Job Interview at the Gap

[DJMastaWes]

Hey guys!

So, I have a job interview at the gap tomorrow. I'm 16, I have some experience in being a stock associate and I'm a friendly guy.
I gave in my application and CV to the Gap last week, and they called me yesterday to see if I wanted to come in for an interview.

Seeing as how this could be my first "real job" (last one i worked for my family business), I'm coming to you guys for help.

What kind of questions should I expect, what are some things I should do, how can i prepare myself, ect. I really wanna' work there, so any tips would be great.

[NotFound]

Be polite.
Dress like you own the place.
Make eye contact.
Shake hands with everybody.
Be prepared with a resume.
Please, and thank you's GALORE.
:)

Be honest, even if it hurts.

Be prepared for scenario questions especially.

[dizzlemizzle]

Probably for retail show that you are able to multi-task (handle multiple customers at once) and foresee problems in advance
Be and act friendly
Use peoples names when speaking to them. They introduce themselves, pay attention, remember the name, and use it whenever possible (especially at the end of the interview 'Thank you for your time, name!')
Act like you do job interviews all the time even if you haven't
Bring a resume even if you know they already have one
Show up ten minutes early
Admit your faults if they come up. (I know this is my first job but I feel I am ready for this responsibility)

[SamIchi]

What are your worst qualities? What can you improve on?

I hate those questions, so think of something beforehand.

[mashny]

In addition to all the good suggestions already given, I read a while back that many people fail to smile at interviews, which makes them seem unfriendly. Granted, you'll be a bit nervous, but--according to the article--smiling will make you seem more relaxed and will accentuate your warmth and friendliness, which is especially important in retail, where you'll be dealing with customers, and not sitting in some office. This is not to say that you should have a smile plastered on your face, but just be aware of what your interviewer is seeing when he or she is looking at you (the nonverbal communication stuff...).

Good luck!

[tMac85]

It wont be anything very drastic. Its basic retail. they look and hire people like you 70% of the time. It wont be hard. just be nice, and have some style to your choice of dress. You will get the job. I can almost guarantee it.

[Dr. Dastardly]

Two common questions I found when I was job searching in retail a while back (almost a decade) and still the best answers I have come across.

"What do you think of the phrase the customer is always right?"
I don't think the customer is always right, but the customer should always be treated like customer.

"If you see an employee stealing what would you do?" (retail specific)
Call HQ and file a complaint. You never know who else might be in on it.

[kellen]

Be polite.
Dress like you own the place.
Make eye contact.
Shake hands with everybody.
Be prepared with a resume.
Please, and thank you's GALORE.
:)

Be honest, even if it hurts.

Be prepared for scenario questions especially.

What he said. My GF is a manager for Banana Republic and basically they are going to hire you when they call unless you blow the interview. They like what they see on paper, they just want to see if you have a brain in you and can communicate. Its yours to lose.

Tucked in shirt with collars and a tie. Yeah I know its retail and the Gap, but jeans won't cut it. Just be nice and have the customer in mind when answering questions. Do some research on Gap.com and the brands they represent (BR, Gap and Old Navy). The more information you have, the better.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Kellen

[Abstract]

This may be a group interview, no?

If you find yourself in a group interview, try giving an answer for every single question. If there are 8 people there, and they're only hiring 2-3 of you, they're going to only hire the ones who are energetic enough to attempt to answer the questions willingly.


Smile often, wear a shirt (tucked into pants), pants (not jeans), proper shoes, and possibly a tie.

[puckhead193]

What are your worst qualities? What can you improve on?

I hate those questions, so think of something beforehand.

try to spin it into a positive thing.
Also the dreaded tell me about yourself.. :eek:

[Nabooly]

I don't know how important it will be but make sure you don't wear something that has another brand displayed all over it (IE: an A&F polo with the moose) and obviously dont wear something with "HOLLISTER" in big, bold letters. LOL :D

[Melrose]

Where I work (at a radio station) we have people come in and apply at a regular basis - I can tell you the ones that don't stand and chance and the ones that do.. I can't stress enough these following items:

1. Wear a suit and slacks (the tie is optional). Don't over-do it, but show that you value and regard the opportunity to have an interview.

2. Be polite. This goes further than can possibly imagine; So many people aren't - being so makes you stand out from the crowd.

3. Speak as well as you can - avoid using slang, word whiskers such as "like" "you know" and "and stuff". Make an effort to enunciate clearly.

4. Be specific. When answering questions, asking questions, whatever. Be specific and concise.

You'd be surprised how many kids show up for job interviews wearing jeans or a t-shirt or sneakers. Just because it's Gap doesn't mean you can let yourself go. At the very least, they will respect you more (suits garner the wearer more respect). Gap management dress pretty smartly, so dress to match.

