How to Get a Job at Lowe's
Company Background
The Lowe's chain of hardware stores have become a staple of the home improvement industry through a combination of high-quality products, superior pricing, accessibility, and the outstanding customer service of more than 160,000 employees.
Interview Process
Large Pool of Applicants
Most stores in the network of 1,700-plus locations use an in-depth interview process to find credible and dependable workers. Jobs available feature seasonal, part-time, and full-time roles. With hundreds of applicants visiting stores and the company website to fill job vacancies, hiring officials have the luxury of selecting only the most qualified candidates.
First Round of Interviews
Lowe's initiates two phases of the company interview. The first stage may be familiar to anyone who has participated in a standard job interview. An official who conducts the session, usually a store manager, asks basic questions about retail work and behavior.
What Questions Do They Ask?
Applicants must answer interview questions regarding proper customer service, employee expectations, and responsibility. Variations of common interview questions include:
- How do define good customer service?
- Name a time you went above and beyond for the company
- Why do you want to work for Lowe's?
These questions will help personnel find individuals that demonstrate accountability, cooperativeness, and exceptional character.
Second Interview
Candidates move on to the next phase once approved from previous testing. The second meeting consists of many legal and administrative tasks.
Background check & drug tests
Applicants may need to submit to legal background checks, complete personality evaluations, conduct physical and drug tests, and go through orientation with the hardware store chain. The second phase of the interview will teach applicants about Lowe's corporate structure, possible benefits, company values, and expectations from employees. Candidates earn conditional employment once past the second phase.
How to Prepare
Job hopefuls should prepare for Lowe's interviews in several ways. Standard confidence-building measures include researching the hardware retailer, reviewing employment materials, and dressing appropriately for the interview. Research of Lowe's does not need to be in-depth. Candidates should at least know the history of the company and products in the department applied for. Reviewing resume information, including work history, education, and references, may help applicants feel more confident.
What to Wear?
A clean physical appearance should include business-appropriate attire and neatly-styled hair.
Lowe’s Sales Associate Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Lowe’s Employee: I was a sales associate in the lumber department. They have an indoor lumber yard where you can kind of get OSB, sheets of plywood, different decking, things like that. I was a sales associate in the lumber facility, so I was kind of in charge of cutting wood, loading things in the loading deck when people order or contractors order large amounts of lumber. I was primary. I did a lot of manual labor. I was a younger associate, so a lot of the manual labor was left to me, but it was a really great job. I enjoyed it, my duties there.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Lowe’s Employee: The work environment was good. It’s very fast pace. You don’t sit down your whole shift, at least in the lumber department. There’s different things like electrical and seasonal, things like that but, overall, it’s pretty fast-paced. You’re always moving. Shifts go by pretty quick. That’s one thing I really appreciated about it. I don’t know. The work environment is good. I was a lot younger than the average associate there, so it was kind of cool. I don’t know. I learned a lot. There was a lot of knowledgeable people there, so I think that was a really great aspect of the job. Overall, it was a great environment to work in.
Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?
Lowe’s Employee: My favorite part would probably just be the social aspect of it. You get to talk to a lot of people. You get to meet a lot of people. Lowe’s is one of the establishments you’re allowed to have… You bring dogs in there. They’re dog-friendly so, a lot of the times, you get to see these animals. You see a lot of different people come through working on different projects, and they want to tell you about it. As an associate, you’re meant to help them build their whatever they’re working on, their swing set, their deck, anything like that. I think that social aspect, kind of collaborating with the customer and helping them get what they’re looking for.
Interviewer: Please describe the application and interview process.
Lowe’s Employee: The application process I was actually referred to by a friend, so I went in. I filled out an application, did an initial meeting with the HR person there. We kind of talked. I knew her previously, so she said to come in for an interview. I came in for an interview, just kind of the generic interview, met with her, met with a couple associates who I’d be working with in the lumberyard. We did a mouth swab drug test, and then I did a training with the other new hires where we kind of went through the store, figured out what our responsibilities are, what things are relevant to us, what things aren’t necessarily our department. The training was great for that as well, just learning your mentor, figuring out what you’re going to be working on.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Lowe’s Employee: A lot of it was based on team-oriented things. Being in the lumberyard, there’s not a lot you can do by yourself. I mean you’re working with big sheets of wood, just different aspects of that, so a lot of it is team oriented. They asked what leadership roles have I taken? Am I a leader? Am I a follower? Where do I see myself fitting in the team kind of as a pro, a pro service associate? That’s what the lumberyard was called. Just things like that. It was a lot team-oriented and leadership-oriented.
Interviewer: How were you notified that you received the job?
