How to Get a Job at Urban Outfitters
As a leading brand among fashion-conscious youth, Urban Outfitters typically recruits stylish associates to work in stores. The trendy clothing retailer hires creative employees passionate about fashion.
Hiring Process
Group Interview
Job seekers often begin the process with a group interview before advancing to a 1:1 meeting with a hiring manager. Most entry-level workers end up interviewing once or twice before possibly landing the job, while managerial applicants often go through three separate interview sessions to secure employment with the fashion retail chain.
Testing
The hiring process sometimes includes an ethics test that candidates need to complete as a condition for advancement to later rounds of interviews.
Common Entry-Level Interview Questions
Group interviews primarily assess the fashion sense, interpersonal skills, and interest level of job seekers. Interviewees regularly field prompts and questions like:
- Why do you want to work at Urban Outfitters?
- "What do you like about the brand?"
- Describe your style in one word
Prospective employees often have to elaborate on their personal fashion preferences by explaining what they would buy with a gift card. Other common interview questions probe for the ability of applicants to interact with customers effectively in various retail situations, such as:
- "How would you handle a shoplifter?"
- "Could you describe a good customer service experience?"
What to Expect During Interviews for Managerial Positions
Candidates in contention for management positions usually face further questioning during the interview process. The questions that hiring managers use to interview managerial job seekers tend to be more specific to typical retail management responsibilities. Below are the kinds of inquiries prospective managers encounter.
- What tools do you use to determine how effectively the store is performing?
- What steps do you take to attract a diverse customer base to the store?
Applicants frequently have to describe what they learned or how they performed as managers at past jobs, as well. Hiring representatives also pose behavioral and situational interview questions to understand how aspiring managers would deal with customers and employees in certain scenarios.
What Should You Wear?
Interviewees should dress to impress fashion-conscious hiring managers. Wearing stylish clothing and accessories to interviews allows hiring personnel to see your unique sense of fashion and properly evaluate your fit for the job. Having previous knowledge of Urban Outfitters styles and brands as well as other hot fashion trends also aids interviewees.
How Should You Behave?
Answer interview questions in a confident and engaging manner. If the opportunity arises, demonstrate extensive familiarity with the Urban Outfitters concept by discussing underground, up-and-coming fashion trends instead of current mainstream designs. Speak up often without dominating the conversation during group interviews. Upon completion of the interview process, retail etiquette encourages applicants to follow up with the hiring manager by telephone or email.
Though some interviewees receive same-day hiring notification, many receive word several days after the final Urban Outfitters job interview.
Insider Tips
Check out these interviews with former Urban Outfitters employees.
Urban Outfitters Sales Associate Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Urban Outfitters Employee: I was just a sales associate, folding clothes and saying hi to people that came in, and working the dressing room, and opening and closing the store.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Urban Outfitters Employee: It was an open interview. I went there, and they interviewed a lot of people in a group. They called me for a second interview, and I came in and met the manager and filled out a job application. From there, they hired me, and I filled out the paperwork.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Urban Outfitters Employee: They wanted to know my interests and why I think Urban Outfitters is a cool place to work – why I like the company, why I like what they do. They were really interested in my fashion style choices, which makes sense.
Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Urban Outfitters Employee: Honestly, I feel like a really big part of it was how I dressed at the initial interview. I made sure to dress very their style, kind of. I could tell that they took a lot of note from that. They liked that I kind of had a positive attitude.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Urban Outfitters Employee: It’s great because Urban Outfitters is owned by the same company as Anthropologie and, I think, Madewell. You get discounts to all those stores. It’s fun to work at a place that has interesting merchandise.
Urban Outfitters Sales Associate Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Urban Outfitters Sales Associate: I was a sales associate. Under that title we did all sorts of things like helped with the inventory, worked the fitting rooms, do some cleaning, run the cash register, of course, and when we get new things, stock it up and whatnot.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Urban Outfitters Sales Associate: It was really nice. It was really relaxed. The people were awesome. It was just fun to work there.
Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Urban Outfitters Sales Associate: You come in. You clock in, and you check the board to see what time you’re working different areas, and you get to work. You do whatever is needed to be done, so folding clothes, or, if you’re working the fitting room, to help people out, or do some cleaning and whatnot.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Urban Outfitters Sales Associate: You apply online, and then you get called for an interview. It’s a group interview. They’re really interested to just see your personality, and just see what kind of person you are. Not too many questions based about working in retail, but it was more about who you are as a person. Then, after the group interview, there was one on one interviews with the manager. Then, yeah. Then you got hired from that.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Urban Outfitters Sales Associate: I remember the person that interviewed us in the group interview was really curious about what kind of music we like, or what local restaurants we’re a fan of. They’re really supportive of local artists, restaurants, shopping local places, which is different for Urban, but I really liked that.
