Retail Appointment September 2018 TRAP_Sept 2018_DigitalEdition2 | Page 5
1. What are your strengths?
Make it relevant to the job. If it’s a sales job, talk
about being self confident with new people. If
it’s a buying job, talk about your negotiation
skills. If it’s a retail operational job, talk about
leadership and people management. 12. How well do you accept criticism?
A bit of honesty is always worthwhile. No one
likes to be criticised. Avoid the old cliché about
constructive criticism.
Try, “when someone tells me how to do something
better than I am currently doing it, I enjoy it.”
2. What are your weaknesses?
Again, bear in mind the job for which you are
applying. Please avoid the clichés and, most of
all, do not say “I don’t suffer fools gladly.” This
is the most clichéd answer of all and is cringe
worthy. Saying that you’re a wor kaholic isn’t a
bad one, nor is being a perfectionist. Do not
highlight something that you know you are bad
at, as the interviewer will dwell on it. 13. What is your management style?
• Again, please don’t say: “I don’t suffer fools
easily.”
• Good words are “calm,” “measured,” “empa-
thetic” and “fair.”
• Don’t, ever, say “firm but fair.” Everyone says it.
3.
Why do you want this job?
Good answers include: “I love the brand, I know
your reputation, I can develop.”
Mid answers are: “It’s more money, it’s better
hours, work/life balance.”
Bad answers are: “It wasn’t my first choice, the
agency sent me, I don’t know.”
4. Why should we give you this job?
“Because I know you will be good at it.”
“Because I will make you more money.”
“Because I have lots to offer.” Give examples.
5. And why should I not give you this job?
“I can’t give you a reason.”
“If you have someone who is even better.”
6.
Who do you consider to be our competitors?
This seems innocuous enough but can be a dis-
aster if you cite the wrong people. For example,
if you were to say ‘Primark’ when you’re inter-
viewing with Harrods. Do your research. Have
some answers ready that will possibly flatter the
client. Try to find something about the employer
that is unique. To be able to say: “you don’t have
a direct competitor” is always positive.
7. Have you been in one of our stores/restau-
rants?
If the answer is no, you’ve lost the interview al-
ready. You must have visited at least one site
and have an opinion on it.
8. What did you think of our stores?
This is fishing for a compliment. You are ex-
pected to say something good. If you have a
constructive criticism, be very careful.
9. What do you know about us?
• You must be able to speak about anything re-
cently in the news — especially if it’s good.
• You must know how many stores they’ve got.
• If they’re a public company, you must know
their trading results and share price.
• If you haven’t looked at their website, you
have already lost.
10. What motivates you at work?
Again, it depends on the job. A sales job will be
“making sales!” A retail manager’s job is
“putting money in the till”. An HR job is about
“getting the most out of people.”
11. What demotivates you at work?
“I rarely, if ever, feel demotivated at work.”
retailappointment.co.uk
14. Who do you admire and why?
• You’re normally safe with sports people.
• Be very careful of politicians in case the inter-
viewer is on the other side.
• Your ex-bosses are always positive; it says
you’re easy to work with.
15. What would you do if your current employer
counter offers you?
The only answer the employer wants to hear is
that you are committed to moving on. And you
should be. Accepting a counter offer from your
current employer is almost always a mistake. Re-
member this, they are doing it for their own expe-
diency. Once you have accepted a counter offer,
they will be planning for your eventual departure.
16. Are you looking at other employers?
Normally, a good thing to say is “yes.” Don’t be
over enthusiastic about the others though, even
if you are. Best to be neutral.
17. Following on from 16, which would be your
first choice?
Unless you tell the employer that they are your
first choice, you won’t get offered the job
anyway. It’s actually quite insulting to tell a po-
tential employer that they are second best.
18. How do you see the market going in the next
12 months?
This will only apply to commercial jobs. You
must have an intelligent view on this. If the
economy is looking rocky then you may want
to highlight that there will be challenges. On the
other hand, if you know that the company is
doing really well, then you should be very opti-
mistic. More than anything, you must have an
informed view.
19. What do you think our challenges are going to
be in the coming year?
Similar to 18, you must have a view. If you know
there is a competitor in the market, then say so.
But be upbeat. If there is legislation that is going
to affect their market, you should know.
20. How do you feel this interview went?
• You enjoyed it.
• If you made a gaffe, acknowledge it.
• If you discovered something you didn’t know,
highlight it.
• Confirm your enthusiasm (even if you’re not
that enthusiastic about it). Getting the job offer
will do wonders for your confidence. Getting
turned down for a job, even if you didn’t want
it, is a blow.
05