Lowe’s Employee: I think it was three days after my initial interview they offered me the position. I accepted the position, obviously. I had to fill out a few different things just kind of like with direct deposit and things like that and then a few… I think was a week after they offered me the position I went and started training. The training is you wear red vests there. Initially, you’re not given a red vest. You earn the red vest just through once you’ve figured out what you’re going to be doing, your capabilities and things like that. It’s just kind of like a tiered process of working your way up to where you’re initially going to be.
Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Lowe’s Employee: I think just my willingness to grind. Just like I said, it’s a manual labor job. A lot of people don’t like to kind of work those hard hours, but I enjoyed it. I mean I’m young, so I might as well do it while I can. I enjoyed just kind of having that manual labor and kind of going in hours work pretty quick. I think I worked hard the entirety of each of my shifts, and I think it reflected on my work and, obviously, got me the job. I think that was kind of my differentiating factor, just my willingness to grind.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Lowe’s Employee: I would just say just be willing to work hard because they do treat their employees great. They have good benefits, good management. The training is great. You just have to have a willingness to work because, like I said, it’s not an easy job. There’s a lot of manual labor. Being somewhere like Lowe’s, you talk to a lot of different people, so just building your social aspect of the job, being able to talk to people, but also having that willingness to work and be a team person, being able to work with your other coworkers, and then also just being able to collaborate with the customer to make sure they find exactly what they came there to get.
Lowe’s Receiver Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Lowe’s Employee: I was a receiver and truck unloader at Lowe’s. Trucks would come in, deliver the merchandise. Me and about three other guys would unload all the trucks, put them on pallets, and take all the merchandise out to the sales floor, and sit it at the end of a rack. And then a night team would come in.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Lowe’s Employee: Everybody was really nice. They have a team atmosphere there. That’s the big thing. Everybody works as a team, so if there was something you couldn’t do, you could always ask for help, and nobody would say anything or argue about it. It’s a pretty cohesive environment.
Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Lowe’s Employee: Come in and clock in, have to pull out a conveyor belt before the trucks start to come in. Open up the trucks. Unload everything according to a certain code. There’s a certain spot for everything. Put them up on the pallets, then take a pallet jack, load them out to the sales floor, and usually we got done a little early, so we’d help everybody else out with their little duties they had to do at the end of the day, their little tours.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Lowe’s Employee: I went in to two interviews. The first one was just basic questions. They asked me why I wanted to be there. The second one I came in, I had to take a drug test. Then once I passed that, they called me back and I came in for my orientation.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Lowe’s Employee: They wanted to know why I wanted to work at Lowe’s, how long I was willing to work there, work ethic. Basically, what I was looking for in Lowe’s. If I wanted a career, just a job, so they try to suit and tailor you to that.
Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Lowe’s Employee: When I went in, I… well, I was afraid, because I needed a job really bad at the time. I went in and told them I would work really hard and told them that they could depend on me. She must have saw something in me. It worked out pretty good.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Lowe’s Employee: Come in to work with a positive attitude. Get along with everybody. Everybody’s really cool. You really do have to work as a team there. That’d probably be my best advice I could give somebody. Remember the team atmosphere. People look out for each other there.
Miasha Dixon says:
what should i wear?
What should i ask?
Should i bring pen and paper?
What should i put if they ask when can i start working?
What should my pay range be?
What should i bring with me?
Ronnie Smith says:
How far back do lowe’s check on your background history
David Hall says:
i can start whenever you need me
Barbara Anne Hoffman says:
What salary range can I expect for the following:
Cashier?
Customer Service Associate?
Human Resources?
Other office personnel?
ryan says:
Please send me the application form so I can fill out. Thank you.
Lou says:
As with Ronnie, I would like to know how far back does Lowes go back on a background check?
Ryan says:
For those wondering what to wear. Wear what you would wear if you were an employee at the store. Me personally, I would wear a blue polo shirt and khaki pants. Dress as if you were an employee at Lowe’s.
Vinny says:
As a former employee, I would suggest dressing a little more formal. A button up shirt minimum and tie. Khakis are fine, but make sure the shoes are clean and shined if possible. No hats or sneakers.
tom says:
how far back does lowes go for a background check?
Chuck W. says:
You will get interviewed first by the HR department then the manager of the department you applied for. Be calm and have some ideas of when you worked and had troubles and how you solved them. What skills do you bring to Lowes? Think of them.
barbie says:
What should you tell them if you only want to work part time on summer and no sunday due to already having a job for sunday.
Chris says:
Background checks are usually a standard 10yr history.
Lynn says:
I was told by a HR associate at my local Lowe’s to go to Lowe’s, click on Job Opportunities and then on Assessment and fill out an application. There is not a Job Opportunities place to click, nor an assessment to fill out. I’m confused. And I would really like to be called for a job opportunity at my Lowe’s. Could one of you send me the information?
