Working for an inspirational and iconic company is the dream of millions of individuals throughout the globe. Not everyone can work for those companies and it’s not every day that these companies are hiring. Especially if it is Nike, as they are tremendously selective and only want the best employees for their stores. With over 76,000 employees spread over 1,050 stores all across the globe, combined with its iconic status, it is a dream of many sports enthusiasts to work at Nike.
After applying and going through the rigorous hiring process at Nike, you’re informed that you have been selected for an interview round! Contain your excitement as the interview questions asked can be rather tricky. You must have a proper understanding of them before you attempt to answer them.
This article will prepare you for your interview at Nike with eight of the most common questions asked there.
Interview Questions at Nike
Contrary to popular belief, Nike does not have a standardized test. Most common jobs such as cashier or sales associate are conducted in a group. Most questions are a mix of the situational and personal departments. The corporate department may require a more technical understanding of the job, so the questions asked thus may be more technical. Below are some common Nike Questions along with ways to answer them.
Why do you want to work for us?
As you may know, this is one of the most common questions asked. The answer to this question can differ from one person to the other. You must mention some positive experiences that you have had with Nike. You may also mention your favorite athletes sponsored by them. You could also mention your alignment with the core values of Nike. Having a genuine and interesting response to this question may catch the eye of interviewers.
Do you think that teamwork is important?
The interviewers want to know more about your communication and interpersonal skills, as retail may require employees skilled in communicating and working excellently with their co-workers. Providing an example of a positive prior team experience can prove helpful here.
Have you succeeded to work under pressure?
Performing under pressure and in stressful situations is a skill that not all employees possess. This differentiates an average employee and a skilled one. You must be honest while answering this question, instances from past experiences can also prove to be helpful. Explain your ability to control and manage stress and how you’ve learned to manage it.
Tell us about yourself, including your past work experience
The answer to this question may vary as it is supposed to be a personal question. Start by introducing yourself to the interviewers, try to be enthusiastic. Then proceed to mention your former workplaces, describing the experiences in a nice, meaningful manner is necessary. The interviewers will often notice your body language, as it can prove to be more revealing than your verbal skills. Overall, being confident and emphasizing your lessons from past work experiences is essential to answering this question.
Describe your greatest strength
The interviewers want to test if you are realistic and if you recognize your strengths and also if they are relevant to the position you’re applying for. You must start with stating your strength and provide instances where you were able to utilize the strength. This could be anything ranging from working under pressure or leadership.
Describe your greatest weakness
Honesty is the only way to answer this question. Trying to deny any weaknesses may come off as overconfident or insincere, qualities that the employers are repulsed by. Think of actual weaknesses and also mention how you are working towards overcoming them. This could range from public speaking to procrastinating. Thorough introspection is necessary for the assessment of your weaknesses.
Express Nike in your own words
This is by far the most important question because this tests your understanding of the company. Mentioning the core values and what Nike stands for along with its relevance in your life is helpful. You may mention the leadership of the founder or even the innovation and global reach that they have managed to achieve over the decades.
What keeps you motivated?
This question is easy to misinterpret and can catch you off-guard. You must answer this question with honesty and the answers must also be somewhat relevant to the position you are applying for.
How to Prepare for Interview at Nike?
Learn about Nike as much as you can, study the history of the company. Question yourself as to why do you want to work there and why not their competitors. This is the most essential personal research that an individual must carry out to assess and test their potential at a company. You may also go through the above questions for reference and to have a better understanding of potential questions.
Ask yourself about your future plans and if they align with the position you are applying for at Nike. You must also demonstrate your capability and appear to be confident. This also includes speaking at a normal pace so you do not appear to be nervous or boring.
Requirements to join Nike
The requirements to join Nike vary entirely on the position you are applying for. Some positions do not have high requirements but some other complex positions expect much more, so only the eligible and cream of the crop can be selected. Below there are some basic requirements for joining Nike.
Minimum 18 Years of Age
This is essential and one of the only requirements that are mandated by law to safeguard the rights of minor and teen workers. Nike makes sure to adhere to the law and hires only adults.
Excellent Communication Skills
This skill proves key in any sales and retail job. You need to have excellent command over your speech so you can communicate effectively with the customers and the employer as well. You must demonstrate effective discourse skills in the interview as well, the more eloquent and erudite, the more chances of you getting hired, regardless of a desk or retail job.
Minimum One year of Experience
Your chances of getting hired to get doubled if you have prior experience in the required position. Some positions such as sales may require prior experience in retail and sales management. Nike believes in the hiring of freshers to cultivate new talent and skills, but some complex positions such as Design Director or Product Director require prior experience to ensure the quality standards that Nike is known for.
