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Job interview tips and common questions
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does anyone have good answers to...
how would you describe good customer service?
what would you do if a customer tried on an outfit that she didn't look good in?
how would you deal with a difficult customer?
what kind of person do you think would shop here? (it's a very expensive womens clothes shop)
how would you describe (shop name) ?
these are all questions ive been asked in recent interviews, and want good answers for my upcoming interview!
how would you describe good customer service?
what would you do if a customer tried on an outfit that she didn't look good in?
how would you deal with a difficult customer?
what kind of person do you think would shop here? (it's a very expensive womens clothes shop)
how would you describe (shop name) ?
these are all questions ive been asked in recent interviews, and want good answers for my upcoming interview!
Would anyone be able to give me advice on how to answer a question about dealing with different customers - more specifically children. Like - how would I deal with a customer who is a child as opposed to an adult?
I know how to actually do it, but I don't know how to put it into words as an interview answer.
I know how to actually do it, but I don't know how to put it into words as an interview answer.
sokissme18
does anyone have good answers to...
how would you describe good customer service?
Already been done on page 2 I believe
what would you do if a customer tried on an outfit that she didn't look good in?
I'd bring along a few alternative items in a similar whatever it was that drew them to the original outfit, and let her make her mind up from a wide choice.
how would you deal with a difficult customer?
Be compassionate, talk to them to try and discover the reason why they're being 'difficult', listen when they're speaking and do whatever it takes to ensure that their concerns are either dealt with there and then, or raised to the appropriate level of authority/department who are best suited to sorting the issue out.
what kind of person do you think would shop here? (it's a very expensive womens clothes shop)
Well, women for a start, but perhaps the slightly more affluent of the spectrum due to the premium type of clothing on offer.
how would you describe (shop name) ?
Talk about brand reputation, how they are percieved in the high st - reasonable yet slightly exclusive, or premium quality yet accessible?
these are all questions ive been asked in recent interviews, and want good answers for my upcoming interview!
how would you describe good customer service?
Already been done on page 2 I believe
what would you do if a customer tried on an outfit that she didn't look good in?
I'd bring along a few alternative items in a similar whatever it was that drew them to the original outfit, and let her make her mind up from a wide choice.
how would you deal with a difficult customer?
Be compassionate, talk to them to try and discover the reason why they're being 'difficult', listen when they're speaking and do whatever it takes to ensure that their concerns are either dealt with there and then, or raised to the appropriate level of authority/department who are best suited to sorting the issue out.
what kind of person do you think would shop here? (it's a very expensive womens clothes shop)
Well, women for a start, but perhaps the slightly more affluent of the spectrum due to the premium type of clothing on offer.
how would you describe (shop name) ?
Talk about brand reputation, how they are percieved in the high st - reasonable yet slightly exclusive, or premium quality yet accessible?
these are all questions ive been asked in recent interviews, and want good answers for my upcoming interview!
Womens retail isn't my expertise lol, but I've worked in Burtons for 4 years right next to dororthy perkin so it seems I've picked up a few bits and bobs
EDIT: Just noticed how old your post is. Anyway, hope it'll be useful to someone
What was the last film you saw?
Sounds odd but it is asked. Mention something mainstream that everyone will know, and obviously, no psycho-killer films. Just something nice and, well, normal, lol.
Well never heard bout this yet but nice to know that some interviewers include some light side of questions
Sounds odd but it is asked. Mention something mainstream that everyone will know, and obviously, no psycho-killer films. Just something nice and, well, normal, lol.
Well never heard bout this yet but nice to know that some interviewers include some light side of questions
Just be yourself, treat the interview like a conversation. Answering the questions well is obviously important but you must remember that they are also trying to assess your personality and how well you interact with people. Try to have a laugh with the interviewer and remember to smile! I've sometimes found that the person interviewing me is also nervous so anything you can do to break the ice is good. Just remember it’s not the end of the world if you don't get the job, it’s not like you’re going to be killed or anything! There are plenty of jobs out there for the right people!
how would u answer this....
why is this the right job for u?
why is this the right job for u?
bananaterracottapie
how would u answer this....
why is this the right job for u?
why is this the right job for u?
"I'm enthusiastic, friendly and love working in a customer facing environment. I find it easily to instantly connect with people and therefore am able to help them with their problem. I enjoy solving problems efficiently and am always dedicated to whatever I set my mind to, making me an asset to your company."
