Are you interested in sports and looking for your first job? Why apply at the local burger joint when you can start your career in a place that reflects your main hobby? I’ve had a lot of jobs over the years, and I wish someone had told me how to choose the right ones. You don’t always have to break your back for a job and experience the Monday syndrome. For instance, if you played football as a kid, why not look for work as a sports store employee?
Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming are some of the states where Big 5 Sporting Goods has 434 stores. The name Big 5 is derived from the first 5 stores opened in California. Every day, Big 5 Sporting Goods is hiring new people. I can’t wait to tell you all the tricks I use to get hired there.
Preparing for a job interview can be nerve-wracking. When that interview is with a major player in the retail industry like Big 5 Sporting Goods, the stakes feel even higher. As one of the most established sporting goods retailers in the United States, Big 5 sets a high bar for customer service, product knowledge, and operational excellence.
Landing a job here means stepping up your interview game, The good news is that going in armed with the right information and a strategic approach can set you apart from the competition This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to crush your Big 5 Sporting Goods interview,
About Big 5 Sporting Goods
Before diving into the interview details, let’s quickly recap some key facts about the company:
- Founded in 1955 in Southern California, now headquartered in El Segundo, CA
- Operates over 430 stores across 11 western states
- Employs around 8,500 people
- Offers sports equipment, apparel, and footwear for a wide range of activities
- Known for excellent customer service and community involvement
With decades of experience in the sporting goods retail sector, Big 5 has established itself as a trusted neighborhood brand focused on fulfilling customers’ needs. Their extensive selection, competitive pricing, and knowledgeable staff help explain their continued success and growth over the years.
Big 5 Sporting Goods Company Culture
Understanding a company’s culture and values provides great insight into whether you’ll be a good fit as an employee. Here’s a quick overview of Big 5’s work culture
-
Customer-centric: Big 5 heavily prioritizes customer satisfaction through service excellence. Employees are expected to provide helpful, knowledgeable assistance to shoppers.
-
Team-focused: Collaboration and communication are encouraged. Most stores function with an on-the-floor manager supervising staff.
-
Performance-driven: Employees are motivated by incentives and recognition programs tied to sales goals. Excellence is rewarded.
-
Community-connected: Big 5 aims to give back to communities it operates in through fundraising initiatives, sponsorships, and more.
-
Active lifestyle: With sports at its core, Big 5 looks for employees passionate about fitness, recreation, and an energetic approach to work.
Going into your interview with a grasp of these cultural pillars will help you demonstrate your fit within the company.
Big 5 Sporting Goods Interview Process
The typical Big 5 interview process consists of the following stages:
-
Online application: Apply for open positions through the company’s online portal. This collects information on your work history, availability, skills, etc.
-
Phone interview: A recruiter may conduct an initial screening by phone to verify your qualifications and expectations.
-
In-person interview: Eligible candidates are invited to interview at a local store. The store manager conducts the interview and evaluates your potential fit.
-
Follow-up interview (if needed): For management roles, an additional round of interviews may be required at the district or corporate level.
-
Job offer: After all interviews are cleared, Big 5 extends job offers to successful candidates. The offer details compensation, benefits, and other particulars.
From start to finish, the process can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks based on role, experience, and scheduling.
Most Common Big 5 Sporting Goods Interview Questions
Now let’s get into the meat of this guide – the interview questions. Understanding the types of questions you’ll face is critical preparation.
While exact phrasing may vary, these are the most frequent questions asked by Big 5 interviewers according to insights shared on Glassdoor:
Customer Service & Sales Questions
With customer satisfaction as a top priority, Big 5 wants to ensure you have the right service-focused mindset.
-
How would you handle an unhappy customer?
-
Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer.
-
What techniques do you use for upselling products to customers?
-
How would you respond if a customer complained about pricing or discounts?
-
What does excellent customer service mean to you?
To ace these types of questions, reflect on specific examples and anecdotes from your own customer service experiences that demonstrate patience, empathy and a commitment to problem-solving.
Operational & Situational Questions
Big 5 needs to confirm you can handle the realities of a fast-paced retail environment. Expect scenarios about daily operations.
-
How would you handle large crowds at the cash register during busy times?
-
What steps would you take if you noticed a safety hazard in the store?
-
If you saw a co-worker stealing, what would you do?
-
How do you prioritize when multitasking between customers and tasks?
-
You notice a customer has dropped money without realizing it. What would you do?
Vividly walk through how you would respond in these hypothetical situations. Emphasize safety, integrity, priorities, and quick thinking.
Knowledge & Passion Questions
Demonstrating your interest in sports/fitness and breadth of knowledge is key.
-
What experience do you have with the types of products we sell?
-
How do you stay up-to-date on the latest equipment and trends in the sporting goods industry?
-
If a customer asked you about the differences between softball bats, could you advise them?
-
Tell me about your favorite sport or outdoor activity.
-
Why do you want to work specifically at Big 5 Sporting Goods?
Discuss your personal interests, product research methods, and enthusiasm for contributing your knowledge in a customer-facing role.
Behavioral & Fit Questions
Interviewers will try to understand your competencies and fit.
-
Tell me about a time you struggled to meet a goal. How did you handle it?
-
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
-
Describe a professional failure or constructive criticism you received. What did you learn from it?
-
Why do you think you are a good fit for Big 5?