Thanks
Lynn
Charles Calhoun says:
I am sixty eight yrs old. Would that be a problem getting hired?
joshua Anderson says:
Looking for any opening position available (warehouse) (other)
sham20 says:
FIRST QUESTION MOST LOWES HR NORMALLY ASK IS: TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO DO AND THERE WAS AN COSTUMER WHO NEEDS HELP
HOW DID YOU HELP AND HOW DID YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM?
@BABARA FOR CASHIER ITS $9.96 AN HOUR DEPENDS ON WHAT STATE YOUR IN
Jake Reid says:
I just had an interview at Lowe’s and they mostly asked questions about how you reacted to certain situations in previous jobs or schooling; such as name a time you worked as a team with someone, name a time that you were instructed to go back and fix a job that you had previously done, and did that bother you that you had to go back etc. Also, one of the main questions asked in an interview – why do you want to work for Lowe’s. Charles I don’t think that they would see that as a problem, depending on what position you were applying for, but as long as you are still able to do their tasks it may even be a plus because of previous experiences.
Jess says:
My husband has worked for lowes for 6 years now as of 2013. Some of this info is very old. Lowes cares about one thing and one thing only in your interview. 9.999/10 times they are going to go through a list of questions that are already determined, and they are all about the customer. What would you do if a customer did this, tell me about a time that you…. with a customer. All answers need to be positive with using the attitude that the customer is always right and you will go out of your way to do what ever it takes to make them happy. IF you witness theft… your answer is you will go over and ask if you can show them something. Once they ask all the questions that they want to ask, they will score your answer. The highest score wins the job. So your answers always include the customer always being right, you will bend over back wards to help the customer, and if you want an added bonus talk about their programs. Ex. consumer credit card, my lowes card, commercial account cards. These will all get you bonus points. And sometime that is what breaks the tie. Good Luck!
Ed Hambley says:
I had my second interview, how long should I wait for a phone call?
teri says:
i want to know what to wear to an interview at lowes and thank you for the tips 😀
Mercedes--Current Lowes employee says:
Describe a time you went out of your way to help a customer.
Describe a situation when you and your boss didnt see eye to eye
Tell me about a time when you told a customer the wrong information and what did you to do to rectify the situation
Greatest weakness?
Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult customer?
Name a time you had to do something that required paying attention to details?
Why did you want to work for lowes?
Name a time you went above and beyond to help someone?
Name a time you had to sell and item to someone?
Name a time you made a mistake,what was it? and how did you handle it?
Tell me a situation when you were criticized by a customer, coworker or manager. What were you criticized for and how did you react?
what would you do if you thought someone was stealing and none else was around?
What would you do if you are asked to do something by your manager that you do not agree with? How would you respond, how would you do the task
I was asked if I had ever stolen anything, if so, had I been caught and what was the overall action taken.
Explain a time when you provided outstanding customer service.
Why should we hire you?
What does customer service mean to you?
Jessica says:
Lowes uses pay rate advisor, which means your pay goes by your experience. All cashier do not make the same amount. Dress nice for an interview. Not like an employee! I wear tshirt and jeans to work. Dress for success. The better you look the more appealing you are to the interviewer. That is their first impression of you. You should bring two forms of identification with you to and interview in case asked for it.
Agnes says:
@Mercedes
I already applied at Lowes. I really suck when it comes to the interview. Those questions you just mentioned, can you please at least give me a hint. What should i say if they ask me those questions?
Kelsie says:
I am going in for a job interview on Friday and I was wondering if a nice casual dress, with a denim jacket and some flats or cowgirl boots would look okay? I don’t want to over do my attire, but I want to look nice at the same time.
Thanks!
Jessica says:
I went it for an interview today. I felt it went really well. The most nervous part was just sitting and waiting because I had arrived early. I can say this, the manager who interviewed me was very nice. I would be proud to work there. All the employees looked so happy. Even though the position is seasonal, there is a chance I can be kept after 3 to 6 months, and I can see myself there. Pointers for anyone, just be yourself.
Melissa says:
I have worked at Lowe’s for almost a year now, and have to say that this is the best employer I have ever had the pleasure of working for. The managers are all very easy to talk to, and the coworkers are awesome! I love that it is a team evironment, and everyone is willing to help. In the interviews, they ask a lot of situational questions. These are a bit difficult, but just remember, the customer is the main focus, and so is team work! If you are unsure of how to answer a question in the interview, just take a second to think about it before blurting just anything out. Try to leave out the excess “ums”, and “hmmms”. Just take a moment of silence to gather your thoughts before you start speaking. I believe there is quite a bit of room for advancement with this employer, and in the end, the employer is rooting for you and wants you to succeed! I am so thankful to work for such a wonderful company!