Athleta interview
Why would you be a good addition to our team?
*****I believe in the brand & what they stand for, so I will be interested in what their future products will look like I can also deliver fantastic service by connecting w/ multiple customers at a time. I am great at multi-tasking and can jump into any activity needed to support the business Lastly, I am open to feedback and be willing to share feedback & ideas with the management team
What is the athleta girl like?
An Athleta girl is someone who lives authentically and with integrity. She knows who she is, loves who she is, and knows what she wants, and continues to cement herself in whatever she does. And self-confidence is her best outfit.
Describe what the Athleta brand means to you.
Empowerment. I admire how the Athleta brand is not exclusive to a particular age group or population. I do not ever feel like I have to be someone I am not to shop here. Instead, the Athleta workers have always given me the confidence and strength to try on anything
A customer tries to pay for an item but the atm machine is broken. What do you say?
First, I would apologize for the technological failure. I would mention that we take other forms of payment, and if that doesn't work out I would ask if they want us to hold the merchandise aside until the machine is fixed, and call them to let them know when it is.
what makes a great retail experience?
Good customer service. It means having a thorough knowledge of your inventory, experience with your products, and being able to help customers make the best choices for them by asking great questions & listening intently.
How do you provide good customer service?
I believe in encouraging, not forcing...customers to buy any product...I make sure that the customers leave the store feeling comfortable and confident by providing honest feedback & most importantly, I put myself in the customer's shoes.
tell me about yourself
I currently intern at betances health center where i teach a womens wellness class on wednesdays, sit in on counseling sessions, and create nutrition handouts. One reason I really enjoyed working there, and the challenges that go along with it, is the opportunity to connect with patients of various cultures. I formed a few significant relationships with patients through tending to numerous patients of different ethnic backgrounds, which improved my cultural awareness and cultural sensitivity. Although I enjoyed my previous job... I feel I'm now ready to work in a different department and face more and new challenges. Right now I'm looking for an opportunity to where I can continue to interact w/ people of different cultures.... and apply my problem-solving skills with a team that is excited about helping other people in a friendly and fun environment....
what is your previous work experience and how relevant is that to this role?
I have worked in retail before for two years. Grass Stains Boutique #1 I had to deliver fantastic customer service & sales by styling each customer #2 when I was on the sales floor, I had to be customer-focused and ask them questions and listen intently to help them w/ whatever they needed. #3 I also learned how to connect w/ multiple customers @ a time to make things quick and easy I believe that my communication, organizational, and multitasking skills coupled w/ my experience will be my key to building sales at Athleta.
strengths and weaknesses
I think my greatest strength is my reliability. Part of my reliability is consistently being there, whether it is for my job or my friends. I drove back to Austin for my summer break, but I was still scheduled to work in college station, so I drove 2 hours there and back every weekend. As far as weaknesses, I feel that my communication skills could be more assertive. I have been actively pursuing opportunities such as this one, and I even competed in a pageant to improve my communication skills. Although I have become a better communicator over the years, I hope this job will train me to speak slower and adapt my communication style with different audiences.
what do you look for in a supervisor?
I want to feel comfortable expressing my thoughts, ideas, or issues that I may have to my supervisor. I would also expect my supervisor to be open and honest with me and let me know if there is anything I could improve upon or do differently in my work. Also, I appreciate a work environment where supervisors try to make personal connections with their employees. If I were a supervisor, I would keep an open-door policy with my employees, meaning they could come to me with any issues. I would also greatly respect my employees because my managers respected me at my last job, and I felt more inclined to work harder for them. I understand that there is a line between being a supervisor and a friend, but I would like to emphasize that we are on the same team in which I am not above or below them, working toward the same goal.
a customer wants to pay in change, do you accept it?
I would ask if they could roll some of them, but if not, I would still take it because I would not want to lose a sale over coins or embarrass the customer by rejecting them.
how would you encourage your team?
I would probably set a sale goal each day (encouraging us to work together) or hold mini-competitions. Nothing big like the hunger games, haha, but something big enough to make the employees work hard. I feel like hosting this in an Athleta environment would be healthy since Athleta emphasis women empowerment. Having these mini-competitions and goals would empower the employees to up their game! and realize that woman are more powerful together than separate
how would you handle an upset customer?
I would remain calm, do not take it personally, & listen patiently. when they are done talking, I would summarize what they said to me & ask any questions to clarify their complaint further Lastly, I would actively sympathize & apologize gracefully. I would say something like, "I am sorry you are not happy with our product. let us see what we can do to make things right," to validate their feelings.
what is your best customer service experience?
It happened at Athleta! I was trying on joggers, and the girl who helped me gave me the perfect size. She just knew. Moreover, when I tried them on I was so surprised at how well they fit, and I did not have to go through the frustration of trying on clothes that did not fit me. she also asked me great questions and listened to what I wanted She was able to help me make the best choice. Furthermore, I left the store feeling very happy and confident.
