Retail Recruitment Tips for the Job Interview

10 Questions you might be asked in a retail job interview

In our second article about preparing for a retail job interview, we focus on the interview itself and the questions you might be asked on the day.

If you’ve followed the advice in our first article about preparing for a retail job interview, you will have done your research on the company, turned up on time and you’ll be looking the part. Obviously retailers want to employ people who work hard but it’s also important that you demonstrate you can get on with both colleagues and customers.

Here are a few tips to make sure you create a good first impression when you go for your retail interview:

• Be friendly and polite to everyone you meet. You won’t know who exactly will have a say in the selection process

• Make eye contact with the interviewer(s) when you enter the room, shake hands firmly and only sit down once you’re asked.

• If you’re being interviewed by a panel, try to address your comments to everyone taking part.

• Wherever possible try and answer questions using specific examples. For example, if you’re asked how you would deal with an unhappy customer, describe how you dealt with one in a previous job.

• At the end of the interview make sure you ask what happens next and when you can expect to hear back from them.

What questions will you be asked?

It’s impossible to provide an exhaustive list of possible questions you might be asked in a retail job interview but we’ve put together a list of common ones you should prepare answers for.  Even if you don’t get asked these exact questions, hopefully the preparation will give you the tools to answer ones on a similar theme.  

• What do you enjoy about working in retail? 

• Why are you interested in a position at this company?

• What do you know about this company’s products and services? 

• What makes you a great candidate for this particular job? 

• What type of merchandise have you had the most success selling?

• What are your biggest strengths when interacting with customers? 

• Tell me about a time when you felt you were at your best with helping a customer. 

• Describe a time when you had to handle a difficult customer. 

• What have you done at your present/last company to increase revenues, improve customer service or save time? 

• What have you done to become a better retail sales person/manager? 

All it remains to say now is Good Luck!   

C2 Recruitment is celebrating 10 years success in Retail Recruitment this year. C2 specialises in retail, hospitality and leisure recruitment and all of our consultants have sector specific backgrounds.  If you contact C2 today you’ll be assigned a consultant with direct experience in your sector – someone who really has walked in your shoes!