7 Sample Retail Interview Questions and Answers (2024)

Retail is not just about selling stuff—it’s about providing an experience that keeps customers coming back. That’s where skilled and personable retail professionals like you come in. But to get from your application to your first day on the job, you’ll need to put together strong and compelling answers to common retail interview questions. Monster will show you how!

Shoppers look for quality and value in the items they purchase. Retail employers look for the same in the employees they hire. Proving your value to hiring managers goes beyond what you include on your retail resume. You’ll get the opportunity to market yourself more effectively in the interview chair. But it will take some preparation in advance. You can start by getting familiar with the retail interview questions listed below.

7 Common Retail Interview Questions and Answers

1. Why do you want to work in retail?
2. What do you consider good customer service?
3. Tell me about your previous retail experience and skills.
4. What are your goals for working in retail?
5. Describe a time when you went out of your way to help a customer.
6. How would you handle a situation involving an irritated customer?
7. Do you have any sales experience?

Question #1: Why Do You Want to Work in Retail?

Retailers—like all employers—prefer to hire candidates who will stick around and help the company reach its goals. Hiring managers often ask “Why do you want this job?” to determine what kind of employee you’ll be and how dedicated you’ll be to the role.

When answering retail interview questions about your motivations, be sure to discuss the following:

• Your reasons for applying.
• Why you enjoy working with customers.
• Areas of retail you’re most passionate about.

How You Could Answer

“I was very excited to come across the job ad for your company. I have enjoyed shopping here since I was a kid. Today, I still shop here often and know the store very well. I’m particularly interested in working in the electronics department because I’m very knowledgeable about technology and can help customers find products that best suit their needs. I’m also a people person and love going out of my way to help others. Retail offers me the opportunity to do that.”

Question #2: What Do You Consider Good Customer Service?

You’re likely wondering why employers ask what makes good customer service when they already know the answer. Hiring managers will pose retail interview questions like this because they want you to describe good customer service in your own words.

Consider the following details when creating your answer:

• Key strengths that make you good at customer service.
• Qualities that retail employees should have.
• How retail employees should greet and help customers.

How You Could Answer

“Good customer service involves putting customers’ needs first. Retail employees should always greet customers and offer assistance, even if they’re not asked to do so. For example, I would ask a customer if they’re finding what they’re looking for. If they appear to be lost, I would ask if they need help finding something. Additionally, good customer service involves patience, excellent communication skills, and the ability to solve problems.”

Question #3: Tell Me About Your Previous Retail Experience and Skills.

When you interview for a retail job, interview questions about your prior experience are going to come up. Hiring managers have likely seen your retail experience and skills in writing on your resume or application. But they want to hear you talk about why you’re a qualified candidate more candidly and in your own words.

Reflect on the following details when creating your answer:

• Your work history in retail.
• Types of retail jobs you’ve had.
• Skills you possess that help you to succeed in retail.

How You Could Answer

“I got my first job working part-time in a shoe store while I was in high school. My duties included assisting customers, keeping the aisles and shoe displays organized, and restocking shoes. Management eventually trained me to run the cash register and answer the phones. I went in with no experience but learned good organization and customer service skills. Plus, I learned how to operate a cash register and manage financial transactions.”

Question #4: What Are Your Goals for Working in Retail?

Expect to be asked about your goals during your job interview. Employers want to see where you’ll fit within their company. Plus, they prefer employees who they can train and promote to advanced positions.

Reflect on the following details when answering retail interview questions regarding your goals:

• Skills you would like to gain from retail.
• Learning curves and professional development.
• Where you envision yourself in the future.

How You Could Answer

“I enjoy working in retail, but I want to be more than just a sales associate--eventually. I would like to gain skills that will help me advance into a store or branch manager position or even into corporate. I feel that I can accomplish that by gaining more retail experience, becoming acclimated to retail operations, and even attending professional development events. I envision myself moving into a management position after I finish college, but I would like to eventually move up into the business and marketing side of retail.”

Question #5: Describe a Time When You Went Out of Your Way to Help a Customer.

Excellent customer service skills are critical for retail. That’s why during a retail interview, questions that start with “Tell me about a time” are to be expected. A hiring manager will expect you to provide a real example showing that you’re willing to go above and beyond to help customers.

Be very specific with your answer and include the following details:

• The customer’s needs.
• How you helped the customer.
• The outcome of your actions.

How You Could Answer

“When I worked at the shoe store, a customer was looking for a specific shoe brand. But we ran out of the right shoe size both in the aisle and in the stock room. While the customer felt disappointed, we were able to order the right shoe size from our online supplier. I assured the customer that the correct shoe size would arrive within two business days and we would keep a pair on hold. We also restocked the shelf with the same size.”

Question #6: How Would You Handle a Situation Involving an Irritated Customer?

Not all customer encounters will be pleasant. You must demonstrate patience and problem-solving skills if you hope to get hired for a retail job. That’s why some interview questions for retail positions will gauge your ability to stay calm and use the correct protocol when faced with a frustrated customer. Consider pulling from your own experience when creating your answer.

Include these details when providing an answer:

• Why the customer became angry.
• Actions you took to solve the problem.
• The result of your actions.

How You Could Answer

“I worked at the customer service desk of a local department store after graduating from high school. We had one customer who was frustrated about a defective electronics kit purchased from the store. Some parts were missing and others appeared to be broken. I suspected that someone likely opened the kit and tampered with the materials inside before closing the box and putting it back on the shelf. I listened to the customer’s concerns and calmly offered an apology. I then gave the customer a full refund for the defective product and contacted a manager. The manager retrieved a new electronic kit for the customer and offered a generous discount on it. The customer accepted the offer and went from being angry to satisfied.”

Question #7: Do You Have Any Sales Experience?

If you’re applying for a job as a sales associate, interview questions might ask about your sales savvy.

You don’t have to be an expert salesperson to answer. Whether you have very little or a lot of sales experience, you can sell yourself to an interviewer by:

• Providing examples of your sales experience.
• Being positive and enthusiastic.
• Describing methods you use to close sales.

How You Could Answer

“I briefly worked a booth at the mall selling cellphones and mobile services. I would often greet people as they passed by and asked if they were interested in learning about our mobile service plans. I found that many people were interested in switching service providers, while some simply wanted to upgrade to a new device. I would often close sales by offering discounted prices and comparing the benefits with other service providers.”

13 More Common Retail Interview Questions

1. What type of merchandise have you had the most success selling?
2. What do you know about this company’s products and services?
3. What makes you a great candidate for this particular job?
4. What are your strengths and weaknesses when interacting with customers?
5. What have you done at your present/last company to increase revenues, reduce costs or save time?
6. Talk about a time when you were challenged in the sales process. Why was that, and how did you handle it?
7. What type of retail sales systems have you used?
8. How much did they require you to use your math skills?
9. What was the management structure in your previous retail sales jobs?
10. Did you work on commission?
11. What have you done to become a better retail salesperson?
12. What type of schedule are you looking to work?
13. Would you be available to work additional shifts?

Ready to Apply to Retail Jobs?

So, you’ve familiarized yourself with the retail interview questions and answers outlined above. Next, upload your resume to Monster to put your skills on display for recruiters in retail. We’ll make your resume easily accessible to the top recruiters who use our candidate database. Plus, you can sign up to receive customized notifications whenever new retail jobs open up.