Obviously only really works for a customer facing job, but that's what I'd say. Basically, you want to play them at their own game and be really, really AMAZING.
good advice and all in order
Great helping thread. Best of luck everyone.
One top tip I was told by a friend that works in recruitment is to always as this at the end of an interview! "Is there anything that we haven't covered that you would like me to go over in more detail?" It works every time.
If you want more tips on interviews check out: http://www.savethestudent.org/student-jobs/how-to-nail-your-interview.html
If you want more tips on interviews check out: http://www.savethestudent.org/student-jobs/how-to-nail-your-interview.html
I need to watch this thread 
Some great advice here
I was at an interview for a catering assistant in a nursing home today & cause the ad said no experience was required i didn't anticipate to get questions like:
"An order of frozen food has been delivered, what do you do?" (i think?)
"Where do you keep raw meat in a fridge?"
I was pretty annoyed cause i was prepared for the "teel me about yourself, your good points ect, "what do u know about the company" but had not prepared for these at all
would they be catagorizedas simply tricky interview questions or was it wrong to ask questions such as these due to not being trained as a catering assistant?
I was at an interview for a catering assistant in a nursing home today & cause the ad said no experience was required i didn't anticipate to get questions like:
"An order of frozen food has been delivered, what do you do?" (i think?)
"Where do you keep raw meat in a fridge?"
I was pretty annoyed cause i was prepared for the "teel me about yourself, your good points ect, "what do u know about the company" but had not prepared for these at all
would they be catagorizedas simply tricky interview questions or was it wrong to ask questions such as these due to not being trained as a catering assistant?
Original post by Jamie8675309
Some great advice here
I was at an interview for a catering assistant in a nursing home today & cause the ad said no experience was required i didn't anticipate to get questions like:
"An order of frozen food has been delivered, what do you do?" (i think?)
"Where do you keep raw meat in a fridge?"
I was pretty annoyed cause i was prepared for the "teel me about yourself, your good points ect, "what do u know about the company" but had not prepared for these at all
would they be catagorizedas simply tricky interview questions or was it wrong to ask questions such as these due to not being trained as a catering assistant?
I was at an interview for a catering assistant in a nursing home today & cause the ad said no experience was required i didn't anticipate to get questions like:
"An order of frozen food has been delivered, what do you do?" (i think?)
"Where do you keep raw meat in a fridge?"
I was pretty annoyed cause i was prepared for the "teel me about yourself, your good points ect, "what do u know about the company" but had not prepared for these at all
would they be catagorizedas simply tricky interview questions or was it wrong to ask questions such as these due to not being trained as a catering assistant?
Just because you don't need experience doesn't mean they don't expect you to have basic food hygiene knowledge. If you're applying for similar jobs in the future, have you thought about taking the food hygiene certificate exam, or at least going through the syllabus? It's pretty easy, a very short exam and covers things like fridge temperatures, where to put raw meat, etc.
Well I had an interview at an independent cafe/coffee shop on Thursday - I expected it to be more of a 'friendly chat' type of interview but with maybe a couple more typical interview questions added on... instead, I was asked about 101 questions, including some I've never been asked at an interview before, and I didn't get out until after an hour and a quarter - I actually felt physically drained when I left. For the benefit of this thread, I'll list the questions I got asked which I hadn't ever been asked before;
- Have you ever been fired?
- Do you consider yourself to have been successful so far in your life?
- What do you consider to have been your greatest success so far?
- Give me an example of an occasion at work when you showed initiative.
- Looking at your CV, I see that you've had a few different jobs on temporary contracts and have gaps in your CV, how can you explain this?
- Are you an aggressive person?
- How do you respond to criticism?
- Have you ever been fired?
- Do you consider yourself to have been successful so far in your life?
- What do you consider to have been your greatest success so far?
- Give me an example of an occasion at work when you showed initiative.
- Looking at your CV, I see that you've had a few different jobs on temporary contracts and have gaps in your CV, how can you explain this?
- Are you an aggressive person?
- How do you respond to criticism?
I have an interview for guest/show assistant position at the London Eye on wednesday. they told me to bring an object that describes yourself and that the assement will first be a series of tasks, one of which is a teambuilding exercise and that those successful in these tasks will go onto personal interviews.
