The Top Cort Interview Questions and How to Prepare for Them

Interviewing at Cort, a leading furniture rental company with over 300 locations across the US, can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. With its innovative products and emphasis on customer service, Cort seeks driven team players who can help grow the business

In this guide, I’ll share the most common Cort interview questions based on my own experience interviewing with them as well as insights from others who have gone through the process. I’ll also provide tips to help you prepare your responses.

Overview of Cort’s Interview Process

The typical Cort interview process consists of:

• An initial phone screening with an HR rep
• One or more in-person interviews at a local store
• A management interview focused on leadership skills

Interviews are conducted in a conversational style, but you’ll still need to come prepared to showcase your skills Customer service, sales, and management candidates can expect questions tailored to their respective roles. The face-to-face interviews also incorporate situational questions to assess fit

Now let’s look at some of the top questions asked and how to tackle them smoothly:

Customer Service Interview Questions

1. How would you handle an upset customer who received a damaged item?

Cort wants to see that you can calmly resolve issues and deliver excellent service. For this situational question, explain how you would apologize, be empathetic, and reassure the customer. Outline the steps you’d take to have the item replaced or repaired to the customer’s satisfaction. Emphasize listening skills and your dedication to providing caring customer service.

2. Tell me about a time you had to explain a complex process or procedure to a customer. How did you ensure they understood?

Pick an example that demonstrates patience, strong communication abilities, and a commitment to the customer’s comprehension. Share how you walked the customer through the process step-by-step, checked for understanding, and simplified complex concepts using layman’s terms and examples.

3. Why do you want to work in customer service?

Show your motivation by emphasizing how you enjoy interacting with people, have a natural service mentality, and get satisfaction from helping solve problems. Share why you believe in Cort’s mission of providing quality furniture rental solutions.

4. How would you handle a customer insisting on a refund we cannot provide?

Provide an example of calmly listening, expressing empathy, but firmly sticking to policy while managing the customer’s expectations. Emphasize using tact, flexibility within bounds, and finding creative solutions to satisfy the customer when possible.

5. Describe a time you transformed an upset customer into a satisfied one. What techniques did you use?

Share a specific story focused on your listening abilities, problem-solving skills, and commitment to service recovery. Highlight how you turned the customer’s frustration into a positive outcome. Discuss techniques like addressing concerns, forming connections, and managing expectations.

Sales Interview Questions

1. What strategies have you used to meet or exceed sales targets in the past?

Demonstrate you can set and achieve ambitious sales goals. Share successful tactics like increasing conversion rates, upselling, client retention strategies, and leveraging CRM insights to expand your book of business. Use metrics to quantify your results.

2. Tell me about your sales process from lead to close. What steps do you follow?

Walk through each stage of prospecting, needs assessment, presentation, objection handling, and closing the deal. Emphasize customizing your process based on cues from each client. Share tools and techniques used at each step to advance opportunities.

3. How would you respond if a customer said your prices are too high?

Showcase your ability to handle pricing objections without being overly pushy. Share techniques like emphasizing the product’s quality and value, tying pricing to the benefits offered, discussing available options within budget, and guiding them toward the optimal solution for their needs.

4. What is your experience selling high-value products or services? How is this different than transactional sales?

Be prepared to share examples selling big-ticket items and navigating longer, complex sales cycles. Discuss the greater need for rapport building, consultative selling approach, stakeholder mapping, and follow-up persistence. Share strategies used to develop key accounts.

5. Tell me about a time you lost a sale. How did you handle this, and what did you learn?

Choose an example that showcases resilience, professionalism, and the ability to learn from losses. Explain your analysis of why the sale fell through and the improvements made to your process after. The key is to show you can quickly rebound and avoid taking rejections personally.

Management Interview Questions

1. What does excellent leadership mean to you? Give an example demonstrating your leadership style.

Share your vision of leadership centered around empowering others, leading by example, fostering teamwork and guiding with purpose. Provide a concrete story highlighting your ability to align, motivate and develop staff while resolving conflicts and driving results.

2. Tell me about a challenging employee you managed. How did you work to improve their performance?

Without calling out problematic behaviors, focus on coaching techniques used, development plans created, and process improvements made to help turn around the employee’s contributions. Demonstrate patience, empathy and commitment to their growth.

3. Describe a time you stepped into a leadership role and managed a project from start to finish.

Walk through a project where you effectively managed resources, delegated responsibilities, set milestones, and led cross-functional collaboration to execute on time. Share measures put in place to track progress and keep stakeholders aligned.

**4. What experience do you have with P&L management, budgeting and driving business growth?

Showcase your financial acumen, strategic mindset and ability to make data-driven decisions that boost the bottom line. Share examples of how you controlled expenses, managed inventory, analyzed sales metrics and capitalized on growth opportunities.

5. How do you keep teams motivated, especially during periods of change or uncertainty?

Discuss tools like clear vision-setting, transparency, celebrating wins, leading with empathy, developing staff skills, and maintaining morale. Share an example of guiding a team through a challenging transition while keeping up momentum.

Tips for Acing Your Cort Interview

• Research the company’s values, culture, and growth trajectory
• Prepare clear examples demonstrating customer service, sales, or management experience
• Practice responding to situational and behavioral questions
• Highlight skills around relationship-building, communication, and problem-solving
• Ask insightful questions to show interest in the role and company
• Express enthusiasm and commitment to providing outstanding customer experiences

With the right preparation, you can stand out and land the job at Cort. Best of luck with your upcoming interview!