MightyRecruiterSomething to always bear in mind as you’re interviewing candidates is that you want to find ones who are balanced when it comes to focusing on sales and leading employees. After all, what good does it do you to have a top notch team if you have to let a few of your employees go because of poor sales? Depending on whether you’re hiring for general managers or assistant managers, you also want applicants who know who to turn to should they ever have any questions or concerns. This aspect of learning how to interview retail managers can save you an abundance of time and resources.
Past Accomplishments
Ask applicants what they feel are their best accomplishments so far in their careers. This is a good way to find out what has motivated them in the past and what is likely to motivate them in the future. Depending on how many positions you have available, you might find it preferable to hire more than one retail manager, each of whom has complementary skills that combine to give you the ultimate retail manager. Additionally, here is a good time to get an idea of the individual’s work style and if she or he has the level of enthusiasm and ability to work the hours you require. Again, this is an area in which you might have to consider the possibility of hiring two managers to meet all of your business’s needs.
Technical Abilities
When thinking about how to interview retail managers, don’t forget to ask about technical aptitude. What types of technology does your company currently use? Is there a system or piece of technology you’re thinking about using in the future? If so, you’ll want to focus on finding an applicant who knows how to use such systems or technology. Related questions to ask include how experienced the candidate is with inventory, setting sales goals and keeping an eye on scales. Depending on how busy you are, there may not be time to teach these skills. For any skills an applicant doesn’t possess, gauge his or her overall interest in receiving the necessary training or certification.
Past Performance
Looking into a retail manager’s work history is a standard part of the interviewing process, but one that shouldn’t be approached in a half-hearted manner. What this means is that you want to get a solid idea of the types of products or services the person has sold in the past as well as how she or he handles customer complaints. Let the most promising candidates know how they’ll be expected to sell your services or products and how customer complaints should be taken care of. Additional related questions you may want to think of asking include how applicants approach product or service interaction and methods of handling customer objections.
Commitment
As you’re mentally marinating on how to interview retail managers, leave time during the interview to ask about the applicant’s overall commitment. Determine how motivated the person is to make a true difference in your store and in your sales team. This is also where you’ll want to ask where the candidate sees her or himself in the future, which gives you an idea of whether he or she plans on staying with your company for a while and how much she or he plans on advancing in the industry. Specifically, you’ll want a candidate who will add (or maintain) stability in your company and help you to achieve your overall sales goals with your company philosophy in mind.
Overall Management Skills
Truly good retail managers are ones who have well-rounded skillsets. Just like they have to act as mentors to your employees, there might be times where they have to perform such tasks as taking out the trash or cleaning the bathrooms. You may also prefer a manager who is more hands on, one who would be considered a delegator, or even one who is a mix of both. These are just a few tips on how to interview retail managers. For more, and for ways to build your company, explore the rest of Mighty Recruiter.