Has anyone been to this kind of assessment before?
Has anyone been to this kind of assessment before?
Original post by Montrose
Blimey, so many threads asking 'what will I be asked at my interview', and I'm likely to get RSI form typing out the same thing over and over again. As the thread title said, ENOUGH. So I thought I would type out all the questions I think you could be asked, and some ideas for the answers. Please feel free to add to the list. If people don't mind, any others questions people think of I will edit into the list in this post so people can easily access it without trawling through the thread!
Why do you want this job?
This answer should be positive. So, for example, you want the experience, or you want to develop expertise in this area, or you have a similar job before and enjoyed it, or it is a personal interest. Do not mention money, and do not slag off your previous employers.
What qualities do you think you will need?
There are obvious qualities that will be needed for every job. So, for example, communication skills, a good work ethic, a will to learn, customer service skills, problem solving, analysing, leadership, teamwork etc. For further clues, you could also have a look at the Job spec. If it actually says in the Spec what the ideal candidate needs to be able to do, then that is your answer!
What will you bring to the job?
Same answer as above really, but also mention anything you have done in the past that is relevant, especially if you were successful at it! Just 'experience' is also good.
Why do you want to work for this company?
Similar to 'why do you want the job' but here is your chance to show you have researched the company. Try and come up with one positive that the company has. For example, GAME have a reputation for being specialists. Avoid saying things like you want shorter hours or they're more flexible or whatever. Just be really complimentary about the company!
What interests you about our products?
Research for this one is key. For example, in Debenhams, I would at this point list off some of the designers (John Rocha, Jasper Conran, Nigel Cabourn etc) and say they have a great reputation.
What can we offer that your last job didnt?
Be very careful. Again, avoid money or anything which could be conceived as being 'greedy'. Personal development, job satisfaction and new challenges are all good answers!
Tell me about yourself.
This is a really awkward 'question'. Basically, don't go into too much detail. Don't go back into childhood experiences or say anything negative. In a way, this question could be re-phrased as 'tell me some good things about you'. So, for example, you could say that you enjoy playing football and you were the captain of your local team (this shows leadership).
What about the position do you like?
This should be things such as the challenge, you enjoy working with the product area (clothes?), good location, nice facilities, good atmosphere etc. If they ask you to list things you don't like, only mention small things that really don't matter (the uniform isn't the nicest colour!)
Give me an example of a time you helped someone?
These ones can sound hard, but they're really not. Even if you have no work experience, it can be something that seems really insignificant if it shows you in a good light. As I have worked in a shop, my standard answer is about someone who came into the shop, I solved their problem, then did something extra for them to leave a good impression, and then made sure the problem couldn't be repeated. If you haven't worked before, how about a time you have helped a friend when they were feeling down?
Why are you leaving your current job (if relevant)?
New challenges, want to move into a different area of the industry, personal development etc. Do not mention money, or working hours, or if you've had an argument with someone, or if you didn't like the job etc.
Name 3 good things and 3 bad things about yourself.
The good is easy: leadership, communication, teamwork, customer service, quick learner etc etc. The bad things: there is a lot of debate about this. Don't say 'nothing', obviously. I personally would go for something that can also be seen as good, for example: "I am a bit of a perfectionist so sometimes I can overrun on certain tasks", or, "sometimes I need to slow down a bit, as I am keen to get things done but this sometimes means I miss detail" etc etc. The other approach is to point out things that really aren't relevant to work: my handwriting is scruffy. Another way this question could be asked is "if I spoke to your old boss/teacher, what would he say are your strengths and weaknesses".
Can you work under pressure and meet deadlines?
Obviously, this is a yes, but try and give evidence of this. For example, "at Christmas we had to merchandise a fixture in an hour and we did in half an hour even though the shop was busy". If you haven't worked, can be something simple like "I handed in all my coursework with time to spare".
What sort of pay would you expect?
For a lot of part-time work this isn't applicable. But if you are ever asked this, reply with a question: "what is your range for someone in my position". If they don't give an answer, specify a range (set your minimum above what your real minimum is).
What was the last film you saw?
Sounds odd but it is asked. Mention something mainstream that everyone will know, and obviously, no psycho-killer films. Just something nice and, well, normal, lol.
