I'm 21 and never had a real job before applying.
I've worked at a Flea Market for my parents selling CD's, then got my own booth selling jewelry. I'm also in my Culinary Arts program at school, we do weekly Bake Sales at school, and I've worked helping the customers & cash register.
I believe the manager for fragrances was the one who took me in for the interview. He was super friendly and upbeat which made me feel comfortable, and I could open up more.
Q: Why Macy's?
A: I love the store, it's a popular company with a good reputation. There's a lot of opportunities for upward mobility.
Q: Explain to me what you do at your current job.
A: I'm self employed working at a flea market selling fashion jewelry, kind of what you would like see at Forever21. I talk to customers, I help them, greet them, handle the money.
Q: How would you try to upscale an item into a bigger purchase?
A: I explained how if someone would buy earrings, I'd let them know there was a matching ring that would look cute with them. & if they tried it on, I would tell them things that would make them feel happy.
Q: What were some of your duties you had at the music store? (He looked at my resume & A: was asking about my previous employment)
I let him know my dad also had a booth at that same flea market I work at, selling CD's & I had previously worked for him, that it wasn't an actual store, that it was a booth. & I said "I hope that's not a problem" & he said "No, it's okay, I appreciate the honesty". & I proceeded to tell him my duties.
Q: What is something you have to offer, that others don't have? (as an employee)
A: My personality and professionalism. I can keep it professional in the workplace and I'm really friendly so I can get along with people.
Q: What would you do if you saw a co-worker breaking the rules?
A: I'd let my supervisor know immediately, I don't think I could confront them because I wouldn't want any trouble between us outside the workplace.
Q: Will you be able to get along with other co-workers while working in a commission based job?
A: Yes, like I said, I can keep it professional. I'm not one to pick fights, but if I did see my co-worker taking someone I had helped dearly, I'd pull him/her aside and let them know.
Q: Explain to me an example of when you were on a team, what was your role, and what was the outcome?
A: I used school as an example here. Told him how we were put into random groups in my English class and we had to read an assignment and present it in front of the class. I told him how no one wanted to to talk to each other and I had to take charge because I didn't want a bad grade. So I was the upbeat one, getting everyone to come out of their shy nutshell and help each other out. We presented, and got our good grade.
Q: Were you ever working in an area that was always constantly changing?
A: I told him about how I worked at my school's Bake Sales, & explained to him how we never had the same breads, cookies and pastries. We were always switching it up every week, it was never the same, so we had to always know which items to offer each week.
Q: What would your previous employer tell me about you if I called them? (for the CD's, and Bake Sales)
A:I joked with him that my dad would say really nice things about me, that I was a really hard worker. & that my Chef instructor would say I was a really creative and outgoing person.
Q: Are you comfortable applying products on a customers face?
A: I told him yes, I didn't have a problem at all. That sometimes I play with makeup on my friend's faces.
He told me that they pretty much don't ever hire people out of cosmetology school or any experience like that (My guess is because they want to mold you). Earlier I told him I love some of the brands Macy's had to offer. Asked me which were those. Told him MAC, Benefit, and many fragrances because I was obsessed with smelling good. He asked me which scents, I named a few & I said how Viva La Juicy was my favorite fragrance & he asked me what was it that I really liked about it & I quickly responded the floral scent it has to it. So you really have to know your products before going to this interview. I'm a really broke college student barely making it by, I own very little high end items, but I still know enough about them to want them.
So he ended up telling me this position wasn't available anymore but that he would bend my application for when seasonal came around they would give me a call. It was the middle of September, and he told me to be patient. He sounded so reassuring like I had the seasonal job already. So I waited forever.... feeling like he just said that to brush me off... UNTIL FINALLY!!! He called me ends of October asking me if I still wanted the seasonal job & I said Yes! I go in next week for paperwork & training! :D