What does the Retail job interview process consist of?

Your CV has sufficiently impressed an employer to invite you to an interview. Now you are just a couple of steps away from securing the job that you want. But first you need to make a good impression at the interview.

In general, large retailers will conduct interviews via a series of assessment tests which can range from a couple of hours to an entire day where you will be surrounded by other candidates who are applying for the same post.

The assessments will be held at the company’s head office, one of their retail stores or in a dedicated training centre where you will take part in a programme of tasks.

These will be designed to test your skills and abilities that are required for the job role, such as problem-solving, communication or analytical skills.

This may include group exercises, interviews, presentations, personality tests and case-studies.

Be prepared for the interviewer to test you on the things you claim you can do on your CV. If you're applying for a store management position, your interviewer is likely to present a hypothetical situation or ask you to describe a time when you have used your problem solving skills - one of the key skills required for this role.

Before the interview, think of a time when you have encountered a difficult situation, the steps you took to resolve it, the eventual outcome and the lessons you learnt from the experience.

Anticipate the 'strengths and weaknesses' questions that you will inevitably be asked, and brush up on your industry and company knowledge because you will be expected to understand the sector in which you are hoping to work and to have done your homework on the company.

Also consider where you see yourself in five years time: Store Manager? Senior Merchandiser? Head of Buying? Retail employers want to see what motivates you and what your ambitions are.

Interviews are a two-way street where you need to determine if the company is right for you in the same way that they want to find out if you are right for them.

So you need to ask your own questions about the organisation, the job itself, training opportunities - and then you can decide if the employer is positioned to meet your expectations

Wondering what to do now? Check out our expert career advice, find out more about the Retail industry or search for the latest Retail jobs.