-
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Use real examples that position you as someone who takes accountability, is hungry to improve, and will align with Big 5’s culture.
Management & Leadership Questions (for supervisory roles)
For managerial positions, expect more rigorous leadership screening.
-
What experience do you have managing others?
-
How would you motivate a low-performing employee?
-
What is your management style?
-
Tell me about a time you resolved a dispute between employees.
-
How do you coach someone who is struggling to meet performance goals?
Emphasize your hands-on leadership experience. Discuss your communication abilities, conflict resolution approach, and commitment to nurturing talent.
7 Key Tips to Ace Your Big 5 Sporting Goods Interview
You know what kinds of questions to expect, but how do you ensure your responses hit it out of the park? Follow these tips:
1. Research the company thoroughly – Study their website, news articles, Glassdoor, etc. Going in informed shows motivation.
2. Practice your answers out loud – Actually vocalizing your responses helps polish your content and delivery.
3. Prepare examples and anecdotes – Back up claims about your skills with real stories and specifics. This builds credibility.
4. Have thoughtful questions about the role – Asking smart questions shows engagement and interest in the company.
5. Dress professionally – You don’t need a suit, but avoid casual wear. Show you take the interview seriously.
6. Express enthusiasm about the company – Share what excites you about their mission, values, and products.
7. Follow up promptly – Send a thank you email highlighting your strengths within 24 hours. This leaves a lasting impression.
Adopting these tips will demonstrate to Big 5 that you are a thoughtful, engaged candidate truly excited by the prospect of contributing to their continued success.
7 Key Big 5 Sporting Goods Interview Questions You MUST Prepare For
While you should be ready for a wide variety of questions, there are a few common Big 5 interview questions that demand special attention when prepping:
1. Why do you want to work for Big 5 Sporting Goods?
This fundamental question tests your understanding of their brand. Show you’ve done research and connect your interests to their company culture.
2. What does excellent customer service mean to you?
Customer obsession is central to Big 5’s identity. Discuss your passion for creating positive experiences through service-focused behaviors like patience, empathy, and active listening.
3. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer.
Prove you walk the talk on service excellence by sharing a detailed example that brought measurable value to a customer. Quantify the impact if possible.
4. How do you stay motivated when you’re struggling to meet a sales goal?
Retail involves stretching to hit targets. Demonstrate perseverance and strategies for self-motivation when the going gets tough.
**5.
Big 5 Sporting Goods Assistant Manager
For the Big 5 Sporting Goods assistant store manager job, you should be an outdoor or sports fanatic, have leadership experience, and know the store pretty well. This is the perfect job for you because you’ll be opening and closing the store, hiring staff, supervising sales and cashier employees, training new employees, checking and retrieving stock, keeping track of inventory, and replacing items. In short, this is a job for people who are very organized. If you want this job, make sure you have a strong background in customer service from a previous job. The job will train you, but it’s still important to have a positive attitude and know what you’re talking about.
Big 5 Sporting Goods Assistant Manager Salary: 15.10$ /hour
Do You Need A Resume For Big 5 Sporting Goods?
You need a resume to stand out, and most jobs require experience. To be honest, a good resume will make a big difference when you send in your application. Below you’ll find some advice on what you should include according to the three most popular professions:
If you put information about yourself on your resume, make sure it fits with what Big 5 Sporting Goods is looking for. There are other places where you can sell your personality as well as the hard skills you learned as an assistant manager. Yes, if you want to be a manager trainee, you should probably have worked as an assistant manager or supervisor before. There will be a lot of other people applying for the job with the same experience, so what makes you stand out? On your resume, make sure you talk about a time when you showed great leadership. This will make the employer look very favorably on you.
What should be on your resume about you? Are you very good at organizing things? Have you been a stable part of a team for a long time and feel like you deserve to move up to a role with more responsibilities? Again, think of a time when you were an important part of your workplace and still managed to stand out. Are you careful at work and pay close attention to details? If so, you should put that on your resume!
You don’t need much experience to apply for a cashier/sales job at Big 5 Sporting Goods. Still, adding a list of volunteer work or work you’ve done over the summer will improve your online application. If you really like sports and have been on a team, you can put that on your resume to show your boss and interviewer that you can work well with others.
Interview Big 5 Sporting Goods hit with EEOC lawsuit; Settles at $165K
FAQ
What does the 5 in Big 5 sporting goods stand for?
Does Big 5 Sporting Goods drug test?
What questions are asked at Adidas interview?
What’s your opinion of Big 5 Sporting Goods?
With so few reviews, your opinion of Big 5 Sporting Goods could be huge. Start your review today. Cheap prices, good selection, friendly staff. Stopped in for a fishing pole and supplies. I was impressed by the low cost. Prices were very good and fair, Lily was extremely professional and helped me find the boots I needed.
How long should a Big 5 interview question be?
Big 5 applicants should answer interview questions politely and professionally, with answers lasting between 30 and 60 seconds. Some current employees cite weekly scheduling often proves inconsistent at the regional sporting goods store. Applicants who communicate flexibility in schedule may gain preferential treatment during the hiring process.
What opportunities does Big 5 Sporting Goods offer?
At Big 5 Sporting Goods exceptional bargains on merchandise are not the only opportunities we provide. Our diverse work environment offers a variety of opportunities for employment.