Interviewer: How were you notified that you received the job?
Urban Outfitters Sales Associate: I was called when I got the job. It only took a few days post the one on one interview with the manager.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Urban Outfitters Sales Associate: Just be yourself. That’s all they are looking for.
Vee says:
Urban Outfitters like when you wear clothing similar/what they sell. When I had an interview there, everyone was dressed pretty casual. They’re pretty picky about looks and how you dress/represent yourself, so be aware of that before applying. They have group interviews and ask questions like what you’d do in a certain situation, why you want to work there- things within that nature.
yohanna says:
why is it so hard to get a job when you have no job experience. How do you make them think that you just as responsible as someone with work experience?
Cee says:
As far as what you should wear, definitely be aware of currently trending pieces and be season-appropriate. You don’t have to kiss too much a** but just be sure you at least look the part. Everyone was dressed casual and you can definitely tell who was serious about the UO’s culture and those who were just in it because it is a job.
Because it was a group interview, try to shine but don’t step on other people’s toes either. Remember that you’re in an interview with about 5 other people so something about you must be memorable and distinct.
Im not sure if education plays a part in it but I’m a senior in college who has 4 years of retail experience and 6 altogether for costumer service (2 were from food service). I did get a call-back pretty quickly and the interviewer seemed adamant about finding more about my previous experience in working for retail.
Questions are pretty generic such as “Why do you want to work for Urban Outfitters?” “Tell me something about yourself?” :”How would you describe your style?” “Give me an instance when you gave excellent costumer service – how did it go?” – like i said, BE MEMORABLE. You don’t have to make up a lie to impress them but you definitely have to choose your diction to make these ordinary facts about you seem more interesting.
When they ask for salary expectations, be honest but don’t go over the moon and reach for the stars if you know what I mean. if you have little to no retail experience, don’t demand 9.00/hr because it’s just not going to happen. If you are currently working, state how much you make there (be sure you can prove it just in case) and simply let them know that you’d like to make more than what you do now. After all, isn’t that the point of getting another job? In Philadelphia, minimum wage is 7.25/hr. My roommate interviewed for UO and got an offer of 8.30/hr without any retail experience and at a low volume store. If you have experience and are applying for a high volume store (larger, more selections, located ina a popular mall etc.) then I would assume you’d get a higher pay.
I don’t think UO does a drug test – at least I didn’t. I just know that the interview process is:
App -> Group Interview -> Online Ethics Survey -> Second Interview (depending)
Mandy says:
Wow I want to work at Urban Outfitters. But it seems so difficult. Im 18 and Ive never worked like in a store or anything and Im kinda scared. I love the store and their clothes. Does anyone have any advice about this job I want to apply for? Please reply back.
Shelby says:
Does Urban Outfitters ever hire 15 year olds?
leslie grant says:
Whats the best way to explain your style for the online question when applying. whats an example to write. And What should one wear for the interview?
Michele says:
Hey guys! As an employee at Urban Outfitters for the last two years, I can easily say that all you need to do is remain calm, cool, and collected during the interview. It pretty much contains simple questions such as: what is your favorite brand within the store? what is currently trending right now? what style would best describe you? Aside from the questions, scenarios will most likely be provided in order to get an idea of your potential work ethic/strategies. Definitely wear something that reflects the stores overall image or anything trending in that time period – it doesn’t necessarily have to be from Urban Outfitters but it helps if it is!
Also, as far as explaining your style, try and incorporate a time period or specific style such as 90’s grunge or something along those lines. You can even say fashion-forward or laid back if that applies.
Hope this helps!
layla says:
I worked at Urban Outfitters and was hired for there seasonal position. Its mainly about HOW YOU DRESS. I put together the most hipster /trendy outfit I could wear. (just look up wiki how to dress like a hipster/indie/grunge). I wore a black blazer, grey muscle tank, black skinnies, chucks and a beanie, eye liner and the RED lipstick set me apart from the group. The questions were fairly easy. What kind of community service have you done? Why do you want to work here? Just relax and be honest. If u know about that type of fashion and underground culture already should be easy. If you don’t, look ut up and fake it. I know about the culture and i like it but i dont dress like it all the time so i faked it!. I said the word “urban” a lot that might of helped. There was no drug test. Good luck!