Many people fret about the prevalent ‘look policy’ and are under a false notion that retail stores hire only attractive people. Let me tell you that’s not the case. While you do need to look presentable, you don’t need to waste your time and energy trying to look like someone you aren’t. The keyword is-’Go Natural’ and that’s it! In this article, we are going to discuss what to wear to a retail interview over here.
You shouldn’t dress formally as this is not an interview at a firm or a corporation but a retail store. Wear something that you would wear hanging out with your friends or something that looks like you’ve just come strolling from the beach but at the same time, it shouldn’t be anything sloppy or lousy.
Here are some insights that you can follow to dress perfectly for your retail interview:
What Should You Wear to a Retail Interview?
- Wear something that reflects your natural style and is uninfluenced or unaffected. Something unique to you. Don’t try too much to impress. Anything that looks effortless will do. Be you!
- Clothing should be modern and stylish.
- If you choose to wear a t-shirt, it should not be anything outlandishly screaming something at the interviewer. Always think wholesome while you dress.
- Girls can go for the following:
- Follow little or no makeup. Eyeliner is a big no! They hate that. A simple mascara with a light gloss will do the work for you.
- Keep your hair down because anyhow they’re gonna ask you to lower it down at the end of the interview for a photograph. Your hair should look neat yet effortless.
- Prefer to wear little or no jewelry at all.
- Jeans, a tank top, button-ups, shorts, a modest t-shirt,s or layered shirts are some of the preferred clothes you can choose from.
- Guys can choose from:
- A decent t-shirt with or without a layered shirt can go for you.
- Hair should be neat and presentable.
- Do not make much of an effort.
- Converse shoes are the best choice for both girls and boys.
- Abstain from wearing anything too revealing or absurd, it is not professional and never makes a good impression.
- For further insights, you can visit the official retail store’s website and have a look at their clothing line to get a better picture.
- Wearing the retail store’s brand is preferable but it should not look out of place.
What Do They Expect From You?
Like any other job, you need to fulfill some basic requirements and have some basic skills to land yourself up at retail stores. The hiring process allows both new and experienced applicants to participate. You don’t need a special degree for the job, retail stores are looking for peeps who:
- Are social, friendly, welcoming, and laid back.
- Exhibit a relaxed and pleasing attitude throughout the interview.
- Have a patient demeanor and are not quick to vexation. If you shout or quarrel with your fellow competitors or the interviewers, that’ll be a major downfall.
- Smile often and have a helping attitude.
- While answering the questions, they sound as genuine and respectable as they can.
- Have the required leadership, teamwork, and management skills.
- Are willing to foster a healthy and sound environment with the customers, their fellow employees, and the management during their tenure.
- Are at least 16 years of age.
- Are outgoing, enthusiastic, confident, and like and know fashion.
The Deal Breakers
If you want to work as a retail stores employee, you have good prospects until you end up committing the following;
- Yell or fight with anyone during the interview. This is a huge setback. retail stores are looking for employees who are fun-loving and understanding, not people who cannot control their temper.
- Tattoos and piercings are a big no. If you have some, they’ll always ask you to cover it during your working hours.
- Show little or no knowledge about sales or marketing. After all, you’re applying to a retail company. If you don’t know about the commercial word, then what’s the point? It’s like applying for a math teacher and not knowing simple addition!
- Smoking or taking drugs is strictly prohibited.
What Questions Do They Ask?
You don’t want to go to your interview all dumb and meek, do you? To know about the questions that the interviewers are going to ask you beforehand always gives you a good start as it instills in you self-confidence and vigor because you would know everything that they are going to ask you and your answers would be perfectly prepared for them.
Have a look at some standard questions that they ask all the time:
- Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Give them a detailed account of your educational background, your skills and prior experience, and your current position and your place of work, if any. If you say that you have prior experience in a retail store, you must be ready to answer their meticulous questions. So, do no bluff if you do not have experience.
- What can you tell us about our store?
Go through meticulous and comprehensive research about the company you’re applying to. Have a good knowledge about its mission and vision statement, its principles, policies, foundation year, and more. You can visit the careers page on the store’s official website to get a deeper insight into all their careers.
- Why do you want to work at our store?
The answer that can be a deal-breaker is saying that you want the job for money or to help your studies. You should rather say that you are eager to learn new things, want to grow as a person, explore yourself, hone your skills and gain new experience which is why you want the job.
- What are your biggest strengths?
Mention your skills but not in a pompous or haughty manner. Keep the answer humble and down to earth. Say something like you easily adapt to a new environment and are capable of working in a fast-paced environment as you love speed. Tell them how your strengths will help in the growth and advancement of the company.
- Do you have any weaknesses?
People make the mistake of answering this question in the negative. They portray themselves as flawlessly perfect but little do they know that the recruiters are aware of the fact that it is not possible. After all, we’re all human and each one of us has our flaws. Mention them and accept them and also tell them that you are looking forward to improving them through the skills you will learn in the company.
- Where would you like to see yourself in the next five years?
The answer to this question must always convey that your long-term career goals are aligned with the job you are applying for and are giving the interview. So tell them that you want to make a career in the commercial industry or a retail store.
- Why should you be hired?
This is the time to list all your achievements, experiences, skills, and knowledge that you have mustered in the past. You should also tell them that you love everything about sales and marketing and have amazing people skills, organizational skills, and problem-solving skills which will help you in the retail environment.
- How would you make the shopping experience better for an unhappy customer?
You should answer this by telling them that first of all, you will find out the cause of the customer’s unhappiness. If it would be because of a product, you would replace it or provide them with a different one. If it is because they cannot find what they are looking for, you would assist them in doing so.
- Do you have any questions for us?
Show your eagerness and interest by asking them questions about your pay, benefits, work hours, and allowances amongst other things. This is a question you must always answer as this concerts your curiosity and involvement in the process.
- What are your take on diversity and its importance in a workplace?
This is a very important question. You should tell the recruiters that you fully support diversity and believe that it is the essence of any working organization.
- Do you have an entrance?
Although there’s no partiality over the experienced and inexperienced candidates and most retail stores welcome everyone, even those with no experience at all, it is always good to pitch in about your prior experiences as that will give a better insight into your skills and knowledge.
- Why should you be chosen over others?
The interviewers need to know why you stand out from the rest. What is it that you have within you that makes you the best person suited for the job? Your answer must be confident, clear, and concise. At the same time, you must not boast about your achievements or point out the flaws in your fellow applicants. That is never a symbol of good behavior. Instead, you should only talk about yourself. For a good answer, read all the job qualifications and requirements and align your answer according to them.
- How much salary do you expect?
The money questions are always the trickiest ones. You must not sound like someone who wants the job just for the sake of money but at the same time, you also don’t want to sell yourself short. Undertake meticulous research about the history of the company salary offered to its employees at your position and then mention a substantial salary range.
- How do you deal with the pressure of a busy environment?
We all know that retail stores are ever-bustling given their popularity and demand. Never answer this question saying that you never or seldom go through stress. Instead, give a realistic and practical reply that you try to remain calm and take one step at a time to handle stress and pressure.
Closure
The best way to dress for an interview is your way. That is something that’ll make you stand out. Make it chic, casual, and effortlessly natural, and you’re good to go. So let go, loosen up a little and wear whatever makes you happy.
