So you’ve got an interview coming up for a retail position. Whether you’ve worked in sales before and could sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves, or you’re just starting out and want a flexible schedule, you may be wondering what to expect in your retail interview. You might be getting a lot of callbacks for retail jobs but not getting hired, and you think your interviewing skills could use some work.
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If that sounds like you, I worked for ten years as a hiring manager for stores like L Brands, Ann Taylor, and The Buckle, Inc. , and I learned a lot about what makes a candidate stand out to hiring managers and recruiters in retail during that time. I can help you answer the 10 most common questions asked in retail interviews. I can also give you insider information on the unwritten rules you should know about while you’re job hunting and some extra tips to help you ace your interview!
Getting hired at Marsh Supermarkets, a beloved regional grocer with deep roots in the community, is a great opportunity. With its reputation for excellent customer service, community involvement, and strong company values, Marsh Supermarkets is an employer that inspires loyalty and satisfaction among its workforce.
However, landing that coveted job takes preparation and insight into what impresses Marsh Supermarkets hiring managers. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the top 15 most common Marsh Supermarkets interview questions, what the company wants to hear in your responses, and tips for making your best case during the Marsh Supermarkets interview process.
Overview of the Marsh Supermarkets Interview Process
The Marsh Supermarkets interview process is fairly straightforward for both hourly and managerial roles It typically involves one or two rounds of interviews, either in-person, over the phone or video Some applicants may also be asked to complete an online assessment focused on skills, behaviors, and fit for the role.
Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect
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Application: Submit an application online or in-person with a resume highlighting your qualifications.
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Phone/video interview: If selected, you’ll do a preliminary screening interview by phone or video chat. This covers basic qualifications and availability.
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In-person interview: For most positions, this is the main decider interview. You’ll meet with the hiring manager or a panel. Some roles require a second interview.
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Assessments: For managerial roles especially, you may need to complete online skills and behavioral assessments.
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Reference check: Your references will be contacted as a final check before an offer is made.
Throughout the process, Marsh Supermarkets assesses not only your job qualifications but also your fit with the company’s culture and values. Doing your research and preparing for the most common questions is key.
Now let’s dive into the top 15 interview questions to expect and how to prepare winning responses.
1. Why do you want to work at Marsh Supermarkets?
This question tests your knowledge of and enthusiasm for the company. The interviewer wants to see that you have done your research and are motivated to join the Marsh Supermarkets team specifically.
How to answer:
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Demonstrate passion for the brand. Mention things that attract you to Marsh, like its longstanding presence in local communities, stellar reputation, and community-focused values.
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Show you’ve researched the company and know about its history, store offerings, company culture, etc.
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Speak to how your own values and goals align with Marsh Supermarkets’ mission and work environment. Highlight relevant skills/experience you can bring.
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Keep it authentic – don’t just shower generic praise. Back up your interest with real reasons the role appeals to you.
Example response: “I’m excited to apply at Marsh Supermarkets because I’ve seen firsthand your reputation for top-notch customer service and community stewardship. As someone who takes pride in contributing to my neighborhood and building lasting relationships, these values resonate with me. I also love that Marsh Supermarkets celebrates its long history while still innovating to meet changing customer needs – for instance, through your expanded organic and natural food offerings. With my background in grocery customer service, your emphasis on employee training and advancement opportunities strongly appeals to me as well. I know I could learn and grow at Marsh Supermarkets while making a positive difference in people’s lives.”
2. What do you know about our company/brand?
Like the previous question, this tests your research skills and genuine interest in Marsh Supermarkets. The interviewer wants to know you took the initiative to learn about the company.
How to answer:
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Share a brief overview of the company, including details like: year founded, store locations/footprint, brand reputation, store offerings, company values/mission.
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Mention recent Marsh Supermarkets news, initiatives or changes – this shows you keep up to date on the company.
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Share why Marsh Supermarkets’ brand, culture and offerings appeal to you personally.
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Avoid vague claims like “Marsh Supermarkets is a great company!” Back up with real facts and details.
Example response: “Marsh Supermarkets has a longstanding positive reputation since being founded in 1931 right here in Indiana, where it’s grown to over 65 stores across the state today. Beyond groceries, Marsh provides services like pharmacies and gas stations to really be a one-stop shop for communities. I also read that Marsh was just recognized as a top regional grocery chain by Retail Today magazine. Marsh seems to balance that long history and ties to local neighborhoods with an ability to adapt, like the updated store formats and expanded natural foods and beer/wine selections. The focus on employee advancement and community service is fantastic as well. Marsh’s stellar reputation, commitment to customers, and emphasis on company values really appeals to me as an employee.”
3. Why do you want to work in the grocery industry?
This question gauges your fit and motivation for the retail grocery sector specifically. The interviewer wants to know you have a genuine interest in the field.
How to answer:
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Share what excites you about the grocery industry – do you enjoy the fast-paced retail environment? The emphasis on customer service? The complex logistics challenges?
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If you have prior grocery experience, highlight what you enjoyed and accomplished. If you’re new to grocery, spotlight transferable skills.
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Speak to how you personally find meaning in grocery work, e.g. helping people, being part of the community, supplying essential needs.
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Convey openness to learning the ropes if you lack direct experience. Enthusiasm goes a long way!
