Preparing for an interview can be daunting, especially when it involves a prominent retailer like Dollar General. Ensuring you’re ready to tackle dollar general interview questions is key to standing out as an exceptional candidate. This article is meant to help you prepare for some of the most common interview questions, so you can talk about your experiences and skills with confidence.
Getting hired at Dollar General can be a great way to start a rewarding retail career With over 18,000 stores across North America, it’s one of the largest and fastest growing discount retailers
However, with lots of competition for jobs at Dollar General, you need to make a stellar impression in your interview to stand out from other applicants.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share insider tips and strategies to help you ace common Dollar General interview questions based on my years of experience working for the company. Let’s get started!
Understanding the Dollar General Interview Process
The typical Dollar General interview process consists of
- An initial phone or in-person screening interview
- One or two in-person interviews at the store
- Potentially completing math and behavioral assessments
- A final interview with the district manager
Some key qualities Dollar General looks for in candidates include:
- Strong customer service skills
- Ability to perform general math calculations
- Teamwork and communication abilities
- Reliability and integrity
- Flexibility to work various shifts
Conveying these attributes in your interview responses is key.
12 Common Dollar General Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Let’s now walk through some of the most frequently asked Dollar General interview questions along with strong sample responses:
1. Why do you want to work at Dollar General?
This open-ended question allows you to express your enthusiasm and passion for the company.
Tips to answer:
- Show you’ve researched the company’s values and mission
- Highlight aspects of the job and company culture that appeal to you
- Avoid generic answers – make it personal
Example: “I’m excited to work at Dollar General because I really admire your focus on serving small, rural communities. Growing up in a small town myself, I understand the importance of having an affordable shopping option. I also love that Dollar General promotes from within and cares about employee development.”
2. What retail experience do you have?
Hiring managers want to see you have the basic skills needed to thrive in a retail environment.
Tips to answer:
- Quantify your experience in months/years
- Highlight transferable skills from past retail roles
- Emphasize skills like customer service, merchandising, cash handling
Example: “I have over 2 years of retail experience working at a grocery store during high school and college. In that role, I operated the cash register, provided customer service, handled voids and returns, and assisted with merchandising and inventory management. I also previously interned at a clothing boutique, which further developed my skills.”
3. How would you handle an unhappy customer?
Demonstrating customer service skills is crucial for retail positions. Share your approach to turning frustrated customers into happy ones.
Tips to answer:
- Discuss listening empathetically and apologizing
- Share how you would solve the issue, such as finding discounts
- Explain politely involving a supervisor if needed
Example: “First, I would listen calmly to understand why they are unhappy. I would then apologize sincerely for their experience. If I could resolve the issue directly by finding an alternative product or providing a discount, I would happily do so. However, if the customer remained upset, I would politely ask my supervisor to step in to find a resolution.”
4. How do you stay motivated in a retail job?
Interviewers want to ensure you have the right attitude and work ethic to thrive in a busy retail environment.
Tips to answer:
- Share how you find purpose in helping customers
- Discuss setting individual goals to stay driven
- Give examples of rewarding aspects of retail
Example: “I stay motivated by focusing on the rewarding parts of retail, like making someone’s day by helping them find the perfect product. I also set little goals for myself, like being the top seller of a new product. And I remind myself that I’m gaining great experience for the future.”
5. How would you handle a disagreement with a co-worker?
Your teamwork skills are very important, so share how you resolve conflicts tactfully.
Tips to answer:
- Explain you would have a respectful, one-on-one discussion
- Emphasize finding common ground and compromising
- Discuss involving a supervisor if unresolved
Example: “If a disagreement arose with a co-worker, I would request to speak with them privately to understand their perspective and share my own respectfully. My goal would be to find a compromise or common solution we both feel happy with. However, if we could not resolve it ourselves, I would seek guidance from my supervisor.”
6. How do you prioritize tasks when you have several customers asking for help at once?
Multitasking is an integral retail skill, so provide examples of how you stay organized when pulled in multiple directions.
Tips to answer:
- Share how you quickly evaluate priority level and delegate when possible
- Give examples of how you balance speed and quality
- Emphasize being calm under pressure
Example: “When faced with multiple customers needing help simultaneously, I quickly evaluate the situation to determine how to best divide my time. If there is something I could delegate to another employee to assist with, I will respectfully ask them for support. When directly assisting customers, I aim to be efficient yet thorough, providing the quickest service without sacrificing quality and courtesy.”
7. How would you react if a customer treated you disrespectfully?
Retail employees need excellent self-control. Share how you remain professional even in difficult situations with customers.
Tips to answer:
- Emphasize continuing to speak calmly and politely
- Explain being understanding but sticking to policy
- Discuss diplomatically involving a supervisor when needed
Example: “If a customer became disrespectful towards me, I would do my best to calmly defuse the situation and remain professional. While staying empathetic to their frustration, I would continue to enforce store policy politely. If they remained aggressive, I would notify my supervisor so they could address the issue and provide me with guidance on next steps.”
