The retail job industry, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, is filled with more than nine million people. The amount of competition for these positions tends to be pretty high, and so employers have become more and more selective when it comes to filling their team and viewing new candidates. This fact makes it that much more important to stand out during the interview.
When it comes to retail sales, one of the biggest issues is appearance. Whether you’re talking about the appearance of the product, the store, or the sales people, appearance is a main factor. Before attending your interview, do some research and see what the standard of dress and appearance is for the job. Then, seek to at least match, if not actually exceed, the typical dress style for the position. Looking professional is rarely ever a negative thing, and if you take the extra step to “dress for success”, it can go a long way.
One of the next things to really focus on is the products and services of the interviewing company. Again, this is an area you probably need to do a little research on if you are unfamiliar with the company’s products and services. Being prepared in this area can not only help you answer the interview questions more thoroughly but can also be used to generate questions you may wish to ask the interviewer. Go to the company website, examine the types of products and services, and be familiar with their mission statement. Doing the research and having a firm grasp on the company, their products, their mission, and any other working conditions, can be a great help to you in the interview process.
Working in retail tends to be a fairly fast-paced industry due to the amount of competition. Being a good salesman means having the ability to instill the customer’s faith in you, the company, and the product; enough faith to buy the product as well as return to the store in the future. When you enter the interview, you need to show your enthusiasm and an outgoing personality. Smiling, laughing when appropriate, and just a general gung-ho attitude shows that you are a go-getter with a people-person personality. When answering the question asked, try to do so in a conversational manner, showing you have good communication and conversational skills which are important when working in retail and sales. Concentrate on any sales or customer service related skills that you possess as well as key experiences from your past positions.
Many people may look at a retail position as an entry level position – and in some cases it can be. But remember, to the company, this can be part of their front line for income, and so they can and should be very selective when it comes to filling these positions. If you have the attitude, look, and skills to be a very productive member of the team, you are more likely to land the position over someone who views and treats it as an entry level position of less importance.
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