Finish Line Interview Questions & Tips

How to Get a Job at Finish Line

Finish Line employs cashiers, sales associates, stockers, managers, and assistant managers to staff over 650 stores nationwide. Potential shoe store employees may complete and submit necessary hiring materials online for both entry-level and managerial positions. In addition to job interviews, the retailer requires applicants to take a personality test at the onset of the hiring process, which ends up lasting one to two weeks for most candidates. The average employment hopeful looking for work in stores undergoes at least one job interview during the hiring process, with the potential for multiple job interviews depending on position desired and previous experience in retail.

Be Prepared to Sell the Brand

Applicants competing for sales positions at Finish Line are often put on the spot to "sell" an item to the hiring staff. Whether given a pen or actual footwear to sell, prospective sales associates should tackle the challenge enthusiastically. The athletic apparel retailer expects sales associates to greet each customer enthusiastically and competently assist shoppers. Hiring staff also looks for candidates who dress fashionably and professionally, with close attention paid to the footwear applicants don during the interview process. Job hopefuls should do some research on types of brands sold at the national footwear chain to gain the upper hand on potential trivia questions at the job interview. Sales and cashier candidates usually only encounter one interview session with a store manager.

Common Questions for Management Candidates

Finish Line store manager applicants should possess previous retail experience, and are required to have earned a bachelor's degree. Aspiring managers face questions like, "When was a time that you led your team to victory?" and "How do you plan to empower your team to meet store goals?" during the multiple interview sessions that take place in the hiring process for managers. The retailer looks for managerial candidates able to motivate employees, keep store locations looking clean, and consistently meet sales goals. The athletic footwear store also values hiring management from within by offering positions like 'assistant manager' and 'manager in training'. Lower-level management positions do not require previous experience; however, applicants must demonstrate leadership abilities and a desire to grow as a valued team member.

Other Typical Questions Asked

Other common questions posed at job interviews include: "Can you stand on your feet for long periods of time?", "Can you lift between 25 to 50 pounds?", and "What is your availability?" All applicants should endeavor to answer questions candidly and with appropriate detail. Applicants should arrive early to each Finish Line interview and take care make the best case for employment possible and in professional manners. Show interest and excitement for the opportunity to work for Finish Line and the vision behind the company concept. The final interview session usually culminates in an offer of employment if a candidate proves worthy.

Finish Line Sales Associate Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Finish Line Employee: My job title for Finish Line was sales associate. My primary duties were to help customers find shoes and other accessories and fill their needs.

Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Finish Line Employee: It depends on the time of the year, really. My coworkers, they were all nice and energetic, but depending on the time of year, the store would be slow, where all we do is stand around. So, it varied.

Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?
Finish Line Employee: Holiday season because you get so many different customers. You never know what to expect from them.

Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Finish Line Employee: A typical work day for a Finish Line employee would probably be changing the walls. Every day, we changed walls and moved shoes up and down, adding new ones in.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Finish Line Employee: The application was an online application. It was a test, I believe. I believe it was a personality test that they gave, and they scored you on green-green, green-yellow, and red-green. Green-green, you were guaranteed a job interview. Green-yellow, they based it off of what you messed up on with the questions. In the interview, they basically asked me to sell myself. So, I had to sell her a pencil, and I believe I did well, since I got the job.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Finish Line Employee: She asked me to sell her a pencil. She asked me what was my favorite part about working with other people and how well I understand different personalities and the differences between groups of people.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Finish Line Employee: Wear nice shoes to the interview. They pay close attention to that.

Finish Line Sales Associate Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Finish Line Sales Associate: My job title at the Finish Line is a sales associate. Your primary duties as a sales associate is basically customer service. You’re at the appeasement of the customer, so you’re making sure that they’re having a comfortable experience in your store, helping them find what it is that they’re looking for, and catering to their needs so that they can make a purchase and you can get commission for that purchase as well. That’s pretty much … Also helping with the upkeep of the store as well. That’s pretty much what a sales associates’ duties are.

Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Finish Line Sales Associate: Typical workday. Primarily, you clock in. You always ask your manager what it is, what you goal is for that day. You always have a set goal of how many dollars you should designate within your shift as far as how many purchases, how many transactions you should be made. You always check in with your manager. You always look and see if there’s any tasks that need to be done before you start your workday. Making sure the walls are okay, making sure the shoes are in order, organize things of that nature. Then pretty much after that, you’re just checking in with customers. For every customer that comes in you make sure you’re helping that person out. Greeting them at the door and checking them out when you need to. Taking their shoes up to the register. Then when it’s time to go, just make sure you check the walls and clean up the store and that’s pretty much it.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Finish Line Sales Associate: Generally the applications are online for Finish Line. You go online, you log in because you then form a user name and stuff, things like that. You fill out your application, your work experience, previous education, then you also take an assessment as well. Then with that assessment, that lets that manager know how well-suited you are for that position. There are different positions you can apply for at Finish Line, whether it be sales associate or stock or stuff like that. If you’re more suited for stock, they’ll let you know that you’re more suited for stock. After you finish the application and assessment, it’s always good for you to call in and even go into the store and check in on your application and then set up an interview from there.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Finish Line Sales Associate: They kind of catch you off guard because they’re not general interview questions like “why should we pick you for this job” and things of that nature. It’s more so … It’s a self-assessment almost. They ask you “How do you feel you are as a person?” and “What are one of your best qualities?” and “How would you describe yourself?” Also, “Did you do sports in high school?” or something like that because it’s an athletic store. They want to know do you have any experience maybe in athletics, so that when you’re describing a shoe to someone, you know what you’re talking about instead of them coming in there and asking for a shoe and you don’t even know the answer yourself. It’s more so a self-assessment, I think, and things too and really, you also figure out what it is, the type of person you are.

Interviewer: How were you notified that you received the job?
Finish Line Sales Associate: There’s a process. You have your first interview and then if you make it past that first interview, you have another interview with a manager. Basically, that’s your final interview to see are you suited for the job or not and then they’ll give you … They usually give you a follow-up call to let you know if you got the job or not.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Finish Line Sales Associate: I would just say be confident. Don’t over-think, don’t over-analyze anything. Just go in and do what you’re supposed to do. There’s no wrong answer because if you think there’s a right answer, it’s generally not what they’re looking for at all. Just be confident. Know that you be patient and things. Basically, that’s about it. Just be confident and be patient.

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Related Links:
Finish Line Application
Finish Line Sales Associate