The Retail Interview

The retail market has gone through a significant change in the past 12 months. Retail is Ireland’s largest industry and largest private sector employer with approximately 275,000 people employed in the industry. Consumer spending has increased by approximately 2.5% in 2015 showing extremely positive growth.

A Retail Manager earns an average salary of €31,000 per year. With the growth of the discount retailer and other competition entering the market, this is set to rise in the coming years.
To be successful in a retail interview process, the keys to success are as follows:

1. Be prepared
Preparation is the key to success. You must know as much as possible about the company you are interviewing with. Knowing their history, store numbers and company culture. Research possible interview questions and techniques that relate to the industry. Speak to current employees of the business to get their insight on the role. Remember, all current employees have gone through the process and understand what it takes to be successful.

2. Interview attire
Unless specifically stated by the company, always wear formal business attire. Treat all interviews as a formal meeting and “dress for success”!!

3. Arrive on time
Always research the location of the interview prior to the day to ensure you know the travel time, parking availability and any other issues that may arise on the interview day. I would always advise candidates to arrive no earlier than 10 – 15 minutes before the specified interview time.

4. Formalities
It is said that the majority of interviewers make up their minds within the first 2 to 3 minutes of the interview. This being the case, first impressions are key. A firm handshake is your first opportunity to impress the interviewer. Ensure you show lots of energy and enthusiasm towards the role & company.

5. What everyone else says – Be the difference
Interviewers in retail interviews hear the same thing over and over again. Everyone is “firm but fair” when asked about their management style. If you can answer this question honestly with something relevant to a retail manager’s role you are on the right track.
When it comes to the trickiest of questions that everyone asks “what are your weaknesses”, be smart. You obviously don’t want to portray yourself in a bad light, however, this question is almost always answered the same way. “I work too hard”, “I’m too detailed” or “I’m too particular”. No one is perfect, and retailers are aware that everyone has aspects of their jobs that need to be worked on. Focus on how you have and will improve on whatever aspect you need to improve on.

6. Know your stuff
Knowing your own role and the details regarding your current position and previous positions are vital. Retail is highly K.P.I focused. Know your targets and how you have performed. Have examples of how you have achieved your results.

7. People
In all retail roles, your colleagues are your most important asset. Have examples of how you work within the team and how you motivate & mentor your staff. A question that is commonly asked is “how would your colleagues describe you”? The answer to this question could be different from how you perceive yourself. Have good examples of how you work with your staff and how they see you.

8. Don’t talk badly about your current/ previous employer
This is extremely important. No prospective employer wants to hear negativity towards previous roles. On occasion, people have bad experiences in certain jobs. Make this a positive. Focus on the experience and how the job improved your skill set & capabilities.

9. Any questions? Make it a good one
Always have questions prepared for the interviewer. This gives you a great opportunity to show your interest in the company and the role. Once again, interviewers hear the same questions all the time. Never ask questions regarding the company that could be easily Googled when preparing or “When will I find out if I’m successful”? Never ever ask about the salary or package at this point. This is a conversation for a later stage.

#Retail Interview #Retail Interview preparation

The majority of retail interviews are very similar. The main reason for people being unsuccessful is a lack of preparation. If you really want the job, follow these simple steps.

“I had a job interview at an insurance company once and the lady said ‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’ and I said ‘Celebrating the fifth year anniversary of you asking me this question’” - Mitch Hedberg