Tips on How To Interview Candidate Employees For a Retail Store

Employees are the backbone of any successful retail store or business. They'll not only help to physically run your store, but they'll also represent your brand as a whole. It's the subtle things such as an employee's friendliness and attention to detail that leave a lasting impression on customers. But how exactly do you find hard-working, loyal employees to run your store?

The first step towards finding employees for your store is to accept resumes and applications from potential job candidates. There are a couple of different ways to go about doing so, but it's usually best to create three separate stacks of applications: a 'yes' stack, a 'maybe' stack and a 'no' stack. Once you've gathered a sizable amount of applications in each of these stacks, you'll want to call up some potential candidates for an interview.

Questions To Ask During an Interview

Far too many store owners to hire employees on the spot without first performing an interview. While you might get lucky and find a 'diamond-in-the-rough' employee, the truth is that it's really a toss up. A better way to find employees for your retail store is to perform a followup interview on those with applications in your 'yes' stack. This will give you the opportunity to find out more about the person and decide whether or not they are a suitable match for your store.

Here's a short list of questions to ask candidates during a job interview:

• Why do you want to work with us?
• Do you have retail work experience?
• What are your short and long-term goals?
• How can you help this business succeed?
• What type of education do you have?
• How long do you expect to work with us?
• Are you looking for full-time or part-time employment?
• How many hours can you work?
• Are there any days you can't work?

Answer Candidates' Questions

Of course, a job interview shouldn't be a one-sided process where you are asking all of the questions. At the end of the interview, see if the candidate has any questions for you. Most candidates will have at least a couple questions regarding the job. Be sure to answer these questions accurately and honestly.

Testing

Some store and business owners give candidates a short test during the interview to determine whether or not they are qualified for the job. For instance, it's not a bad idea to test the job candidates  with basic math questions to ensure they are capable of handling money at the register.