So I thought I would type out all the questions I think you could be asked, and some ideas for the answers. Please feel free to add to the list. If people don't mind, any others questions people think of I will edit into the list in this post so people can easily access it without trawling through the thread!Why do you want this job?
This answer should be positive. So, for example, you want the experience, or you want to develop expertise in this area, or you have a similar job before and enjoyed it, or it is a personal interest. Do not mention money, and do not slag off your previous employers.
What qualities do you think you will need?
There are obvious qualities that will be needed for every job. So, for example, communication skills, a good work ethic, a will to learn, customer service skills, problem solving, analysing, leadership, teamwork etc. For further clues, you could also have a look at the Job spec. If it actually says in the Spec what the ideal candidate needs to be able to do, then that is your answer!
What will you bring to the job?
Same answer as above really, but also mention anything you have done in the past that is relevant, especially if you were successful at it! Just 'experience' is also good.
Why do you want to work for this company?
Similar to 'why do you want the job' but here is your chance to show you have researched the company. Try and come up with one positive that the company has. For example, GAME have a reputation for being specialists. Avoid saying things like you want shorter hours or they're more flexible or whatever. Just be really complimentary about the company!
What interests you about our products?
Research for this one is key. For example, in Debenhams, I would at this point list off some of the designers (John Rocha, Jasper Conran, Nigel Cabourn etc) and say they have a great reputation.
What can we offer that your last job didnt?
Be very careful. Again, avoid money or anything which could be conceived as being 'greedy'. Personal development, job satisfaction and new challenges are all good answers!
Tell me about yourself.
This is a really awkward 'question'. Basically, don't go into too much detail. Don't go back into childhood experiences or say anything negative. In a way, this question could be re-phrased as 'tell me some good things about you'. So, for example, you could say that you enjoy playing football and you were the captain of your local team (this shows leadership).
What about the position do you like?
This should be things such as the challenge, you enjoy working with the product area (clothes?), good location, nice facilities, good atmosphere etc. If they ask you to list things you don't like, only mention small things that really don't matter (the uniform isn't the nicest colour!)
Give me an example of a time you helped someone?
These ones can sound hard, but they're really not. Even if you have no work experience, it can be something that seems really insignificant if it shows you in a good light. As I have worked in a shop, my standard answer is about someone who came into the shop, I solved their problem, then did something extra for them to leave a good impression, and then made sure the problem couldn't be repeated. If you haven't worked before, how about a time you have helped a friend when they were feeling down?
Why are you leaving your current job (if relevant)?
New challenges, want to move into a different area of the industry, personal development etc. Do not mention money, or working hours, or if you've had an argument with someone, or if you didn't like the job etc.
Name 3 good things and 3 bad things about yourself.
The good is easy: leadership, communication, teamwork, customer service, quick learner etc etc. The bad things: there is a lot of debate about this. Don't say 'nothing', obviously. I personally would go for something that can also be seen as good, for example: "I am a bit of a perfectionist so sometimes I can overrun on certain tasks", or, "sometimes I need to slow down a bit, as I am keen to get things done but this sometimes means I miss detail" etc etc. The other approach is to point out things that really aren't relevant to work: my handwriting is scruffy. Another way this question could be asked is "if I spoke to your old boss/teacher, what would he say are your strengths and weaknesses".
Can you work under pressure and meet deadlines?
Obviously, this is a yes, but try and give evidence of this. For example, "at Christmas we had to merchandise a fixture in an hour and we did in half an hour even though the shop was busy". If you haven't worked, can be something simple like "I handed in all my coursework with time to spare".
What sort of pay would you expect?
For a lot of part-time work this isn't applicable. But if you are ever asked this, reply with a question: "what is your range for someone in my position". If they don't give an answer, specify a range (set your minimum above what your real minimum is).
What was the last film you saw?
Sounds odd but it is asked. Mention something mainstream that everyone will know, and obviously, no psycho-killer films. Just something nice and, well, normal, lol.
Thanks! This will really help!
Although i got asked a few terrible questions at my last interview such as:
"So what do you think diversity is, how would you explain our diverse policy and why is it important?"
and
"Why is our shops look so important to the customer?"
How about some job interview advice from Whitney Port!
http://www.grb.uk.com/interview-advice-whitney-port-1.0.html
http://www.grb.uk.com/interview-advice-whitney-port-1.0.html
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