Forever 21 Interview Questions & Tips

Starting the Interview Process

International retail chain Forever 21 manages over 480 locations across three continents. The large network of stores and global popularity of the brand spurs millions of customers on an annual basis, serving as a fashion retail chain for teens and young adults. Job seekers looking for work in the fashion retail industry may find several avenues for employment through the retailer. The hiring and interview processes used to onboard new associates incorporate filling out documents, attending job interviews, and sitting with hiring personnel in one-to-one or group sessions. Depending on specific hiring needs of individual locations, the retail chain may take applicants for interviews on-the-spot. The retailer may also contact job seekers several weeks after receiving hiring information to schedule job interviews.

Standing Out During Group Interviews

Typically, the hiring process begins with paper or online hiring forms submitted to a location of choice. After reviewing applicants interested in available positions, hiring personnel contacts the most eligible workers and invites qualifying individuals in for job interviews. If an applicant arrives to find a group interview format in place, the worker might expect to sit with at least one other and up to 10 or 15 fellow candidates for the position. The time applicants choose to interview during the day may affect whether job hopefuls run into group interviews during the hiring process. During group interviews, applicants respond, in open discussion, to prompts about personal interests and other aspects of fashion and retail. Job seekers who exude outgoing, personable, and motivated personalities often gain the attention of hiring managers. Demonstrating knowledge of company history and current merchandise for sale also benefits prospective associates.

Common Interview Questions

Like group interviews, one-on-one interviews gauge applicant knowledge of company history and product lines as well as customer service skills, personality traits, communication skills, and interests in working for the retailer. Forever 21 interviews using 1:1 formats tend to last only 10 or 15 minutes, while group interviews may span the length of an hour or more, depending on the number of candidates participating. Common interview questions used in either session format ask applicants to piece fashions together or hypothetically suggest outfits for certain seasons, i.e. "A customer tells you they're going to a beach party. What would you suggest they wear?" Applicants also regularly need to reveal funny facts about their personalities. Other common interview questions include: "Have you ever encountered a serious challenge while on the job? How did you overcome it?", "How do you stay motivated?", and "What are some of your goals for the future?"

Dress Accordingly and Engage the Interviewer

The informal and often playful nature of the interviews encourage applicants to loosen up and share openly about work history and personal interest. Applicants who engage with fellow candidates or with hiring personnel in lively, personable, and friendly manners fair far better than under-spoken and shy individuals. Speak clearly, articulate answers, and exude confidence. Forever 21 expects employees to demonstrate fashion sense through both verbal and non-verbal communications. Applicants should wear retailer clothing or similar styles of fashion throughout the interview process. Formal attire may suffice for managerial jobs, but applicants looking to work with customers on the sales floor should plan on wearing trendy and stylish wardrobes to each hiring session.

Forever 21 Cashier Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Forever 21 Cashier: My primary duties at Forever 21 were cashier and sales associate, so I both helped on the floor and as well as behind the cash register to get the customer in and out in a customer service manner.

Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Forever 21 Cashier: On a typical day at Forever 21, I would come in. We would normally go straighten racks in your designated areas. We had about two or three depending on how big the room sections were. Throughout the day, I may have gotten called to the register to help out for the cashier part. Toward the end of the day, we started straightening up again, and then I would also do fitting rooms. That included sorting clothes, as well, for the rooms to go back out onto the floor. Once those racks were sorted, we had to put those go back -that’s what they called them – back into the section before we left, and that was why it took so long.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Forever 21 Cashier: They had just opened the store, so I went in just to see if they were hiring, and they had me interview the next day. It wasn’t nothing formal, just in the store. We just sat down and had the interview there.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Forever 21 Cashier: Pretty typical. Mostly customer service oriented questions. “Have you ever had a customer service job before?” At the time, I did, yes. I was pretty experienced in the customer service situation, or level. Nothing out of the ordinary. They asked me about my schedule and how available I would be if I were to start immediately.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Forever 21 Cashier: I would tell them to just be ready for… I mean, it’s fun. It’s real fun but to be… you need to know that you’re going to be working nights, and it is hectic. The store is hectic, and it does cause some frustration. But if you can deal with it, then that would be the perfect job, like it’s a fast moving job. You don’t want to… it’s nothing that you’d fall asleep at at all.

Forever 21 Manager Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Forever 21 Stock Manager: My job title was managing the stock area and making sure the correct merchandise was coming in, making sure it was all hung up and rightly labeled for which section it was going to go in.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Forever 21 Stock Manager: It was first a one-on-one, face-to-face interview, and then for the second step, it was a group one. Then, they called us over the phone, did a mini-interview, and that was it.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Forever 21 Stock Manager: They asked about my previous work experience and random questions like what would we do if we saw someone stealing an item… just knowing how we would act in their store.

Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Forever 21 Stock Manager: I think I gave really good answers, like I knew what I was doing. When they asked what I would do if I saw someone stealing, I said, “You should just ask the person do they need help with that, do they need a bag to hold onto their item.” I seemed… I was really confident with my answers, so I think that’s what set me apart from everyone else.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Forever 21 Stock Manager: I think first of all dress kind of just fun and just be really confident and friendly. Make sure they see you have a really good, positive attitude.

More Forever 21 Interview Videos:

Related Links:
Forever 21 Application
Forever 21 Sales Associate
Forever 21 En Espanol