8. Tell me about a time you exceeded a customer’s expectations. Why were they so satisfied?
Past examples of customer service success will highlight your dedication to providing an excellent experience.
Tips to answer:
- Set up the scenario briefly
- Share exactly what actions you took
- Explain why those actions delighted the customer
Example: “There was a customer looking to redeem a 50% off coupon that had actually expired the week before. Because they had made a large purchase, I decided to honor the coupon anyway so they felt valued. This saved them $40 off their $80 order. When they realized I was making an exception just for them, they were so appreciative. I could tell I completely exceeded their expectations with that small act of courtesy.”
9. If hired, how long do you plan on staying with Dollar General?
Since turnover is costly, interviewers want to get a sense of your level of commitment and longevity.
Tips to answer:
- If interested in a career, emphasize wanting to grow long-term with the company
- If needing short-term work, reassure you would give proper notice
- Avoid vague answers – be clear on your expected tenure
Example: “My goal is to build a career with Dollar General. I am very interested in taking on more responsibility over time and advancing within the company. I plan to stay for at least 3-5 years, if not longer.”
10. How do you stay productive during slow periods at work?
Down-time is inevitable in retail. Share how you remain engaged and make the most of slower shifts.
Tips to answer:
- Give examples of tasks you tackle during slow periods, like restocking
- Discuss taking time to learn about products and policies
- Highlight you also assist colleagues as needed
Example: “When the store is slower, I take the opportunity to fully restock shelves, arrange merchandise displays and complete any other store maintenance tasks. However, I also try to use the time productively by becoming more knowledgeable about our products and policies. This helps me better assist customers when things pick back up. And I always offer to help my coworkers with any tasks they may need extra help on as well.”
11. Describe a time you had to adapt to a change in policies or procedures at work. How did you handle it?
Flexibility is key in retail. Share an example that proves you can adjust to changes on the job.
Tips to answer:
- Briefly explain the situation
- Emphasize having a positive attitude about change
- Discuss how asking questions helped you learn the new way
Example: *“When my previous retail store started using new POS systems, I made sure to have a great attitude about the change. I asked our manager plenty of questions to fully understand the new procedures, like how to locate certain functions. I also asked coworkers if I could shadow them using
Dollar General’s Hiring Landscape
Dollar General stands as a titan in the retail industry, boasting thousands of stores across the United States. It is known for being easy to get to and selling cheap goods. It has a wide range of jobs, from entry-level ones to management positions. When you apply to work at Dollar General, you’ll be asked a number of questions that will test not only your work history but also how well you fit in with the company’s values and culture. In the fast-paced retail world that Dollar General works in, it’s important to know how important customer service, teamwork, and being able to adapt are. This part goes into more detail about what job applicants can expect when they go to an interview with this retail giant.
Q1 Can you give an example of a goal you set and achieved? (Goal Setting & Achievement)
Answer: This question gives you a chance to show that you can set reasonable goals and are dedicated to following them through to completion. Think of a specific situation that turned out well and describe the steps you took to reach your goal. Be sure to highlight any obstacles you overcame and how you stayed motivated.
Example Answer: One of my goals at my last job was to make the inventory management process run more smoothly. I saw that we were checking and writing down inventory levels by hand a lot of the time, which was prone to mistakes. One of my goals was to cut down on the time I spent on inventory by 2020 within six months by putting in place a barcode scanning system.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| Research | Researched various barcode systems and selected the most suitable one for our needs. |
| Proposal | Presented a cost-benefit analysis to management to get buy-in. |
| Implementation | Rolled out the new system, trained the team, and monitored the transition. |
| Review | Regularly reviewed the system’s effectiveness and made tweaks as needed. |
There was success with the new system, and we were able to cut the time spent on inventory by 25%, which was more than our original goal.
Dollar General Interview Questions with Answer Examples
FAQ
What questions do they ask at a Dollar General interview?
What makes you want to work for Dollar General?
How do I answer why should I hire you?
What to wear to a job interview at Dollar General?
How do I get a job at Dollar General?
Just ask! On Glassdoor, you can share insights and advice anonymously with Dollar General employees and get real answers from people on the inside. I fill out an application then they call to set up and interview and ask me questions to see if I am right for the job. And then they will call you to see if got the job.
How long does a Dollar General interview take?
The Dollar General interview process starts with set questions. During the one-on-one interview with a manager, it takes roughly 30 minutes to complete. Examples of questions include: Do you know anyone who works for us? Can you handle stress? Where do you want to be in a year? What annoys you?
What happens after a Dollar General interview?
After a Dollar General interview, successful applicants will be notified by the hiring manager about employment within a week, and will begin their employment shortly after the interview process. The major job positions available at Dollar General are sales-related and stocking positions. Here are some jobs you can hope to find in the company:
What is it like to work at Dollar General?
The people who work for Dollar General are the company’s most valuable asset. Dollar General is devoted to its staff and is willing to hire at all levels, as well as invest in its workers’ professional development through training and education, to ensure that every position offers a path to a rewarding career.
