and training programme with Superdrugís Sponsor Managers and its Learning and Development Managers.

PSL has a very good reputation, its tests are excellent and the company has been fabulous to work with, said Caroline Shine. We donít have any problems attracting people. This personality questionnaire will help ensure we recruit the right store managers for our business who can motivate and manage their teams to exceed customer expectations and achieve financial and commercial targets.

For more information about PSL, please call 020-8585 2345 e-mail info@psl.com