Hope it works out well for you! I once had the opportunity to work there... The discount for employees is also sweet ;)

[Lyle]

I recently finished reading the book Punching In (http://www.amazon.com/Punching-Unauthorized-Adventures-Front-Line-Employee/dp/0060849665/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208873994&sr=8-1), by Alex Frankel, in which he describes what it was like to go undercover and work as a "front-line" employee at a number of major retailers, including Gap. One of the points I remembering him making about his experience was that the name of the store is just "Gap", and not "The Gap". He also said that the job involved a lot of standing around and folding clothes so that the store always looks neat, and that there's a lot of pressure to sell GapCards.

It was an interesting read, by the way. Sounds like UPS is a great place to work if that's your sort of thing---they treat their employees well. And you apparently don't ever, ever, ever want to work for Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

[Abstract]

It was an interesting read, by the way. Sounds like UPS is a great place to work if that's your sort of thing---they treat their employees well. And you apparently don't ever, ever, ever want to work for Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Or Fedex (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=473148). ;)

[DJMastaWes]

Alright guys, I'm off to the interview. I'll let you guys know the details when I get back, how things went, ect.

As for what I'm wearing, I was planning on wearing a dress shirt and fitted jeans. I don't even own a pair of slacks.

Anyway, wish me luck!

*I'll post what I wore when I get home.

[Teh Don Ditty]

Good luck! You got a lot of good advice in this thread. Knock 'em dead!

[DJMastaWes]

back!
It was really casual and only took like, 5 minutes.

They asked me what type of things I did at my last job. I told her that I did more stock related stuff, cleaned stuff, set up displays, ect.

My flexibility. I told her that I would be available wednesday at 2:00 until close, thursdays and fridays at 4:00 until close and saturdays and sundays at like, 8:00AM until close, so i think i made myself pretty available.

What I like about the Gap and what I wanted to do there. I told her i like the environment and the up-beat staff and that I would like do do stock stuff. She then pointed out that there's no real "stock" position, and that it's mainly sales reps. She later pointed out that this would be my first real job working with customers and clothing.

I answered the questions as best and as calm as I could (even though I was really nervous) and smiled, made eye contact and was polite. However, there were times i kind of stuttered and sounded dumb.

She did ask about what I like about the Gaps clothing, and I kinda chocked on that one. I was like "well, the way it's set up, makes it inviting for people to come and shop. I also like that the Gap is directed to everyone, and doesn't discriminate a certain body type or age group. The clothes are also comfortable and colorful" I said something like that, but worded in a more awkward way.

Anyway, the lady was really nice and spoke to me in english (i was dreeeading being spoken to in french).

She said that they'll be calling people for 2nd interviews or hiring by friday or saturday. So, now all I can do is hope and wait!!

[zap2]

hopefully you didn't mention sweatshops :p

[DJMastaWes]

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6411/clubmonacozh1.jpg

btw, that's what I wore.

[thejadedmonkey]

That looks very Gap-like.

For my interview, my buddy told me to wear nice pants. Evidently the management was so appalled by the number of applicants who showed up to their interview wearing blue-jeans (work dress code is nice pants) that they were ready to hire anyone who could manage to show up in nice pants. I got a call a few hours later.

I think my natural charm and the girl behind the counter may have had something to do with it too, but there's something to be said for knowing what to wear!

[Abstract]

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6411/clubmonacozh1.jpg

btw, that's what I wore.

After all the advice you were given on clothes, and you went in wearing that? :confused:


I wouldn't hire you, and I'm trying to be nice.

[DJMastaWes]

After all the advice you were given on clothes, and you went in wearing that? :confused:


I wouldn't hire you, and I'm trying to be nice.

I felt that wearing a pair of dress pants was over doing it and unnecessary. The shirt is a nice dress shirt from Club Monaco (it's just thrown on the bed) and the jeans are fitted.

I feel that I would seem desperate if I wore anything to dressy.

The people working there are all wearing jeans and tshirts.

If i get called back for a second interview, maybe I'll pick up a pair of dress pants, but I really feel that it's over doing it.

Also, the way the interview was done, it didn't seem like it was anything "professionally" or anything." The manager just took me outside the store and asked me a few questions. She then thought about if she had anything else to ask, and that was about it.

** one thing I did mess up, is I didn't ask any questions. I didn't have any, but I don't want them to think I'm not interested. How important is it to ask questions?

[Abstract]

I feel that I would seem desperate if I wore anything to dressy.


Desperate? You interpret it as desperate, but I'd interpret it as "someone who cares enough to put in some effort."


The people working there are all wearing jeans and tshirts.

That's the problem: You don't have the job yet! Who dresses down for an interview?



