When you have a job interview for aretail position,you may not need to dress in business attire unless you are applying for a management position, or if you're interviewing at an upscale retailer.
What to wear to a retail interview depends on the type of retailer and the level ofposition you are applying for. In some cases, you'll need todress professionally. In other cases,business casual attireis appropriate.
The following are guidelines for what to wear for a retail job interview at designer stores, department stores, company stores, and large retailers.
When interviewing with a large retailer for a non-managerial level position, you should dress inbusiness casual attire. That means no sneakers, no flip-flops, no jeans, no hats or caps, no sweatshirts, andno t-shirts with graphics or writing.
Thisis true even if you're interviewing for a position at a home improvement store or"big box" retailer. You don't need to dress formally, but you do need to be neat and tidy.
Men can choose from dress slacks or chinos, abutton-down or polo shirt, socks, and dress shoes or loafers.
Women can choose from a skirt (not too short) or slacks, blouse, sweater, twinset, or polo shirt, and closed-toe shoes.
Department Stores
For a department store interview, you really can't go wrong by wearingbusiness attire, especially in a large city, or if you are applying to the high-end departments such as jewelry or formal wear.
Men should wear a suit or dress slacks and a jacket, shirt, tie, dark socks, and dress shoes.
Women should wear a suit or an ensemble of a skirt, dress slacks, or a dress with a jacket, blouse, hosiery, and closed-toe shoes.
In more casual geographic locations and departments, business casual is acceptable but stay on the formal and conservative side.
Men can wear dress slacks with a shirt and tie (skip the jacket), dark socks, and dress shoes or loafers.
Women can choose from a skirt (not too short), slacks, blouse, sweater, twinset, hosiery, and closed-toe shoes.
Jewelry and Designer Stores
For a jewelry store or high-end designer clothing store, you should arrive at your interview dressed in business attire.
For men, this means a suit, shirt, tie, dark socks, and shoes. Dress slacks, shirt, tie, jacket, dark socks, and dress shoes are also acceptable.
For women, a pantsuit or skirt suit, blouse, hosiery, and closed-toe shoes, or a dress with a jacket, hosiery, and closed-toe shoes are acceptable.
Company Stores and Outlets
When interviewing at a company store or outlet, business casual in the style of the company is appropriate. Many companies encourage their employees to wear items from their collections, and even if you don't own anything appropriate with their label, something in the same style is acceptable.
For men, weardress slacks or chinos, a button-downshirt with or without a tie, dark socks, and dress shoes. Avoid polo shirts for your interview, even if they are acceptable for working there.
Women should wear a combination of a skirt (not too short), dress slacks, blouse, sweater, twinset, jacket (optional), and hosiery with closed-toe shoes.
How to Choose Interview Accessories
Bring a briefcase, portfolio, or folder for your resume and job application (if you are returning a completed one), a notepad, a pen, and breath mints.
Women should keep their purse small, and their makeup, hairstyle, and jewelry conservative. It's always a good idea to bring extra copies of your resume, in case you end up meeting with multiple people. Also, bring a list of references.
Dress appropriately: To ensure that you feel confident while interviewing and make a positive impression on the interviewer, you should dress professionally. If you're interviewing to work at a retail shop that sells clothing, you can consider wearing clothes from that shop to show your ability to keep up with trends.
During the interview, the hiring manager will be looking to see if you have the retail work experience, attitude, and abilities they need. Some of the more important skills you need to demonstrate are a strong work ethic, customer focus, sales success, communication, and thriving in a fast-paced environment.
You might discuss your ability to work within a team and prioritize organizational goals. Focus your response on what accomplishments you might help the company achieve. Discuss your interest in the company's field of retail to show your expertise with their products.
Be specific about how these attributes will help you do well at this retail job. For example, “I am very friendly with customers, which makes them feel comfortable coming back to shop again” or “My great organizational skills mean I can handle multiple tasks across different areas without getting overwhelmed.”
What are your strengths? You'll always be asked this so make sure you have some clear answers that are relevant to the job. For example, an ability to handle tricky situations may be relevant for a customer service role and being a great team player will be useful for many roles in retail.
So in those first few minutes, it's all about smiling confidently, shaking hands firmly, making eye contact and generally looking as if you're glad to be there and you want the job. Lean in slightly, widen your eyebrows slightly, and wait to be invited to sit down.
“I should be hired for this role because of my relevant skills, experience, and passion for the industry. I've researched the company and can add value to its growth. My positive attitude, work ethics, and long-term goals align with the job requirements, making me a committed and valuable asset to the company.”
Talk about specific examples of how you can help this company achieve their goals and highlight any relevant transferrable skills that will make you stand out as the right candidate. Write down any recent achievements you can talk about or any challenges you've faced recently that might be related to this new job.
Every good answer to “tell me about yourself” should consist of: Work - This should make up about 80% of your answer. Focus on your previous experience and accomplishments here. Academic - 10-15% of your answer should then be about your academic background (university, academic achievements, etc.).
If you're feeling nervous, take a deep breath and be confident that you've prepared well for it. Being nervous is normal, but try to stay as calm as you can during the interview. Ask for clarification if you haven't understood a question, and take your time to give the best answer you can.
“I'm an expert at merchandising. In my previous job, I was always in charge of floor sets. I can also cashier if needed, although it's not my strongest suit and I would probably need some additional training to master it. But I'm always ready and willing to learn new skills.”
Don't shortchange yourself — and the interviewee — by rushing through the interview in 15 or 20 minutes. Schedule at least 45 minutes (an hour is better) so you can ask enough retail interview questions to really get to know your potential team member.
Lackluster communication skills are a weakness to job performance in retail, hindering the salesperson's ability to connect with customers. For example, a customer might tell a salesperson that she wants to buy a product at the end of the week once she receives her paycheck.
If you don't have retail experience, you can draw on your past work experience and mention any transferable skills that you've acquired. If you've worked in retail before, tell the interviewer what your duties were and what you learned. Discuss how your background and skills align with the goals of the company.
Your introduction in an interview should be succinct and last around 1 to 2 minutes. Provide your name, educational background, relevant work experience, key skills, and strengths.
Tell me about your previous retail experience and skills. What are your goals for working in retail? Describe a time when you went out of your way to help a customer.
Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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