The Retail Sector
The Retail Sector
The retail sector is comprised of two main areas, online retail (e-commerce) and retail stores. Despite compromising over two-thirds of the sector, retail stores have suffered massively in recent years, not only because of increased competition from their online competitors (like amazon), but more recently because of the national quarantine’s that have taken place due to the ongoing global health pandemic. In spite of these challenges, as a whole the sector is still very strong and continues to be one of the largest areas in the economy
Most retail jobs are for entry level positions only, which is consequently why along with prior experience, the main requirements are typically things like basic maths and english. Although many jobs in the sector only offer part-time hours, most jobs are fairly secure and offer you the chance to work in a reasonably relaxed atmosphere
You can learn valuable skills working in the retail sector. This is a field that younger workers starting out in the job market or those interested in progressing their career options can not only use as a stepping stone to build their skills and experience to advance into better paying career fields and opportunities, but can also use to build a stable and reliable career within this sector too
Common Retail Interview Questions
Interviewer. ‘Can you tell me about any previous experience you have working in the retail sector?’
Candidate. ‘I worked at Wal-Mart for 5 years. It was great, I really loved it. Then I left when I had my baby to become a stay-at-home mum. Now I’m back and ready to get back into the workplace again’.
Interviewer. ‘What did you love about it?’
Candidate. ‘Everything. My colleagues, the work, the hours, the customers. It’s what I’m good at, I love what I do and it’s a role I fit into naturally’.
Interviewer. ‘What makes you an ideal candidate for this job?
Candidate. ‘I’m fun to be around, I’m outgoing, I love working retail and I’m great at my job!’
Interviewer. ‘What do you enjoy about working in retail?’
Candidate. ‘I love the clothes and the fashion, I love the interactions I’m able to have with my customers, and I just love the atmosphere of working inside a store’.
Interviewer. ‘What can you tell me about our company’s products and services?’
Candidate. ‘You’ve been named one of the best big retail companies to work for three years in a row now. The company’s core values center around not only commercial success, but a strong belief in value for money and customer choice. Your strongest selling products have been electronics products such as home entertainment systems and home appliances, but in recent years your company has made a move to diversify its product lines, and following a recent high profile advertising campaign, you’ve now branched out into kitchenware and home furniture’.
Interviewer. ‘What would you say your main strengths are?
Candidate. ‘I’m very diligent when it comes to performing my job duties, I’m very dedicated when it comes to working for my employer, and I find it very easy to build rapport and get on well with just about anyone’.
Interviewer. ‘What are your weaknesses?’
Remember a bad answer here is preferable to none at all
Although this can be a very awkward question, it’s one commonly asked in many interviews, and it’s done because the interviewer is looking for a sign that you are able to open up to them and are not simply telling them whatever they want to hear – that’s why it’s so important to have an answer to this question, and why it’ll hurt you if you don’t. Always remember to keep any answer here short, constructive, and as irrelevant to the role as possible.
For more help on how to answer this question, you should refer to our Q & A section
https://interview-professional.com/interview-preparation-for-the-structured-interview/
Interviewer. ‘What have you done to become a better retail salesperson?’
Candidate. ‘On top of always remaining attentive and diligent in my duties, I’ve recently studied an online professional website that had lots of useful tips and pointers, the most relevant ones of which I’ve applied in the workplace to help me hone my sales and customer service skills. For instance, one thing I’ve learned from studying this site is not to rush at the customer the moment they come into my section of the store. That’s why whenever a customer comes in, I always give them a moment or two to acclimatise first before approaching to enquire if they need assistance. I’ve also spoken to my co-workers and listened to what they have to say, and as a result my customer greeting has improved a lot. By listening to them and observing their techniques I’ve managed to incorporate some of their best parts into my own approach. This has enabled me to approach my customers in a very warm and friendly way, as well as allowing me to keep my questions nice and open-ended so the dialogue can flow between us’.
For more examples of the types of questions you might expect to encounter in your interview, see our Q and A section:
https://interview-professional.com/all-interview-types-with-q–a-s-included-menu/
Interviewer. ‘Our jobs are highly teamwork orientated; how do you think you’ll fit into that?’
Candidate. ‘I think I’ll fit into that perfectly because it’s how I’m already used to working. I’m a people person whose fun, friendly, and outgoing. I love talking with people, and I get a great deal of enjoyment from the interactions I have with both my customers and co-workers alike. It’s why I’m in this line of work, and I wouldn’t have it any other way’.
For more examples of the types of questions you might expect to encounter in your interview, see our Q and A section:
https://interview-professional.com/all-interview-types-with-q–a-s-included-menu/