How to Get a Job at Big Lots
Highly profitable retailer Big Lots maintains over 1,400 locations across the United States. As a major retailer, the prominent company needs to hire large volumes of workers in order to upkeep stores and provide customer service. The wide variety of jobs available and possible posits the nationwide discount retail chain as a viable option for employment. In order to gain employment, applicants must pass through an often informal process, which sometimes requires no actual job interview for hiring consideration.
Hiring Varies by Need
Depending on the needs of each individual store and the retail experience of aspiring associates, Big Lots may hire on help without the use of a formal job interview. After reviewing applicant information, some stores may make decisions immediately as to candidate eligibility and hire on workers as needed. Workers who forgo the hiring process usually receive a phone call to come into the desired store location, at which time a hiring manager makes an offer of employment.
General Overview
Traditionally, after submitting the paperwork require for employment consideration, Big Lots applicants wait to hear back from a hiring manager and receive a phone call within a week to schedule a formal interview. If an applicant goes through the traditional method of finding work with the discount retail chain, the worker typically sits with a manager or supervisor for a very brief 1:1 interview to discuss the position and any possible questions an applicant may face. A single job interview proves normal for Big Lots applicants. Some job hopefuls may encounter an additional interview, potentially with a district manager, prior to hiring. As stated earlier, each store may conduct hiring in a slightly different manner, although background checks often prove necessary for managerial and overnight positions across the entire network of stores.
Frequently Covered Topics
Work history, pay, training, and company culture generally take center stage during Big Lots job interviews. Big Lots interview questions include: "What is your potential availability?", "When would you be able to start at Big Lots?", and "Why do you feel you would make a positive contribution to Big Lots retail team?" Applicants looking for work in stocking and receiving may need to answer questions about physical abilities. Hiring personnel touch on each subject briefly.
Interview Questions May Include:
- Define customer service.
- Can you do the job?
- What is a motivation of yours?
- What is your end goal?
- What can you bring to the company?
How Long do Big Lots Interviews Last?
30 minutes.
Do I Need to Follow Up?
Big Lots job seekers should wear attire ranging from business-casual to formal. Wearing formal attire may benefit managerial applicants more than entry-level workers; however, formal clothing often demonstrates a professional attitude toward the desired position. The retail department store chain typically makes a job offer before candidates need to worry about making follow-up calls or sending thank-you emails.
Big Lots Cashier Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Big Lots Employee: My job title at Big Lots was I worked the register – cashier. But sometimes I assisted in customer service, and I would help out with stock.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Big Lots Employee: I loved Big Lots. It was one of my favorite jobs. It was real smooth and comfortable. I liked the people I worked with.
Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Big Lots Employee: Pretty much, you go in, you clock in, go to your station, and do your job. That’s pretty much it. It wasn’t too hard. It’s kind of an everyday thing. My department was cool.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Big Lots Employee: I remember when I came in for the job, I talked to the manager personally, and he gave me the application. I filled it out right away, and he talked to me for a couple minutes, then set up the interview. Interview was pretty cool. We talked like regular people. We didn’t talk about anything too tough. He just asked me about how I feel about working overtime, my schedule, and things like that – seeing how willing I was about the job.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Big Lots Employee: Where I was from, other jobs if I had other jobs, if I was in school, my schedule, if I would be willing to work overtime, and my other qualifications.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Big Lots Employee: Customer service is a big part of it, whether you’re working in the customer service area. Just make sure you’re a people person and you don’t mind helping out a little bit – things like that. Also, being friendly and being a little patient sometimes.
Desheila Pouges says:
what should someone wear or how should they dress
jeremy yates says:
what is required of me to wear on the day of the interview.
betty snell says:
work at big lots now but will not pay extra for grave yard work 11to7am stocker
tylon cooper says:
eye contact thats what they looking for
Nuramelia says:
i just sent in my application and have not yet been called for a job interview..are there other common questions they will be asking applicants..i am just getting ready for them to call me up for an interview..