How to Get a Job at Ace Hardware
Locally owned and operated, Ace Hardware stores continuously recruit new employees to work for the home improvement cooperative. Job seekers successful in landing an interview with Ace Hardware should expect to speak with a hiring manager in-person for about 20-30 minutes. Relatively laid back and simple, the interviews primarily center on the professional backgrounds and schedule availability of applicants. The interviewer looks for availability and experience that match the needs of the particular Ace Hardware store. Interviewees may also have to confirm knowledge of hardware by explaining or pretending to sell a tool.
Typical Interview Questions
In addition to testing sales skills, Ace Hardware hiring managers often inquire about customer service abilities through interview questions like: "How far are you willing to go to help a customer?" and "How would you approach a customer who looks lost?" Ace Hardware usually interviews entry-level candidates a single time before making a potential offer of employment, sometimes at the end of the meeting. Job seekers interested in management positions at Ace Hardware may need to fulfill additional interview obligations.
Dress and Ways to Follow Up
Casual office wear should suffice for navigating the Ace Hardware job interview process. Ideal interview outfits for a hardware store environment might include khaki pants, polo or button-up shirts, and dress shoes. Answering interview questions with conviction and enthusiasm indicates competence and motivation to the Ace Hardware interviewer. Follow up with Ace Hardware after a few days to ask about hiring status, if unaddressed at the final Ace Hardware interview.
Ace Hardware Customer Service Representative Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Ace Hardware Customer Service Representative: I was a customer service representative so I was at the customer service desk. I would answer phone calls, if the phone rang I would deal with people returning items and stuff. It was actually a very friendly environment. The co-workers that I had were just they were awesome. They were to always help you out with things. I wasn’t really an expert with the hardware side of stuff which is why I got the customer service job. I would just be able to call the departments of who needed help with what and they were all extremely friendly and helpful and the managers were, they were always there to guide you and help you and stuff.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Ace Hardware Customer Service Representative: I went in and I did in-person application and then the next day the manager gave me a call and then I went in to the shop and we were just walking around just talking and then I spoke with the other manager. She did more of the scenarios of what would happen if you were in this situation with an angry customer and then we talked about past customer service jobs that I’ve had also.
Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Ace Hardware Customer Service Representative: One of them that sticks out was what happen if a customer were to walk out of the store after they bought something and break a light bulb that they just bought that was $30 a light bulb.
Interviewer: How were you notified that you received the job?
Ace Hardware Customer Service Representative: They actually gave me a callback the next morning saying that here’s your… what we could offer you if you wanted to come work for us.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Ace Hardware Customer Service Representative: Be friendly because they are a friendly environment so they just want to see the kind side of you come out.
Ace Hardware Team Member Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Ace Hardware Team Member: I wouldn’t necessarily give myself a title. There are only about three people working at a time, and we all did the same duties except my father who owned the business. He obviously did the ordering and whatnot, but besides that it was always help the customers, take them to where they want to go. If they ask for screws, take them to the screw isle and what screws they want. If they needed feed we’d go and get it for them. Each bag’s fifty pounds, we could load fifteen per customer. Sometimes it becomes very physical at times. Especially when it’s noon, 104 degrees out in Florida. Then there’s Quikrete which goes 40-80 pounds. It’s definitely physically demanding sometimes. You have to have knowledge. I obviously knew nothing before I worked there. Now I know instead of hiring a plumber and an electrician, you can do it all yourself. Since I worked there I could do it myself. When I have my own house, that’s definitely going to be a possibility in my case. It’s just about customers come in, they ask questions, we take them where they need to go, and if they have a question about what maybe we recommend, and we always can guide them in the right direction as far as stainless, spruce versus pressure treated. Cheaper feed versus higher quality feed. It’s family owned, most ACE Hardware’s are family owned. They’re not corporate or I don’t know what to call it, but we know our customers very well. I’ve seen the same people every day come in there. We have the same business people come in every day. It’s very homely like. You walk in, it’s like your friends almost. I love that.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Ace Hardware Team Member: Particularly at my ACE Hardware, we’re very laid back. You turn in an application, there’s no interview. It’s either you’re hired or you’re not based on the application. I don’t know about … I know certain ACE Hardware’s do that and some don’t. Since it’s family owned, if you look like hard worker and we know you from around the city or the town, then you get hired. It’s pretty much if you do good the first two weeks then you stay, if you don’t you leave. It’s simple.
Interviewer: How were you notified that you received the job?
Ace Hardware Team Member: We don’t beat around the bush. If you turn in the application we might even hire you on the spot. That’s pretty much how it works. If you present yourself nicely. If we don’t contact you in a day or two you probably did not get the job.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Ace Hardware Team Member: Know your stuff. If you have any sort of background in plumbing, electrician. You’re already probably hired because you can lead every customer in the right way. If you’ve ever been a farmer or worked on a farm, you can definitely … Our ACE has a feed store, not every … I don’t think the one in Tampa does, but just being knowledgeable about just housewares. Then there’s planting seeds, what seasons, what kind of fertilizer you need to use; 10-10-10, 8-8-8, 6-6-6. They’re all different kinds of fertilizer and what they’re used for and what you can recommend to the customer. It’s all about knowledge. If you can present that knowledge you’ll definitely get hired. If you know nothing they’re going to have to show you, and I don’t know if they would want to do that.
Ace York A Teves says:
what should i wear on the day of my Interview??
Brian Neider says:
I just had an interview with Ace Hardware and I hope to hear back from them in the next few days. The personnel that interviewed me were very professional yet friendly. It is definitely a place I would feel comfortable working in.