CAREER GUIDE: COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Welcome to our Career Guide Series. A selection of sharp and shiny guides that will help you achieve success in your next career step.
In this edition of our Career Guide series, we explore the most common interview questions that pop up in an interview. We’ll share a simple list of questions and questioning styles and tips on how to plan your answer for those trickier questions.
FIRST THINGS FIRST, A SIMPLE INTERVIEW PREPARATION CHECKLIST:
Follow these simple steps to ensure you’re well equipped for the big day:
Examine the position description and job ad and compare your experience and skills against each key responsibility. Which responsibilities have you seen key success in and which responsibilities may be a new challenge for you? Use this to your advantage in the interview.
Research the brand thoroughly beforehand and visit stores where possible.
Understand company values versus your own values to establish a cultural alignment.
Prepare answers to common interview questions - our guide is your friend here.
Prepare 2-3 questions of your own for the interviewer.
Arrive early by 5 - 10 minutes.
Wear an outfit by the brand or that reflects the brand's style closely.
This guide explores common interview questions, however we recommend reading it in conjunction with our Interview Preparation Guide that explores how to prepare for the full list above.
Image Credit: Wynn Hamlyn
What questions should you expect ?
Tell me a bit about yourself and your career history
What makes you a good fit for the role?
What have you liked most/least about your current company?
What do you know about our company/brand?
How do you measure success in your role, what have you done to achieve that?
What are your strengths or greatest achievements?
What are your greatest weaknesses?
Why are you looking to leave your current role?
What are your salary expectations?
Do you have any questions for me?
In addition to this fundamental question list, expect questions that are role specific that relate to the role you’ve applied for. Role specific questions will generally fall into one of two categories:
Skill-Based - these questions will ask you to describe your skillset in a particular area. They will sound like, ‘have you worked with,’, ‘what’s your experience with’, and so on. So for example,
“What KPIs do you currently use to measure your success”
“What size teams have you managed in the past?’”
Situational - these are ‘what would you do if’ style questions. Here, you should answer with examples of how you’ve dealt with a similar situation in your roles in the past. These may be behavioural (conflict, leadership and so on) or KPI driven (improving performance, sales outcomes and so on). For example:
How would you manage a team member who was consistently delivering KPIs below benchmark?
How would you manage conflict between yourself and your direct manager?
To have answers prepared to answer role specific questions, we recommend spending some time making a short list of your key achievements/key outcomes in your past roles to have these to draw on. Consider the areas in your role where you’ve made significant improvements (KPI, team culture, team relationships, brand performance and so on) and how you achieved the improvement. These scenarios will come in handy no matter what question is asked.
HOW TO ANSWER THE TRICKY QUESTIONS
How should you answer the “what are your weaknesses” question?
Turn a negative into a positive by showcasing how you would like to grow your knowledge in a specific area.
Don’t use those generic, inauthentic answers such as, I’m a perfectionist or I put too much pressure on myself and simultaneously avoid any red flag answers that make you seem incapable of the role. The interviewer wants to hear where your areas of opportunity are and that you can reflect critically on how you can be challenged in your new role. New systems or processes are always a great fall-back answer here.
To answer this question well, simply assess the job ad or position description and pick one key area that you would like more training on. It could be simply exposure to new systems and processes, or one non-fundamental responsibility that would be new to you. Frame your answer as a learning opportunity or an area you can improve on. For example, I’m competent in using two POS but I believe you use AP21 - this is a new system for me. I’d love further training on this.
How to answer “Tell us a little bit about yourself?”
We’ve got a step-by-step video on how to answer this question! Watch the below video to unlock recruitment angel, Emily’s advice:
How to answer, '“Why are you leaving your current role?”
Keep this answer positive and authentic. What hiring managers don’t want to hear is negative things about your current company (or any company you’ve worked for, for that matter). Be concise and keep your answer simple. What are your true motivations to move? If you are with a business where you are feeling unhappy or misaligned, it’s important to consider how you will frame your answer to this question. If you’re stuck as to how you can put a positive tone on your response, consider simple responses that revolve around new challenges, growth, new mentorship, different company sizes, categories, a fresh approach and so on. The main takeaway here is: do not speak negatively about your former employers in an interview.
Image Credit: Wynn Hamlyn
How to answer salary questions or to bring up salary?
Be prepared for the hiring manager to ask you your expectations if this hasn’t happened over the phone interview. Do some market research prior to the interview and consider the role responsibilities as well as the value you can add to the role. Also ensure that you share your expectations as a base salary + super. A range is fine but be sure the lower end of the range is a number you’re very comfortable with as often companies will offer the lowest end of your range.
If the interviewer doesn’t mention salary and you are particularly motivated by this in your application, he best time to mention salary is at the end of the interview during the questions portion. Ask this alongside 2-3 other prepared questions. Having a few questions ready will show your genuine interest in the position (not just the money!). The best way to ask is 'What is the brand's budgeted salary for this role?'
What other questions should you be asking the interviewer?
What support does the brand offer its team for growth and development?
What opportunities are there for future growth in my department?
What does a week in the life look like in this role?
What has your growth experience been like with the brand?
What do you love about working for the brand?
If I was successful, what does the onboarding/induction process with your company look like?
We hope this edition of our Career Guides series settles those butterflies as you head into that next fashion interview.
Until next time,
Your favourite fashion recruiters x