| Are you ready to make that internal move? Retail | | | | based interviews. Below is an example of the |
| provides many opportunities to move up, move | | | | type of question asked in a typical behavioral |
| quickly and move often. You may be interviewing | | | | based interview: |
| for positions such as Key Holder, Assistant | | | | Example: Tell me about a time you set a |
| Manager and Store Manager or even as a | | | | performance goal and achieved it.What methods |
| Regional Manager. The concept is the same. How | | | | did you use to achieve this goal? |
| are you and your experiences able to provide the | | | | Prepare Your Answers |
| numbers, able to keep operations in line and all | | | | Your strengths are displayed in your answers. |
| while keeping client experience high? You have | | | | After accumulating what you see as the possible |
| one shot to prove it and that is in the interview. | | | | questions being asked, you must prepare your |
| PREPARATION | | | | answers. I recommend you first list as many |
| The single most important part of being ready for | | | | accomplishments as you can, then think of how |
| an interview is preparation. Like anything else in | | | | they may relate to any of the questions that |
| life, the more prepared you are, the easier and | | | | may be posed. Second, match them to the most |
| more successful you will be at the task at hand. | | | | relevant question and lastly, ensure you script a |
| You owe it to yourself, putting your career on | | | | complete answer. Those interviewing you are |
| the line, to take as much time as possible to | | | | looking for specific measurable experiences, |
| prepare for any interview. | | | | evidence of desired competencies and positive |
| Anticipate the Questions | | | | outcomes. They may probe further for |
| Advantage is in knowing what is going to be | | | | contradictory evidence. |
| asked. | | | | Components of Complete Answers |
| First, look for internal sources. Discuss your | | | | - Situation - Description of your example |
| intentions with your supporting manager and ask | | | | - Actions - What specific steps or actions you |
| them what questions they were asked in their | | | | took |
| interview. If you have a proper relationship with | | | | - Result - The POSITIVE result or learning of the |
| your supporting manager, they would have been | | | | situation |
| developing you towards the next opportunity and | | | | Know Numbers / Results / Company Goals |
| should be happy to help you out. Also, you should | | | | - Answers with measurable proof impress more |
| leverage relationships with peers, acquaintances in | | | | then those without |
| similar positions you're applying for and members | | | | - Especially important if competing for a |
| at head office that could help you out. Ask them | | | | promotion with your current employer |
| for feedback on your strengths, examples of | | | | Are You a Match? |
| positive performance they have seen in you and | | | | - Find and read a profile or job description for the |
| what questions they were asked in their | | | | position you're applying |
| interview. (This also gets it out there that you're | | | | - Ensure to use answers that display experiences |
| looking to move and gets people talking about | | | | in desired qualifications |
| you. Who knows who may be listening?) | | | | Full Disclosure! |
| Second, do your own research. If your company | | | | - Be ready to tell the truth, not stories |
| has an intranet site you may be able to find | | | | - Don't forget important details |
| sample questions for similar interviews. Most retail | | | | - What you say will be investigated |
| interviews are behavioral based, which you can | | | | Documentation! |
| find many examples of online. There is tons of | | | | - Bring relevant documentation (store's |
| useful interview information on retail resource and | | | | performance reporting etc... |
| career oriented websites relating to behavior | | | | |