Example response: “I’m excited to build a career in grocery because I really thrive in that kind of high-energy, community-focused environment. There’s something satisfying about being part of how a neighborhood meets its most basic need – food! I also love the challenge of making each customer’s experience stand out through personalized service. My past experience in retail sales allowed me to flourish in that kind of fast-paced, customer-centered atmosphere. And although I’m new to grocery specifically, I’m passionate about the industry and would love to learn the ins and outs of this field with a strong mentor like Marsh Supermarkets.”
4. What do you know about our grocery department?
For any customer-facing grocery role, you’ll need to demonstrate knowledge of the specifics of the Marsh Supermarkets shopping experience. The interviewer wants to see you’ve familiarized yourself with day-to-day operations.
How to answer:
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Share an overview of the grocery department offerings at Marsh stores. Spotlight signature categories, services, or special programs.
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If applying for a specific department, showcase your knowledge of that department’s products, workflows, standards, etc.
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Speak to any experiences you have that relate to the role’s daily tasks and tools, e.g. inventory systems, produce weighing/coding, customer service protocols.
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Share how your skills would add value, and your openness to learning new grocery department processes on the job.
Example response: “From researching Marsh Supermarkets, I’ve learned your grocery department provides the full suite of products customers expect – quality meats, bakery items, international cuisine, and staple dry goods along with specialty choices like organic, natural and locally-sourced foods. Your stores seem ahead of the game with mobile checkout and other tech enhancements too. In the produce section specifically, I understand how important tasks like weighing, coding, and rotating inventory are. Although I don’t have direct produce clerk experience yet, my past grocery customer service role allowed me to build skills in inventory databases, following safety protocols, and delivering excellent service – abilities I’m excited to apply at Marsh.”
5. Why do you feel you’re a good fit for this position?
This question calls for you to connect your qualifications directly to the needs of the role. The interviewer wants to hear how and why you are an excellent candidate.
How to answer:
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Clarify the specific skills, competencies and duties required for the job based on the description.
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Match those to your capabilities, experiences and attributes. Explain HOW you are a match.
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Give relevant examples of times you demonstrated the abilities the role requires like customer service, teamwork, organization etc.
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Speak to how you would apply your strengths to the role right away AND be excited to continue growing into the position over time. Convey enthusiasm.
Example response: “With your Produce Clerk role requiring strong customer service, inventory management and ability to handle fast-paced environments, I’m confident I have the right qualifications to excel. In my previous grocery experience, I honed my skills in managing produce displays, adhering to safety protocols, and keeping our department well-stocked through proactive inventory tracking. Most importantly, I learned how vital it is to deliver excellent service, like helping customers pick the ripest fruits or recommending complementary items. My diligence, communication abilities and passion for grocery would enable me to not only fulfill but exceed expectations as your next Produce Clerk while continually learning and improving on the job.”
6. What do you know about our company culture and values?
The interviewer wants to assess whether you’ll be a good cultural fit
Tell Me About a Time When You Dealt With an Extremely Difficult Customer.
It can feel like you’re being followed around like a pop star at a 16th birthday party, as I said before. This question is asked by hiring managers to see how you handle rudeness, dismissal, and anger, which salespeople often have to deal with every day. We want to know that you are a solution finder and de-escalator.
When asked this question, the best way to answer is to tell a story that shows how good you are at calming people down without going on and on about bad customers. You can stay on track by using the STAR method, which was made for this type of “tell me about a time when” question. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result:
- Situation: Give any background needed to understand your story.
- Explain what you had to do and what your part was in the situation.
- Steps you took to deal with the situation: Write them down.
- Result: Talk about the outcomes of your actions.
Let’s look at what the STAR method looks like in action. For this question, you might say:
- “When I worked at Acme Department Store, a customer tried to return sheets that were clearly used as a cape.” The customer still had the original packaging and receipt, even though the hem of the flat sheet was dirty and torn. They demanded a full refund and was rude to customer service when they couldn’t get it. ”.
- Task: “Our company policy says that it’s up to the manager to decide whether to accept returns on broken items.” That kind of day-to-day work fell on me as the shift leader-in-charge. That was it! These sheets were going back to corporate headquarters, no way could we sell them again. ”.
- “I stepped in and told the customer that our company policy didn’t allow him to return the items, but I would be happy to let them exchange them for something else, and I would even help them find something else to take home that same day.” I asked someone else to work the floor for me so I could give this customer my full attention. ” .
- “The customer was able to find a tailgate table for a similar price after 20 minutes of personal attention and was more than happy to make an exchange.” ” .
Don’t complain about customers in your answer; instead, talk about what you did to solve the problem as best you could.
Do You Shop at [Brand]?
It’s hard to sell a product that you don’t use. Genuine enthusiasm shines through to customers and hiring managers. But so does fake hype. You want to be sure to answer this question honestly and diplomatically.
If you’re already a customer, be prepared to offer a detail or two about your favorite products. Try something like:
“I do! I’m addicted to your eucalyptus mint bathroom cleaning spray. I love the way my bathroom smells after I clean it, and it makes me happy to know I’m using something safe and good for the earth. ”.
Isn’t a customer yet? Say “not as much as I would like to,” and then try to connect your reason with one of the five key qualities I talked about earlier. For example, if you are a single parent on a budget you could say:
“To be honest, I spend most of my money on food because I have three boys. But I like that your cleaning products are safe for my toddler’s room and good for the environment, so I can’t wait to try them out!”
Top 5 Most Asked Marshalls Interview Questions and Answers
FAQ
Why do you want to work in retail supermarket answers?
How to answer tell me about yourself for cashier?