What do you know about our store?
It is a sister brand of gap & banana republic they are a fitness & lifestyle brand that inspires a community of active & confident women since 1998
How do you keep up with fashion trends?
It is kind of spur of the moment searching for things If I see a style I like when I am in the city shopping... ill look it up online... Alternatively, if I'm scrolling through Instagram and I like an outfit a girl is wearing, I would go to her page to check out her style.... i also like to look at lookbook online from companies that i like.....
customer wants to return clothes but no receipt....
It would be essential to know the company return policy on this. However, I would allow for an exchange because sometimes taking a slight loss can pay off in customer loyalty.
What influences your style?
My lifestyle. I am always on the go, so athleisure is what I am always wearing! I feel more comfortable and beautiful when wearing joggers and a cute tank top. It allows me to live my life easier, and it somehow makes me a more productive person
Style influences
Sarah Stevenson or Sarah's day! She is an Australian fitness influencer. I love how her style is subtle but still so bold because she adds a hint of patterns and neon in her outfits...but doesn't look "too much" or overdone...
"Someone who doesn't know you well doesn't like you. What are five adjectives he or she might use to describe you?" "Now, let's imagine you are on a team with a new person at the company. You notice there's some tension between the two of you. You also realize that this person would probably describe you as ...[insert their list of 5 adjectives]. How would you handle the situation?"
Sometimes people who don't know me particularly well get the wrong impression and see me as someone who is extremely shy or too reserved. I know I can come across that way at times. For this reason, I am taking steps to be seen as more friendly and outgoing - like being the person who initiates conversations and sharing my opinions or ideas.
What do you love about athleta?
The clothes are casual yet eye-catching & timeless... I feel like I will be able to wear them for a long time because they are good quality & would never go out of style... and I feel like they are great in a wide range of situations just because each piece is so versatile overall, THEY ELEVATE MY OUTFITS IN A SUBTLE & EFFORTLESS WAY
how would you describe athleta to someone who has never shopped there before?
The clothes at Athleta are comfortable and very classic...yet sophisticated... They focus on making clothes for women of all shapes & sizes & ages....there something for everyone!
Describe the athleta asthetic
Very versatile and timeless. Athleta sells pieces that you would never donate to goodwill or sell because you could see yourself wearing that piece again soon.
what do you hope to gain from this experience? why do you want to work @ athleta?
Well, not only do I want to work here to gain retail experience, but this job is a stepping stone for me in becoming a doctor because working here would increase my cultural sensitivity and improve my communication skills with people of different cultures. It would also give me the knowledge of strengthening or forming relationships with people abroad for when I am talking to different patients.
name a time you went all out for a customer
When I worked at Grass Stains Boutique, a regular came in, and she needed a dress for her company Christmas party. We tried on every dress, and none of them looked appropriate until she tried on this silk dress. The dress had wrinkles on it, and she was already running late, so I quickly grabbed the steamer and steamed her dress right then, and picked out accessories that matched the dress
how do you go about solving conflicts between team members?
While I never really had severe issues with coworkers not getting along, I have seen what happens when people do not work well together. If it is something minor, like a work miscommunication, I would approach them separately and talk about it. However, if it is something bigger, like a personal drama, I would tell them to leave it at the door and try to keep the work environment as professional as possible. I would also note to myself to tell the manager not to schedule them together because no one wants to work in a drama-filled / hostile environment, you know?
what do you like about athleta
i love that their clothing are long lasting, and run in a wide range of sizes... especially the petite size because personally i am very short and having to get your clothing hemmed each time you buy a new pair gets annoying.... i also like how they offer free hemming.... overall, i that their clothes are very comfortable, laidback, yet sophisticated..... i also appreciate that they dont cater towards young millenials like me only are are very inclusive and focuses on making clothes that would make any women regardless of their size, age, and shape confident
What stores do you think are athletas biggest competition?
lululemon however, lululemon is more yoga gear and Athleta makes gear for everyday activities like running, weight training, or just lounging around the house
What is your dream job?
my dream job would allow me to utilize my communication skills where i can interact w/ people from different cultures...my dream job would let me be analytical and creative... my dream job would also involve extensive amount of teamwork..I love that this job will allow me to do all of these things.....my current internship is 50% team projects...and i am excited to continue that kind of teamwork & open communication w/ people that workhere....who are excited about helping others in a friendly and fun atmosphere..
how would you describe your style?
my style is definitely athleisure. my style is not overdone; it is comfortable & casual yet sophisticated & clean
give an example of a difficult customer and how you handled the situation
one day when i was working at charlotte russe...a lady came in to try on clothes i would remain calm, dont take it personally, & listen patiently..... when they are done talking i would summarize what they said to me & ask any questions to further clarify their complaint... lastly i would actively sympathize & apologize gracefully.... i would say something like "im sorry youre not happy with our product. lets see what we can do to make things right" to validate their feelings...