1. Which decisions are mine?
Ask which decisions the Store Manager can make and which are handled by the owner, Area Manager or head office. Recruitment, rotas, ordering, local pricing and performance management are good places to start.
This will tell you whether the level of responsibility matches what you want from your next role.
2. What sort of store is it?
Ask about weekly turnover, team size, opening hours and the busiest departments. A neighbourhood convenience store, a supermarket and a forecourt may all use the same title, but the day-to-day job can be very different.
- Size of the store and team
- Fresh-food and other departments
- Busiest trading periods
- Deliveries, stock and opening hours
3. Why is the job available?
It could be a new store, an internal promotion or a replacement. None of those answers is automatically good or bad, but the reason will help you ask better follow-up questions.
4. What would a good first six months look like?
Ask for two or three clear priorities. The answer might be to steady the team, improve availability, reduce waste or raise fresh-food standards. You can then judge whether your experience suits what the store needs.
5. Who will support me?
Find out who you report to, how often they are in the store and what support comes from head office or the wider group. It is also worth asking about the managers already on the team.
6. What are the hours in a normal week?
Do not stop at ‘five over seven’. Ask about early starts, late finishes, weekends and emergency cover. Make sure the working pattern being described matches the contract and is realistic for you.
7. How does the full package work?
Separate the basic salary from bonus, pension, healthcare, discounts and allowances. If there is a bonus, ask what it is based on and how often it is paid.