Zumiez Interview Questions & Tips

Submitting an Application

The Zumiez interview process provides a fun and unique way for job seekers to showcase certain qualities favored by the skater-inspired fashion retailer. Applicants gain interview consideration by filling out and turning in the appropriate forms for employment with Zumiez. Once submitted, the applicant information comes under review by Zumiez hiring managers, who often contact prospective employees about scheduling a job interview within a few days.

Group Interviews for Entry-Level Positions

Zumiez interviewers typically meet with groups of candidates at a time, particularly when hiring entry-level workers. Managerial job seekers frequently interview with Zumiez hiring personnel individually. A single interview session represents the majority of the Zumiez hiring process for most applicants.

Common Interview Questions

Zumiez interviews may feature as many as 25 or 30 potential employees in one session and often last a couple hours. Candidates sometimes encounter typical interview questions, such as, "What is your favorite thing about Zumiez?" or “What are three of your personal strengths and weaknesses?" Zumiez hiring managers regularly ask interviewees to participate in interactive exercises, like making a mock sales pitch centered on a piece of merchandise from the store hosting the interview. Other commonly used Zumiez interview questions ask about the favorite stores and schedule availability of applicants.

Not Your Average Interview

In addition to featuring some standard interview questions and exercises, Zumiez group interviews consistently include unique activities requiring job seekers to demonstrate quick thinking and a sense of humor. Zumiez interviewers sometimes request that candidates make introductions by telling a joke along with their names. Interviewees are regularly divided into smaller groups and tasked with creating a team name and song or chant, as well. Zumiez interviews also frequently include a game in which participants respond to open-ended questions solely by asking another open-ended question. Hiring managers may even ask applicants to approach and converse with random shoppers as part of the Zumiez interview process.

How to Stand Out Among the Competition

To show personal interest in the brand and gain an advantage at the job interview:

• Wear Zumiez clothing or similar skater apparel and demonstrate familiarity with the history of the company.
• Display an outgoing attitude and a good sense of humor throughout the hiring process to establish compatibility with the work environment of Zumiez stores.
• Highlight previous instances of personally providing excellent customer service.

Job seekers participating in Zumiez group interviews should strive to stand out by completing the various hiring exercises with enthusiasm, taking initiative in socializing with the other candidates, and displaying a winning personality.

How to Follow Up

Zumiez hiring managers often notify successful interviewees of employment within a couple days. Applicants still awaiting a job offer a week after the interview should contact Zumiez directly and politely inquire about the position.

Zumiez Team Member Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.

Zumiez Team Member: I was just a team member so just talking to the customers, helping them out, asking them if they needed anything when they came in.

Interviewer: What was the work environment like?

Zumiez Team Member: It was pretty chill. They play pretty up-to-date music so it was appealing to a younger crowd.

Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?

Zumiez Team Member: I like the clothes there and the employee discount and it was… I was working with people that were typically around my age, so I feel like they got me and I could get them.

Interviewer: Please describe the application and interview process.

Zumiez Team Member: I applied online and then I called, and so I think I called the next day after I applied, and then that day I talked to the hiring manager and she told me to come in for an interview. But what was different with their interviews was that they did group interviews for the first two.
So the first one you’re in a group and they have you do group activities to see how well you work with others. And then if you do well, if they think you have the qualities that they would want as a team member, they call you back. And so then you come back and do another group activity and you also had to memorize a test to get officially hired as well. So it was a pretty lengthy hiring process.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?

Zumiez Team Member: Not typical, like, “What do you do if you’re in this situation?” It was really things geared towards their company. It was like acronyms. So you had to remember what the acronym stood for. I can’t remember exactly what they were, but it was a lot.

Interviewer: How were you notified that you received the job?

Zumiez Team Member: I think it was just a day later they called me and they said I was good.

Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?

Zumiez Team Member: I was willing to talk to people and work, engage with everyone. I think that’s why they liked me. I can be pretty outgoing when I want to, so.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?

Zumiez Team Member: Just be prepared to interact with people. If you’re shy, try to step out of that. Step out of your comfort zone. Just be willing to have fun at work, you know? It’ll be cool.

Zumiez Sales Associate and Cashier Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Zumiez Sales Associate and Cashier: At Zumiez, I was a sales associate and a cashier all at the same time. Duties wise, keep the floor clean, keep all clothes organized, work the cash register and just work with customers and provide them with customer service and everything.

Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Zumiez Sales Associate and Cashier: Very busy, outgoing. It was very lively because we had music going on at the same time. People are coming in and out every hour.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Zumiez Sales Associate and Cashier: First thing, I applied at the website online. Then they called me for a group interview. We did a group interview in the mall, outside the store. Like I said, it was just general questions that they asked each person. Everybody got the same question. Then after the group interview, they’ll call you back to let you know you got the job or not. After which, you would go through training the first week and that’s it.

Interviewer: What should an applicant wear to the interview?
Zumiez Sales Associate and Cashier: Business casual, shirt and tie, black slacks, shoes. Doesn’t have to be anything special. Then just look presentable.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Zumiez Sales Associate and Cashier: Just apply for the right reasons. Don’t do it just to get paid. If you really want to get a job that you like, I guess you do that.

Zumiez Sales Associate Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Zumiez Sales Associate: For Zumiez, I was a sales associate. Some of the things I did were: walk around the store and make sure everything was in place. For example, the clothes were on the hangers correctly, and greet every customer that came in and help them find whatever they need. Whenever anyone was ready to check out I would operate the cash registers. The third thing would be tagging any clothing with the security tags. Also putting on price tags and what not. Then at the end of the day, clean up the whole store, sweep the floor, just make sure it looked nice for the next day.

Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Zumiez Sales Associate: It was very relaxed actually. They are very liberal about their attire because their clientele is young people so you can dress like them and wear belly shirts and have piercings and tattoos and it was totally fine. They would blast rap music or rock music or anything. It was a very laid back environment. When people come in you would say, “Hey what’s up, how can I help you.” Just like that.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Zumiez Sales Associate: I went in person and filled out an application and left it with the woman, the Manager, it came out to be. She handed it to the higher manager. Then they called me back a couple of days later and said, “Can you come in for an interview?” They did an interview right in the store with me. Then she called me an hour later and said I was hired. It was really easy. Then I just came back and they trained me.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Zumiez Sales Associate: One question was how do you feel you can use your creativity towards this business? I was able to answer it’s good to have creativity in the sets that they make because you want to attract people into your store and make sure that the clothing looks like an outfit. That was the main thing that they wanted you to do, so that people aren’t struggling to find shorts and a shirt that matches, because you already put it on display for them.

Interviewer: What should an applicant wear to the interview?
Zumiez Sales Associate: I wore jeans like these jeans, because it is a laid back environment so you you’ll want to fit in with them. I actually wore a tank top, just what was trendy is what I mean.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Zumiez Sales Associate: Just make sure you’re a people person. A lot of what the job entails is greeting people and being comfortable walking up to someone and asking if they need help and just being comfortable with your taste and trying to influence them to buy more things which is the point of the job.

Related Links:
Zumiez Application
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