How to Get a Job at IKEA
As a well-known name in the furniture industry, IKEA provides a wide range of functional furniture selections for the masses. The Swedish furniture company often hires job seekers looking for footing in sales, design, or management careers. Candidates often apply online and recruiters contact likely applicants to schedule interviews. Hiring managers may screen applicants via telephone, 1:1, or via panel interviews. Depending on the number of applicants, the company may utilize group interviews to pre-screen applicants before granting one-on-one interviews. The hiring process may last one to two weeks for entry-level positions and three to four weeks for managerial positions. The home furnishing retailer often conducts thorough background checks and drug screening at the conclusion of the interview process, as well.
Topics Covered During Interviews
Sales associates and cashiers should expect interview questions to focus on prior sales or retail experience, customer service capacity, and education. Typical interview questions center on customer interactions such as, "How would you handle a situation with a difficult customer?" or "Has there ever been a time you've went above and beyond to satisfy a customer? Tell us about it." Other questions for sales associates may focus more on accountability, previous sales experiences, or any relatable job skills. During group interviews, candidates often participate in team-building exercises related to everyday customer interactions as well as brief one-to-one meetings with hiring staff. Promising candidates are invited to return for more in-depth 1:1 interview sessions. Overall, applicants may participate in as many as three interviews during the IKEA hiring process.
Additional Questions for Merchandisers and Designers
Interior & visual merchandisers and designers should prepare to share design knowledge and portfolios detailing prior work. Applicants vying for design positions often participate in a panel interview at the onset of the hiring process. During panel interviews, recruitment personnel allow job seekers to showcase abilities by staging a room and explaining the methodology behind each choice. After panel meetings, candidates often advance to one-on-one meetings. During 1:1 interviews, applicants field inquiries like, "As a designer, do you stick to one form of design or do you incorporate multiple design philosophies?" and "Do you have a degree in design?" Recruitment procedures may vary by job title, but most applicants attend multiple interview sessions, with the hiring process taking up to three weeks to complete.
Attire, Attitude, and Professionalism
Job seekers looking to interview with IKEA need to possess excellent customer service skills. Applicants with previous sales experience often stand out above candidates new to the retail industry. Interviewees should emphasize relatable work experiences to warrant consideration; however, some entry-level positions may not necessitate formal qualifications. Dress fittingly for the anticipated position. Business-casual attire usually proves sufficient for positions visible to the general public. Follow up regularly with the furniture industry company in order to check on job status.
Ikea Unloader Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Ikea Unloader: Job title was unloader in the warehouse brining out good to the warehouse floor. My duties consisted of basically what the name said, unloading the trucks and bring the warehouse to the floor.
Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Ikea Unloader: My typical work day, I would log in and then proceed to the floor and stuff if I have stock. Then when the truck came in, unloading. You can put it on a palate or sometimes they had a vehicle that you can drag it to the floor because it’s … That was pretty much it, basically handling the merchandise onto the sales floor.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Ikea Unloader: The application in the interview process At Ikea. Online. You do it online. They call you for an interview and background check and drug test, the common, the usual. Then they see you meet their requirements. They call you three days later and you get the job. Pretty easy going. Nothing really extra.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Ikea Unloader: At the interview, they asked question like, “Have you had any warehouse experience? Are you able to lift 50 to 75 pounds?” They just basically ask have you ever been in warehouse conditions, those types of questions like that.
Interviewer: What should an applicant wear to the interview?
Ikea Unloader: An applicant should wear, I would say, a semi-professional look like collared shirt, black slacks, not too professional, but something semi.
ch says:
also remember to show how nice you are, they like people that can be nice to their customers.
Larry Bender says:
Number 1 tip interview tip for applying at IKEA is be prompt. IKEA wants people that they can count on. So make sure to leave plenty of time so even if you get caught in traffic you arrive early. Also, be sure to dress nice.
