Retail jobs require a unique combination of customer service skills and business awareness. In this post, we show you how to better showcase these talents to ace your retail job interview.
1. Do Your Homework
Getting a call for a retail job interview is exciting. However, having an interview lined up is just half the battle.
The things you do before sitting down for the interview are often the difference between a smooth meeting and a difficult one. Here are some ideas:
- Read the job description again and make sure you understand the type of candidate the company is looking for.
- Visit the company website and social media to get a sense of their culture, values, and goals.
- If possible, visit one of the stores to see how they work in real life.
2. Be Friendly Toward Everyone
A polite, friendly attitude is one of the “must-haves” for most retail jobs, so make sure to be courteous with everyone before, during, and after the interview.
This includes, of course, the hiring manager or the person interviewing you, but also secretaries, guards, janitors, and any other person you interact with.
In addition to being the right thing to do, being polite shows that you have the soft skills necessary to excel at the job.
3. Be Ready To Answer Some Common Retail Job Interview Questions
A retail job interview is usually a combination of two types of questions.
On the one hand, you can expect to be asked standard questions such as “Tell me more about yourself,” or “What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?”. The purpose of this type of question is to allow the hiring manager to know more about you as a person
The other type of questions you will be asked are industry-specific questions such as:
- What’s your previous experience in retail?
- How do you define good customer service?
- How would you deal with a rude customer?
- Why do you believe customers shop here?
- Do you work well in a busy environment?
4. Use Real-Life Examples When Talking About Your Skills
This is a good general rule for any job, but it’s so important that it deserves its own section.
Whenever possible, use examples taken from your real-life experience to illustrate your abilities, soft skills, and background.
The reason is simple: as the old saying goes, the best way to predict future behavior is by looking at past behavior.
For example, if you share a story of how you succeeded in a busy retail environment, the hiring manager will realize that your chances of thriving again in the same type of situation are very high.
If you are interested in more tips on how to handle job interview questions, check out our previous post, What are behavioral interview questions?
Looking for Retail Jobs? Driven Talent Is Here to Help
Whether you are an employer looking for the ideal candidate to fill a position or a job seeker trying to take the next step in your career, Driven Talent can help.
Contact us today by telephone (657-533-2980), through our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram), or fill out the contact form to learn more about our services.