Flexible Schedule
As a retail employee, you must be able to have a flexible schedule along with the willingness to provide service during retail hours which can include holidays, weekends, late evenings, or early morning shifts. The requirement may vary on the store branch and needs of the company.
Team Worker
You must be able to work in a team environment. This includes holding yourself accountable for your actions. Being mature and clear in your speech. You must be open to criticism and also possess the quality of healthy criticism regarding ideas. You must be a team player but commit to the team and ensure the best service. Having a positive mental attitude goes a long way for a healthy team environment.
Physical Requirements
This is not essential if you’re applying for a desk job at Nike since most Nike jobs are retail, this may prove useful. This is suitable more for the retail and floor employees. You must be able to lift the new arrivals and shipments for extended periods. You must also be able to climb ladders, bend, twist, and squat. Agility and endurance are the abilities that aren’t expected but appreciated if the employees hone them.
Jobs at Nike
If you are intrigued by Nike and its work ethic, you may be searching for jobs there that match your preference and skill set. Below are some of the most sought-after jobs at Nike along with their duties and salary.
Sales Associate
This is the most common and sought-after job at Nike, often called an athlete. After a rigorous training period, you are finally allowed on the outlet floor. There you have to apply the training skills to use by providing excellent customer service along with informing the customers regarding the products. Your duties also include organizing merchandise, recommending products to the customers, assisting them in locating the products, and also performing cashier duties by operating the cash register. There are no set requirements for this job, high school or GED equivalent is sufficient.
The sales associates at Nike get paid approximately $12.65 per hour. This results in an average of $33,565 annually, including incentives, bonuses, and pay raises.
Department Manager
The Department Manager is one of the essential positions at Nike stores, most commonly referred to as coaches due to their senior position. The manager has various responsibilities on their shoulders, such as:
- Communicating and informing the staff about events and further schedule
- Assisting the Store Manager in ensuring smooth and premium operations of the store
- Managing all the day-to-day activities including sales, customer service, and grievance reports, training staff, business and time management
The rigorous duties require responsible and experienced individuals, thus this job position requires the following.
- Bachelor’s Degree in marketing or relevant fields.
- Minimum 3-5 years of retail experience
- Excellent communication skills
- Flexible schedule
- The ability to use business systems and software
The average annual salary of a Department Manager ranges from $50,322 to $65,738 depending on the years of experience.
Store Manager
The Store Manager is the head of the outlet, often called the senior head coach. There are a gargantuan amount of responsibilities on the Store Manager. These include:
- Responsible for effective Inventory management
- Managing financial budget, including expenses and labor cost
- Managing the Department and Assistant Managers
- Responsible for the hiring and termination of employees
- Recognizing the complex problems in operations and management
- Supervising and ensuring the smooth running of the store operation
The requirements for the Nike Store Manager include:
- Bachelor’s in Economics or other relevant fields
- 8 to 10 years of retail experience
- Ability to lead and build teams
- Must be able to create a healthy work environment
On average, the annual salary of Nike Store Managers ranges from $61,352 to $74,564, including bonuses.
Final Thoughts
The interview questions at Nike are tricky but by no means are they hard or complex. With critical thinking and thorough introspection, you can answer some of the essential questions asked at the interview. Nonverbal cues such as body language can also make or break the chances of you getting hired. Confidence is also the key to getting hired.
Remember that this is just an interview, be prepared and do not overthink. Just do it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Some readers and future Nike employees may be left with a few persistent queries in their mind, the FAQ section aims to provide answers to all those queries.
Q. What is the application process at Nike like? Can I apply offline?
A. You must apply online. After your online application has been shortlisted, there will be an online interview round, if you pass that round, you will be called for an on-site group interview in your nearest Nike outlet. The hiring process can take up anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks, depending on your locality. Nike will be in touch with you during the whole process.
Q. What should I wear for the interview?
A. Dressing formally/business casual is expected. Avoid shorts and jeans even if you are applying for an entry-level position.
Q. Is the training period paid for at Nike?
A. Yes! Since the training period may last anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks, Nike makes sure to pay all their new hires and trainees even before they start working on the main floors.
Q. Does Nike offer any employee benefits? If so, how long will it take for me to avail them?
A. Nike offers an array of benefits to all of its employees. The benefits range from employee store discounts to 8 weeks of paid maternity leave and even health insurance. All of these benefits are available from the day you are hired.
Q. I currently work at the Arlington Nike outlet, but I will be moving to Norfolk in a few weeks, can I work at a Nike outlet a?
A. Nike does offer relocation assistance in most states, it depends on the availability and opening of positions there. You must talk to your branch manager for further guidance.
