Interviewing at OLN can be an exciting but nerve-wracking experience. With preparation and practice you can walk into that interview ready to impress your future employer. In this article we’ll explore some of the most common OLN interview questions along with tips for crafting winning responses.
Overview of OLN
OLN is a global manufacturer and marketer of outdoor lifestyle products. The company is a leader in categories like action sports outdoor equipment apparel, footwear and accessories. Some of OLN’s popular brands include The North Face, Timberland, Smartwool, Icebreaker and Altra.
OLN is headquartered in Denver, Colorado and has over 50,000 employees worldwide. The company prides itself on its focus on innovation, sustainability, community impact and inspiring a global movement of outdoor exploration. OLN looks for employees who embody the company’s values and are passionate about the outdoors.
Researching the Company
When interviewing at OLN, it helps to have a solid understanding of the company’s history, brand portfolio, recent news and any initiatives they are focused on. Check out the OLN website and annual report and search for recent news articles. This will allow you to tailor your responses using company facts and terminology.
For example, if asked why you want to work for OLN, you could mention their commitment to sustainability efforts across their supply chain. Or if asked about brand knowledge, you can discuss how Smartwool is a leader in merino performance apparel. Showing you’ve done your homework makes a great impression.
Common OLN Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions during OLN interviews along with tips for crafting strong responses:
Tell me about yourself.
OLN wants to get to know you on a personal level here. Keep your answer to 1-2 minutes highlighting your personality, background, achievements and what makes you a great culture fit for the company. Share qualities and skills that align with OLN values.
Why do you want to work for OLN?
Focus your answer on your passion for the outdoors, belief in the company’s mission and how you’d thrive in OLN’s culture. You could say something like “I’m an avid hiker and am drawn to OLN’s commitment to inspiring outdoor exploration. I’d be excited to work for a values-driven company focused on innovation and community impact.”
What experience do you have in this industry?
Walk through your most relevant experience and skills for the specific role. Highlight achievements and quantify results when possible. Say you don’t have direct industry experience but share any transferable skills from other roles. End by expressing your eagerness to learn.
What do you know about OLN/our brands?
This is where your research pays off! Share a high-level overview of the company, its brand portfolio, company values and recent initiatives. Speaking knowledgeably makes a great impression. Just don’t ramble on too long.
Why do you want to work in this role?
Focus on why the role is appealing based on your background and strengths. Explain why you would excel in the position. You could say “I’m excited by the opportunity to manage key customer accounts and develop new business partnerships. Relationship-building and solving problems for customers are two of my strengths.”
What are your strengths?
Pick 2-3 strengths relevant to the role like problem-solving, communication skills, adaptability, etc. Provide specific examples of using those strengths so you don’t just state them generically. Quantify results when possible.
What is your greatest weakness?
Avoid cliches like “working too hard” and be honest. Share an actual area you struggle with like public speaking or time management. Follow up by explaining steps you’re taking to improve in that area. Focus on the positive.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
OLN wants long-term employees. Express interest in growing your skills and advancing in responsibilities over time. You could say “In 5 years, I hope to be managing a broader scope and leading key initiatives after deepening my expertise within the organization.”
Why should we hire you?
Summarize your most relevant qualifications for the role along with top strengths and achievements. Focus on the unique attributes you bring vs just stating cliches like “I’m a hard worker.” Express enthusiasm for contributing to OLN’s continued success.
Do you have any questions for me?
Always prepare 2-3 thoughtful questions based on your research to show your interest in the role and company. Ask about challenges of the role, metrics for success, new initiatives, company culture or growth opportunities. Just don’t ask anything already covered.
Tips for Acing the Interview
Here are some final tips for really nailing your OLN interview:
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Practice your responses out loud to polish them and improve your delivery. You want to sound natural, not rehearsed.
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Express enthusiasm and passion for the role. Hiring managers want to see the excitement in your voice and body language.
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Prioritize listening. Let the interviewer finish questions before you respond and clarify anything you don’t understand.
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Prepare examples from your background illustrating skills and achievements relevant to the role. Draw on these to answer behavioral questions.
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Be prepared to interview with multiple people. Make eye contact and engage with each one.
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Send thank you notes reiterating your interest and fit for the position. This leaves a great final impression.
With preparation and practice, you can enter your OLN interview feeling ready to impress. Show them you have the right skills, experience and fit for the company culture. Highlight the unique strengths you can bring to the role. If you nail the interview, you could soon find yourself embarking on an exciting new career with this leader in the outdoor industry. Good luck!
We’re here to help you find your path to a career
- Tell me about yourself.
- How have your past experiences prepared you for this position?
- What has been your most important accomplishment to date?
- What is your greatest strength?
- Describe a weakness you have that could hurt your career goals.
- Tell me about yourself. If I asked one of your professors or your boss, what would they say?
- What do you think is your best skill that makes you qualified for this job?
- What does diversity mean to you, and how much experience do you have working with different kinds of people?
- What is your educational background?
- How has your education prepared you for your career?
- Do you have plans to further your education?
- What are your goals for the next 5-10 years?
- What motivates you when working on something you don’t enjoy?
- What have you done to show initiative?
- What do you know about our company/organization?
- Why are you interested in working for our company/organization?
- What do you believe is needed to do well in this job?
- What is your ideal position/career?
- Why should we hire you? What do you think you could do for our company?
- What qualities do you look for in an ideal supervisor?
- Which would you rather do: work alone or with others?
- Do you think you’re more creative or more focused on details?
- How do you handle conflict?
- How do you deal with the stress and tension that come up every day?
- How do you respond when your ideas are rejected?
- What kinds of people do you work best with?
- How have you handled problems with co-workers?
- Which kitchen item would you be if you were one, and why?
- Which color of the rainbow would you be if you could be any color? Why?
Questions to ask the interviewer
- What opportunities exist for professional growth and development?
- What is the management style of the company? What is your management style?
- Which of these do you think is the most important thing I can do for this company or organization?
- What is it you enjoy most about working here?
- What is the typical work week/month?
- Is ongoing training valued or encouraged, and if so, what kinds of opportunities are there for employees at this company?
- What makes your organization different from similar organizations or competitors?
- What are the most important things you want to get done first?
- What do you think is the hardest thing about this job?
- What do you think the organization’s good and bad points are?
- What should I do as a team member? Could you tell me more about how this department works as a whole?
- Is there a set or typical way to move up in your company?
- Who’s on the team? How does this position fit in with the rest of the team?
- What are the measurements for success within your organization?
- And I’m really interested in this job. I think my background and experience make me a good fit for it. What is the next step in the hiring process?.
Behavioral interview questions are used to make sure that applicants give specific examples during the interview process that show what skills they have that are relevant to the job. These kinds of questions usually start with “Tell me about a time when…” or “Describe a time when…”
It’s important to use a specific example and the parts of the P when you answer behavioral interview questions. A. R. technique.
Problem: What was the situation and problem that needed to be solved? Action: What specific skills or tools did you use to complete the task? Result: What happened because of your actions?
Question:
Tell me about a time when you did something on your own even though it wasn’t your job to.
Answer (Problem):
The past two years, I have been in a mentor program. I saw that there were a lot of other student-to-alumnus matches in our area during the program, but we didn’t have a formal way to get in touch with each other. When I learned this, I set up a time to meet with the coordinator of the mentor program to talk about how we could build our networks. We came up with a plan to start a blog where program participants could write about their experiences and share what they learned. (Result) As a result of our thoughtful approach we increased networking opportunities among the members in the program. It was a huge success!.
