Potential Job Interview Questions Flashcards
Tell me about a challenging time you solved.
One of our long term clients had a tight turn around time on their order and it stalled on our end. This was going to
prevent on time delivery for an event they had so I coordinated with several departments to overcome a few production issues and managed to get the schedule back on track. We were able to successfully deliver the product on time and increased customer loyalty.
What is your greatest strength:
I pride myself on my ability to resolve what could be difficult situations. I keep level headed when stressed and will do whatever it takes to
How Do You Handle Stress / Pressure?
I’ve done some of my best work under tight deadlines, where the atmosphere was very stressful.
How do you usually go about solving a problem?
- Start by writing down as many ideas as I can about possible causes
- I look for relationships among causes so I can group together symptoms of bigger problems
- Usually the real cause becomes apparent,
Tell me about your least-favorite manager:
- Fortunate with managers
- I did work with a manager who was inaccessible
- If you walked into his office to ask a question you got the sense you were birthing him
- He was a good manager in a lot of ways but I would have preferred he made himself more available and gave more feedback
Tell me about a time you noticed a process that could be improved and how did you bring it up to management:
-In my sales experience, customers can sometimes take a long time to authorize a sale. I realized that in our company they were a few reasons that this happened and that we could improve on our process. Often times they weren’t 100% sure what they wanted to order because they hadn’t seen it in person. I suggested that we started offering to send them multiple samples (at a nominal charge) after they approved an order and before production so they had the opportunity to make the right choice for their business.This way we were able to confirm the order, get a deposit, and not lose the customer while they wondered what to do without enough information.
Explain a time you experienced a difficult customer and how you handled the situation:
-Customers hold was put back so I explained the hold policy, gave her the store business card to extend her hold next time, and had her try on the item in another color and then had the correct item mailed to her. I added her brands and permission to my personal CRM system so I could track her needs and call her when product came in.
Biggest accomplishment:
Graduating with my bachelor degree in communication while working full time and going to school at night. I also pride myself in being awarded the honor of Customer Service Allstar at Nordstrom. There is only one award a month for the entire departments tore. I was recognized for my sales numbers and the positive feedback to our regional manager based on written customer comments and the store managers opinion of me.
Fashion Blogs I like:
Kendi Everyday, A piece of toast, damsel in dior, natalie dressed, gal meets glam, zipped.
Why Sears:
- I also think this is an exciting time to start my buying career at Sears. Through in-store floor space designated as “Here + Now,” Sears aims to rapidly source, stock and, sell through trendy fashions in a matter of weeks — if not days — rather than the usual multimonth cycle that department stores normally need to secure and sell inventory. I think Sears has the opportunity to make an impact with quality, trend based items, at an affordable price. I’d like to work at a company whose customer is the average american that is looking for products that offer a lot of value and I see that in Sears.
- My friend works at Sears Holdings in NYC and has great things to say about the work/life balance, the inspiring people she works with.
What is your greatest weakness?
I don’t have strong public speaking skills. I’m often a leader in small groups, but the thought of giving a presentation in front of hundreds of peoples scares me. I took a public speaking class in college though and it taught me several tools to work on to get better as this.
What do you do when there are competing deadlines?
In general I try to complete all of the most difficult aspects of the project first so that the deadline doesn’t feel as difficult. I also try to communicate with every member of the team to make sure everyone knows where we are in the schedule. If I need to stay late or come in early to make both deadlines I’ll do what needs to be done to complete the project.
Give me an example of a time when you were analytical?
Several times a year I am called upon to analyze sales reports to make informed suggestions on where our business is taking us and which products we should push as sales people, what trade shows would benefit us for exhibiting at, and what products can better service our customers.
What qualities do you think a buyer needs to have?
Good communication and analytical skills and sense of urgency. Retail math knowledge is also extremely important
What was the last thing you bought from sears?
I actually bought some of the Kassatex Luxe Towels at the Sears in my local mall. The towels are oversized, thick, and certified organic which is nice.
Tell me what you know about what a buyer does
responsible for sourcing new products and analysing the success of existing goods to ensure that the company and its products remain competitive. Underpinning all the aspects of the role is a duty to understand what customers’ needs are and to be able to meet those needs. In doing that, a buyer needs to research, plan and choose the range, type and quality of the products they source.
Which stores do you think are our best stores and why?
the Connected Solutions shop with Sears stores brings products and services together in a unique environment. I think these stores have a competitive edge in the industry and will draw in more customers.
Describe a time when you were working in a group that was experiencing problems. How did you go about resolving the issues?
I worked on a class project where a member did not share the high work ethic and commitment held by the rest of the group. With a willingness to listen, I suggested we take an audit of each team member’s strengths and weaknesses in order to appropriately delegate the work. The group member who was perceived as not helping expressed she had skills in putting together the powerpoint presentation and was also better at talking about the project rather than writing it. She ended up working with us to understand our key points and nailed the creative aspect of the project. Our team felt better about the distribution of work and we ended up getting an A.
Who do you think are our competitors?
Kohls is a competitor as they have similar celebrity brands like Sears does. Walmart is also a competitor on the appliance end. JcPenny.
Who is the california state governor?
In CA, it is Jerry Brown. I’m not sure about Illinois but I know he did sign into law a cupcake bill that allowed home bakers to continue home business operations without having to deal with health departments as long as there isn’t a safety issue.
Why do you think this industry would sustain your interest in the long haul?
The industry is changing so rapidly that I see lots of room for job enhancement regardless of promotions. I’m particularly interested in the many applications for multimedia as a training tool
Why do you think you will do well at this job?
I am a person that learns quickly and performs well under pressure. I like being a team player that motivates others to achieve the common company goals. I’m analytical and love solving problems.
What is important for buyers to consider before buying
customer demand, including price, quality and availability;
market trends; store policy; financial budgets.
What’s exciting to me as becoming a buyer?
While there is certainly an “average” day, most days are filled with a variety of both analytical and creative work. I am regularly challenged to solve a problem that I have not come across before or develop a new business opportunity that I have identified. You have to really enjoy business management first and product second.
