Retail interview, what do I need to know?

[NotMeItsThem]

Been offered an interview at a major town centre clothing retailer.

I’ve done interviews before but always for office admin type roles, never retail.

What do I need to know for the interview? What types of questions can i expect?

I really want this job, a) because I'm currently not working thanks to covid closing down my previous employer and b) to hopefully broaden my skill base to get me a better job in future.

So top tips?

Can you tell I'm nervous?

They will want to know your availability... the more flexible the better

How you would respond to being given extra tasks on top of regular tasks

Uniform sizes.... have those ready

Holidays already booked?

They may ask you to describe how you helped someone
Something you've achieved you are proud of

When I interview people if they say they are nervous I quite like that. Shows they care, want the job and have a human side..... overly confidant strikes me as false. But that's just me !!

Oh and good luck!!!!

How you would/have handle/d a complaint or difficult customer.

@gardeninggirl68

They will want to know your availability... the more flexible the better

How you would respond to being given extra tasks on top of regular tasks

Uniform sizes.... have those ready

Holidays already booked?

They may ask you to describe how you helped someone
Something you've achieved you are proud of

When I interview people if they say they are nervous I quite like that. Shows they care, want the job and have a human side..... overly confidant strikes me as false. But that's just me !!

Very flexible, even as a single parent I thankfully have a brilliant support network who can quite literally drop everything and help me.

I'd do extra tasks, and if I'm not trained to do them I'd ask someone who is trained to show me how to do it.

No holidays booked this year or next year but do have one booked for 2023 which includes my friends wedding.

Very very nervous but also quite excited.

You will definitely get competency based questions on how you have handled difficult situations, tricky customers and that kind of thing.

I used to interview for a big retailer, we ask questions about how you’ve given good customer service (build rapport, anticipate their needs etc), how you deal with an upset customer or a colleague you disagree with, how something hasn’t gone well (looking for you to evaluate and tell me what you’d change next time you approached something similar). For us it’s more about your attitude rather than experience

They might ask if you hope to progress through their staff grades, would you be prepared to do extra courses/training etc.

The one retail job I’ve had, questions they asked at the interview included was I a customer of the store, what was my favourite department or item, what one thing would I do to improve the store.

Lots of luck @NotMeItsThem!

When I went for a retail job I looked on glass door and the student room. You'll find people post what type of questions they got asked . Helped me immensely.

You might be asked to pick an outfit out or show what goes with what.

Thank you all will listen to them all and take them all on board.

I absolutely love the brand, especially the childrens clothes but will research the adults stuff too just in case.

As I said, very nervous but also excited.

I’m currently doing interviews for my store.
I want to know about any achievements you’re proud of, inside or outside of work.
How you’d deal with awkward customers, working in a team or alone, flexibility and any particular interests in products or services in store.
I’m also asking who they think our direct competitors are - most people haven’t even thought about this.
Good luck!

@SheepPixie

I’m currently doing interviews for my store. I want to know about any achievements you’re proud of, inside or outside of work. How you’d deal with awkward customers, working in a team or alone, flexibility and any particular interests in products or services in store. I’m also asking who they think our direct competitors are - most people haven’t even thought about this. Good luck!

Thank you

How you would approach a customer.. the answer is I would ask an open ended question or engage the customer about the item they are looking at. So instead of "Can I help you ?" Or "Do you need any help?" Which they then reply a"No" you say something like " "Those are gorgeous and they also come in a black ( this then hopefully starts a conversation) both would go beautifully with this top."'( linked sale) Or "what type of occasion are you shopping for?"

Not sure how well it went, some of the questions from here came up though.

Will find out next week, is that a good thing or a bad thing?