Kate Spade Interview Questions & Tips

Who can Apply?

Inspired by the style and atmosphere of New York City, Kate Spade offers an assortment of handbags and other fashion essentials. The fashion retailer also offers premium customer service through a staff of dedicated sales associates and other supporting employees. Job hopefuls must first pass the company interview process for hiring consideration. While the brand maintains an upscale image, the interview process does not reflect the rigorous nature of the company. Industry experienced individuals fare well in the process; however inexperienced applicants may acquire lucrative positions, as well.

Interview Length

The Kate Spade interview and hiring process may take longer than expected thanks in large part to the amount of applicants and limited number of stores. Interviews for sales positions usually take around 30 minutes or less to complete.

What to Expect

Sessions usually involve rather generic and industry-standard questions, such as: "How do you define good customer service?", "How do you see yourself living in a colorful life?", and "What would you do if a sales associate ignored a customer when they walked into the store?" Additional questions often take the form of behavior-based scenarios that Kate Spade employees regularly face. Each situation requires exceptional judgment and quick resolution from each candidate.

Kate Spade Sales Associate Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Kate Spade Sales Associate: Kate Spade I was a floor assistant. I was just monitor. Just anybody that came in the store, I made them feel welcome, greet them, and help them. If they needed something like a bag or a size in a dress or something, I would help them. Just monitor the store and making sure that everything was in place.

Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Kate Spade Sales Associate: The work environment was very quiet. It was very upscale. Kate Spade is a high-valued brand. Kind of like Michael Kors and Coach and et cetera. It was really professional.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Kate Spade Sales Associate: Application, I walked in there and asked for an application, I filled it out, and they asked me to come back for an interview the next two days, yeah.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Kate Spade Sales Associate: They asked if I had any retail experience, what other jobs did I have, and why did I want to work there.

Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Kate Spade Sales Associate: I think any job in retail if you are bilingual, they’re going to give it to you, or like a student. Just because they want to work with flexible people. Oh, and another question was am I going to be available for the holidays. You have to be available for the holidays to get a job there or just any retail job.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Kate Spade Sales Associate: Just be bold and be very professional because that’s what they want there. They want you to be very professional and have really great just ethics about everything. They want you to be servant oriented, so a lot of, “How can I help you?” because you’re always dealing with customers, always. They’re always going to be misplacing things, so you’ve got to be aware of that, how to deal with that, how to deal with theft to because it’s a retail store so you’ve got to make sure that you’re aware of everything.

Related Links:
Kate Spade Application