In this article we will look at:
- Interview for a stock clerk job in a big company.
- Interview in a small business.
- Guide on how to answer the questions they will ask you, and sign a new job contract.
Stock associate interview in a big company
If you apply for a job of a stock clerk in a big company, such as Walmart or Kmart or Target, you can expect to deal with their typical interview process–behavioral and persona questions. Whether you want to get a job of customer assistant, sales associate, stocker, or assistant manager–the first interview will always be the same with a big retailer.
These giants understand that stock clerks, as well as other manual laborers in a store, belong to important members of their teams. They won’t underestimate your interview–and you should do the same thing. Let’s have a look at the questions you will face.
Questions you will get with a big player
- Why do you think you can be a good stocker? Talk about your sense for responsibility, good physical strength, attention to detail, your experience with similar work, etc. Show some confidence and self-belief.
- Why do you want to work for us, and not for someone else? A tough question, because you probably do not care much. You can say that you like the location of the store–perhaps it is close to your flat. Or you can emphasize your preference for their brand, for what they do in a store. Another option is to refer to a personal recommendation–your friend worked for them as a stock clerk (or on any other position), and they recommended you the job.
- What do you think is a main duty of a stock clerk? To ensure that the shelves they are responsible for are always stocked with goods, that no items are missing, and consumers can see all items clearly, including the price tags.
- What were the most difficult situations that you encountered and the simplest way you used to solve them? Tough question to answer, you have to speak from your experience. But the key is to show them that you can decide independently, and solve a problem, without a need to always consult your supervisor or a store manager.
Other questions you may face with the big guys
- When in your last job did you go over and above of what was expected?
- If another co-worker were gossiping about someone else something which was untrue, how would you react?
- What are your salary expectations?
- If a customer accused you of a bad customer service, what would you do?
- If a supervisor asked you to change the way your job was performed even though you knew you were doing it right, what would you do?
- What can you improve about our store?
- What do you consider your biggest weakness?
- This job is a routine work. What would motivate you to do it well every day?
- Why should we hire you for this job?
Stock associate interview in small business
If you apply for a job in a small company, you will not deal with tough behavioral questions. More often than not, you will be the only applicant for the job (or one of a few candidates). In such a case, all you have to do is convince them about your readiness for the job, and your flexibility (accepting night shifts and overtime work possibility). You should also demonstrate some motivation to work hard. They will typically ask you only a few questions, such as:
- Tell us something about your previous working experience.
- What would motivate you in this job?
- When can you start?
- Have you done this work before?
- Can you lift 20 kilos?
- Would you mind working overtime, night shift?
- Do you have any questions?
Special Tip: You can also download the full list of questions in a one page long PDF, print it, and practice your interview answers anytime later:
Conclusion and next steps
Decent answers to their questions, and a good conduct in an interview, will typically suffice to get the job of a stock clerk. Listen carefully to their questions, answer to the point, and try to stay polite and friendly during the course of an interview. This isn’t a difficult interview and you should pass it.
If you aren’t sure, however, continue your interview preparation with reading the following articles:
- Most common questions and answers – Test the waters, learn what matters for the interviewers and how to answer the most common questions. You may get many of them in your stock clerk interview.
- Salary negotiation tips – Learn how to get the best possible offer at the end of your interview.
- Body language in an interview – What do your gestures and movements say about you? Can we control our non-verbal communication?
