Retail Interview Questions
Working in retail sales can be a good job for people who love working with customers. Most retail jobs offer flexible hours, fast promotions to management for worthy candidates, and of course, an employee discount. To get a job, however, candidates have to pass an interview. Practicing before a job interview is a great idea for new workers and experienced ones.
Start by picking out the right outfit for the interview. If possible, visit the store before the interview and note what other employees are wearing. Try to match these outfits in style when selecting an interview outfit. If you’re applying with a clothing retailer, consider picking an outfit from their store. Choose a conservative hairstyle and minimum makeup.
Next, practice for the interview by trying out several sample interview questions. This list contains a few example questions and responses.
Do you have your own transportation? In retail jobs, being reliable is a major job requirement. If you’re late, other employees have to be called in order to have enough people to operate the store. Expect a lot of questions dealing with reliability during your interview. Because of this, having your own car can be a definite advantage. If you don’t have a car, explain how you plan to make it to work on time.
Have you ever worked with money before? Use this question to highlight previous retail experience. If this is your first job, think about times you have been entrusted with money, such as charity fundraisers.
How would you handle a customer who was upset because she was charged too much? Be sure to stress that you would deal with them calmly, and take whatever steps necessary to resolve the problem.
What kind of schedule do you want? Be sure to think about this question before the interview. Managers make their schedules and look for employees to fill any gaps that they have. Make sure that you give yourself enough time for classes, your other job, and/or child care responsibilities. Remember that, the most common way for a store to get rid of excess employees is to start changing their schedules. If you can prove that you stated your schedule when you were hired, you can qualify for unemployment benefits.
What would you do if you saw a fellow employee taking money from the cash register? The only correct answer to this question is “inform a manager”. Retail stores will not want employees getting into fights or accusing each other of theft.
