How to Get a Job at Bon-Ton
Depending on the number of applicants, Bon-Ton job hopefuls typically complete the hiring process within a couple weeks. Initial contact with a hiring representative often occurs within a few days of submitting the required employment information. The retailer generally prefers 1:1, face-to-face meetings when interviewing most candidates. Usually lasting no longer than a half hour, interviews are overseen by a human resources official, the store manager, or the department manager potentially responsible for supervising the applicant. The chain occasionally interviews entry-level job seekers twice, with the human resources department coordinating the first meeting and store management in charge of the second one.
What to Expect at the Interview
At the interview, Bon-Ton hiring managers look for applicants with the ability or experience to effectively juggle the demands of working for a leading regional department store company. Questions normally fielded during Bon-Ton job interviews include: "Why should I hire you to work at Bon-Ton?", "What would you do if your manager overruled your decision and sided with a customer?", and "How do you work under stress and pressure?" Interviewees should tailor responses to showcase any previous experience in retail or customer service, if possible. Interviewers also frequently ask candidates to describe the proper handling of typical department store situations, like pacifying an upset customer or observing a shoplifter in action. Job seekers interviewing for management positions often need to go into detail about specific objectives accomplished during prior work experiences, as well as respond to basic customer service questions.
How Long Will the Process Take?
Ordinarily taking about a week to complete, the Bon-Ton interview process obliges applicants to follow established protocol regarding preparation, attire, and follow-up.
Some Good Ways to Prepare
Before attending the interview, candidates should come up with compelling reasons for seeking employment. Job seekers should also gather as much information as possible about the company ahead of time in order to determine what to ask about at the end of the interview. For fashionable department stores like Bon-Ton, business-casual attire generally proves appropriate for entry-level interviewees, while formal corporate dress usually enhances the professionalism of managerial candidates and other long-term career seekers. Unless expressly told otherwise during the interview process, applicants should contact hiring managers a few days following any meeting to reaffirm desires for the position and inquire about any updates.
