Burlington Coat Factory Interview Questions & Tips

How the Hiring Process Works

The Burlington Coat Factory hiring process involves a series of interviews with store managers and HR representatives. After completing the appropriate forms, applicants generally undergo phone interviews before scheduling face-to-face job interviews. The retail chain typically calls prospective employees for interviews within a few days. Overall, the hiring process takes about two weeks to complete.

Questions and Formats for Entry-Level Applicants

Applicants hoping to gain customer care jobs, like cashier and sales associate, often face a simple, streamlined interview process. Interviews are low-stress and generally last 15 minutes or less. Common interview questions feature basic and easy to answer topics, such as job skills, previous work experiences, and availability. Burlington Coat Factory interviews usually start out with casual questions regarding job intent. Some examples include, "Why do you want to work at Burlington Coat Factory?" and "What are your plans for the future?" Applicants may also face questions that gauge customer-service skills, such as, "What does customer service mean to you?" and "How would you handle an angry customer?" Successful applicants usually gain employment on the spot.

Interview Questions and Hiring Methods for Managers

Managerial jobs, like assistant store manager and store manager, require applicants to pass several interview sessions. Most managerial interview questions include behavioral prompt and often open-ended possibilities for answers. Some examples of interview questions include: "What do you think about employee theft verses customer theft?" and "What are some areas that you think you need to improve on?" Hiring personnel may also take management applicants out onto sales floors and ask for advice on how to improve stores.

Ideal Candidates

The popular retailer cares about the ability of applicants to sell merchandise effectively. During each interview, exhibit customer focus and sales skills. If possible, bring up previous examples of successful sales. Demonstrate your value to Burlington Coat Factory by providing honest, genuine answers to interview questions. Exude a positive attitude and remain professional throughout the entire interview process to best ensure employment consideration.

What to Wear

Aspiring workers should wear appropriate attire to Burlington Coat Factory job interviews. The dress code for employees includes a dark polo shirt and khaki pants. Dressing similar to current employees often helps managers visualize candidates as workers. Dressing in slightly more formal attire also remains acceptable for the interview process.

Burlington Coat Factory Sales Associate Interview Video

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Burlington Coat Factory Sales Associate: At first, I was a general employee, and I basically just stock the merchandise, organize merchandise, place sensors on the clothing. Then, I became a cashier and basically just ring up customers and make sure that all of the money was there, counting it in and counting it out.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Burlington Coat Factory Sales Associate: It was a pretty generic application, just personal information, and then it asked your past work history, your references. The interview process was… it was pretty generic, too. “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” They also just want to know that you’re a trustworthy person, especially if you’re going to be dealing with money.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Burlington Coat Factory Sales Associate: I don’t know. This was pretty standard. It wasn’t a rigorous process. They just asked those same questions, like: “If your friends could describe you in one word, what would they say?” They want to know that you’re doing well in school also, because I was in high school when I worked there. They asked for your grades, and I don’t know. That was pretty much it.

Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Burlington Coat Factory Sales Associate: I had a friend that worked there before, so she prepped me. You just have to be confident. They also want to know that you’re a team player, especially because it’s such a big store, you work with a lot of people. They just want to know that you’re able to work in a group.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Burlington Coat Factory Sales Associate: Definitely, dress professionally. You don’t have to go all out, but just don’t wear jeans. Also, bring your resume, because a lot of people don’t bring it if they don’t ask for it, but it just shows that you’re prepared, that you’re ready. Also, be confident and show that you really want the job. It’s not really that bad to work there.

Burlington Coat Factory Cashier and Sales Representative Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Burlington Coat Factory Cashier and Sales Representative: At Burlington, I was a cashier and also a sales representative. Basically my job was to finalize the customer’s transaction at the register, being accurate with cash. The job as a sales associate basically is to walk around the store and make sure that you know the department and you can assist the customers in finding merchandise.

Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Burlington Coat Factory Cashier and Sales Representative: The work environment, it’s a fast pace. We were in a big mall as opposed to just a department store so a lot of traffic. Like I said, fast paced. Yeah.

Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Burlington Coat Factory Cashier and Sales Representative: As a sales associate, what you would do, obviously you go in and you clock in. After you clock in, what you do is you report to whoever that department supervisor may be. When you go to them, they’ll let you know what plant they have for the day for you, whether you come in the morning or you’ll probably be a part of the closing shift. Basically, you go report to your supervisor and know that you know what plant they have for you.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Burlington Coat Factory Cashier and Sales Representative: At that time, I’m sure now that they’re online, but I had a paper application. I came in contact with the supervisor. It actually took probably about two weeks altogether. Once I turned in my application and had a interview, I was hired a week after that. The interview was basic behavioral questions. It was simple. I was very comfortable. They make sure you’re comfortable.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Burlington Coat Factory Cashier and Sales Representative: Behavioral questions such as name a time where you had to assist someone or name a time where you went out of your way to assist someone. Even tell us how you dealt with an unruly customer or even an unruly coworker.

Interviewer: What should an applicant wear to the interview?
Burlington Coat Factory Cashier and Sales Representative: At Burlington Coat Factory, it is casual, if you will, as far as in the workers. When you go, you would probably just want to wear a nice polo and some slacks, not necessarily a suit and tie, but again, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Burlington Coat Factory Cashier and Sales Representative: Good customer service skills and understanding what customer service is. That will set you apart.

Interviewer: How were you notified that you received the job?
Burlington Coat Factory Cashier and Sales Representative: I had a phone call from the hiring manager, and it took a week, about a week.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Burlington Coat Factory Cashier and Sales Representative: Basically just make sure, when it comes to your interview, just that you’re energetic. You want to be energetic. They want to know that you’re personable when it comes to working with customers and also with their staff. That’s what I would say. Just make sure you’re personable and energetic.

Burlington Coat Factory Customer Service Cashier Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Burlington Coat Factory Customer Service Cashier: I’m usually a customer service cashier and I handle layaways, returns, regular purchases, and exchanges, and when I’m on the floor, I help with sportswear and help customers find stuff if they need it.

Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Burlington Coat Factory Customer Service Cashier: We’re pretty close knit with all the cashiers and other floor members, because we help each other out if they have a question about something.

Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?
Burlington Coat Factory Customer Service Cashier: I like the discount. Usually we get 10%, but about 4 to 5 times a year we get 25% off, which is good, because Burlington is already a discounted store, so you can get Nike shorts for $10, where at Dick’s, they’re like $50.

Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Burlington Coat Factory Customer Service Cashier: A typical work day is I come in and I usually relieve someone off, so that’s why they enforce, make sure you’re on time because someone else’s time is relying on you to relieve them. Basically I just have day-to-day interactions with customers.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Burlington Coat Factory Customer Service Cashier: The application process is online. It’s only online, there aren’t any paper applications and it’s best when you’re done completing the application you call the manager so they can put a note on, “Okay, they’re most likely interested.” Because we do get a lot of applicants and we’re not always hiring. We hire about 4 times a year due to seasonal, and then a lot of people leave after Christmas because they’re seasonal.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Burlington Coat Factory Customer Service Cashier: They base their questions off of where they think they’re going to place you because then they will ask you quick math questions to see if you would be good as a cashier, or they’ll ask you personal questions like, “what kind of person are you” to see if they should put you back in receiving. You know if you’re more introverted you can fold clothes in the back. They do a pretty good job of placing you where your personality fits best.

Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Burlington Coat Factory Customer Service Cashier: I think because I had other experience with cashier because I used to work at an ice cream shop. I also was a package handler, so I was either going to be receiving or a cashier. They gave me the choice and I said, the receiving is cold back there, so I’ll work in the cashier.

Interviewer: How were you notified that you received the job?
Burlington Coat Factory Customer Service Cashier: I was hired on the spot after my interview. Then about 3 days later they called me for my first shift.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Burlington Coat Factory Customer Service Cashier: Basically just make sure you present yourself well because they hire first time job people. A lot of people who work there, that’s been their only job so that’s a good job starter for people. I was going through a time when I needed a job and they hired me within a week after my application.

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