** one thing I did mess up, is I didn't ask any questions. I didn't have any, but I don't want them to think I'm not interested. How important is it to ask questions?

Go to THIS (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=473897) thread and think about what you've done.

[DJMastaWes]

I really don't see why you're being so hard on me. I understand you're just being honest, but in the end, it's just a part-time job at the Gap. If i blew it, i blew it.

It's was my first interview. Ever. All I can do from here is learn and improve.

[Gelfin]

Always overdress a bit. If they say anything, it's easy to laugh off, like, "yeah, for interviews, but good luck ever catching me in it again."

[CalBoy]

I wouldn't hire you, and I'm trying to be nice.
It really depends on what the manager is looking for.

Many clothing stores actually want you to show up looking as up-to-date as you can because they can assess how you'll make the store look.


That's the problem: You don't have the job yet! Who dresses down for an interview?

People who interview at Hollister, Abercrombie, etc.

Managers specifically tell you to dress a certain way for the interview.


Give the poor kid a break Abstract; it was his first time at bat after all. ;):)

[Abstract]

Managers specifically tell you to dress a certain way for the interview.


That's completely different.

Usually, go to an interview dressed in a shirt and proper trousers. You don't really need to wear a tie to a Gap interview, but a shirt and trousers can look rather ace, and not make you look like a boring stiff. The alternative is to go in underdressed, because that's the type of clothes they sell at the store. Nowadays, people think this is a great way of thinking about it, but if you're dressed nice, and someone else looks really impressive and actually speaks like he's not an idiot, you won't look "nice" anymore.

Always overdress a bit. If they say anything, it's easy to laugh off, like, "yeah, for interviews, but good luck ever catching me in it again."

I'd just tell them, "I wanted to give a good impression," and then smile, wink, laugh, whatever. They wouldn't be laughing at you after that. They'd be too busy hiring you. Whether they hire you out of guilt for laughing at you earlier, the effort and thought you put into your clothes (even if it was over-the-top), or your clever answer is irrelevant. Just dress how they tell you to dress when you get the job. Better yet, ask that question at the interview. ;)


Oh, and the last part of my previous post was actually meant as a joke. It wasn't meant to be mean or anything. I don't usually use smileys when I make a joke, so sometimes it does get a bit lost in attempt (which is actually sort of what i want).

[asxtb]

I've been following this thread and decided to chime in...

I agree with Abstract 100%.
You ask why he is being so hard on you, but you're the one that is coming to us for advice and then not listening to it. If I was interviewing you and you came in those clothes, I would think you have plans with friends after the interview that are more important than the interview itself and immediately throw your application in the trash.

I understand this is your first interview and I do hope you get the job. But for the next job interview, a nice dress shirt, not a shirt like that (that is a social, hanging out with friends shirt), and nice slacks are a must. If you are 16 you should have some nice slacks. Once in your 20s a suit and conservative tie is a must.

As for a second interview with the Gap, (I know there will be conflicting thoughts about this) I would NOT go in slacks. Wear something very similar to what you wore before. The second interview is usually the interview where you can 'dress down', but not much. (ie. wear a little louder/flashy tie, wear a pinstripe suit, etc.) If for the second interview with the Gap if you wear slacks it will show them you don't have your priorities straight.

And remember the interview starts the second they call you for the interview and ends once they have hired you. Don't think that once the questioning ends they aren't still observing and evaluating you. And even if they don't hire you, most companies keep your application on file in case something opens up. So if you happen to see the interviewer a few days later, you are still being 'interviewed'. If you talk to them and say 'hello' and are polite they may pull out your file and hire you. Also it's a good idea to send a thank you card in the next day or two. It puts your name on the top of their mind.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Melrose]

It's was my first interview. Ever. All I can do from here is learn and improve.

I don't mean to be hard on you, or keep harping on this point, but I would have have given them the chance to give you a 110% for effort. I would venture to say that 90% of their interviewees wore jeans - no offense, but the jeans-look is way over worn for this type of thing and makes you blend in with the rest.

On the other hand, it's your first interview, you've gained a bit of experience, and you know more of what to expect the next time so you'll be less nervous.

It's important to ask them some questions as well, but not nearly as important as it is for them. Questions to ask would be ones that show an interest in how the store or company works, phrased from the perspective you already work for them: What can I expect a typical work day to be like? HOw do I handle problematic customers? What should I keep in mind when bagging items? (those are lame examples, but the idea's there)

I always think of interviews as a two-way street: They want to see if they want me representing their company sure, but I'm not so sure I want to work there until I can interview them as well.

EDIT: And whenever you have a sit-down interview, send the interviewer some kind of acknowledgement and thank-you. This may seem like overkill, but it really does go a long way.