Jim Halpert! says:
Yeah IKEA stores are all about the presentation and experience. Dress up, have a good attitude, and show them you would be an ideal worker. That’s what I intend to do!
athiya Jumanne says:
athiya i like to work to comunicate with customer i have experience of 9 years to work as customer service, honest and hard working
Athiya Jumanne says:
i LIKE THE PLACE it is clean and has good customer service
Anand says:
i was phone interviewed today….i was asked why i want to work with Ikea…. what do i know about Ikea ….. what are my greatest strengths and weeknesses…. what is the amount of people i have managed etc.. it was general questions they asked and have been scheduled for personal interveiw…lets see how it goes… will keep you posted..
Mary says:
i agree IKEA its a great retial store and good customer severs , in first interveiw you should show up you are abile to work on weekends and any time they needs
Jarrod says:
I just had a phone interview and they asked me. . . why do i want to work at ikea? do you enjoy working on a team? have you ever dealt with a person who is different from you? and by different they mean culturally or morally different. why would i be an ideal candidate to work for ikea?. . . my advice to everyone out there looking to get the face to face interview is to just be honest about the answers to the questions and be super friendly.
Jarrod says:
Update: I just had my first face to face interview at Ikea. They asked questions such as- what do you know about ikea? How does your backround pertain to the job you are applying for? Can you give an example of a time where you had to deal with a problem that arose and explain how you overcame the problem? Why would Ikea be a good fit for someone with my personality? What do I want or expect from my manager? What do I believe are my greatest strengths and weaknesses?- Again my advice is to be as honest and professional as possible. Also I would highly recommend you dress to impress as first impressions are important. And as I said before, just be really friendly because Ikea is a family oriented company and they want their employees to exemplify that. Good luck! P.S. I’m not yet sure if I got the 2nd face to face interview, but the manager said she would be in contact over the next few weeks.
Oh, I forgot to add that they do drug test but not until they are going to offer employment, so you have to go through 2-3 rounds of interviewing which may take a while. So if you partake in any illegal activities I would suggest you stop once you get the face to face to prepare for the cotton swab test they will administer if you make it through the few rounds of interviewing you may go through.
Claudy says:
Hi I have a video interview next week. What questions do they ask?
rebecca says:
Hi all. I wonder if you can help me out. I went to an interview with Ikea, and they kept my id documents. :s has anyone had this before???
Siobhan Carla says:
I work for IKEA and I can honestly say without question that it is the best place to work. We all act like a little family in my department and they are constantly treating everyone as equals so there is no hierarchal division.
Enrique says:
I have a face to face interview coming up this week, and I already went through two phone interviews. What can I expect in this interview?
leelee says:
I had a phone interview then a face to face called me back the next day for another one it went great all interviews but I’m not sure if I will get the job , I’m waitin on that call tho , she said she’ll call me sometime this week ANY Advice for me ?
Gabriel says:
Other than the phone interview, how many face to face interviews will there be?
Any help with this question is very much appreciated. I just had my phone interview and the woman said she would submit my information to my local store to set up a face to face interview. I work a 9-5 Monday-Friday job so I hope I don’t have to take too many days off to go to interviews but I’ll do what I have to haha.
Jeff says:
I had a phone interview with a recruiting personnel two weeks ago, then I had the actual face-to face interview last Thursday. I personally felt like it went great, but haven’t heard anything since being told that they would call me back within a day. I was reading other comments and see that it could take up to three weeks. Anyone else have this experience?
Shelly Raquel says:
I interviewed for Kitchen Specialist. I had a phone interview with HR, pretty casual, basic questions. A week later, I had a meeting with the manager for a face to face. After another week i got called back to meet with the same manager but then informed me that another manager from another department was going to be interviewing me. After 2 weeks i called back to see the progress. He appreciated that I called to check in and mentioned that I really wanted the position and hoped for the best. Therefore, a total of 3 weeks after my last interview before they called me back to schedule a visit for the paperwork because i was hired!! I worked there for 9 years. I enjoyed it very much, GREAT company! Great values! However, at times management. I have had a total of 5 managers in my 9 years! That shows something right… 2 good managers of the bunch, the 4th one got me looking for a new job. Maybe i’ll return.