I applied online. I interviewed at Debenhams (Carmarthen, Wales)
Interview
Applied online, process took about a week then had an email to book in a telephone interview, woman on the phone was friendly but was asking me so many questions!! It was like a proper interview. She then said she would get back to me, within 2 days she did to tell me I got through to the instore interview.
I went to the store and sat with another girl who was also interviewing their. Then 2 people came over to us in the cafe (a young man and woman) told us we would have to dress the mannequins according to a theme. They gave me surfing brand and told me to dress the mannequins for a day at the races...
I had to get the mannequins down off of high blocks on my own, dress them on my own and then put them back up high. There was 3 mannequins.
After we had done that they came and asked me to explain why I had chosen what I had and then took me through the back for a formal interview, they asked me very in depth questions and kept smerking because they thought I didn't know what the questions meant.
I was not successful and after the interview didn't want to be either.
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Debenhams in Aug 2016
Interview
My interviewer made me feel at ease and the interview took a more casual approach. As part of the interview I had to give me visual merchandising opinion on the homewear section of the store, telling the interviewer what was good and what needed to be changed to help with product display.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What experience have you got in visual merchandising?
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Debenhams in Jan 2015
Interview
Online application: availability; important elements of cust service; relevant retail exp; visual / creative exp; describe working as part of a team to a positive outcome - keys to its success; when has your visual flair increased sellng opps and profits; how to create and maintain a visually pleasing dept.
Telephone interview (15 mins): Many online Qs repeated; how to improve Debs; why apply to Debs; rate Debs in terms of its competitors; challenges unique to Debs; what does the role entail.
In store interview:
Individual exercise: supplied with a description of a person in a situation, select appropriate outfit, describe choices to the group, can the group guess who you were selecting for;
Group exercise: assigned concession, consider mannequins, layout, merchandising, seasonal / product grouping, housekeeping, ticketing and trends, list pros and cons and make recommendations, present findings to the group;
One to one interview: repetition of online and phone Qs; summarise work experience mentioning employment gaps; when have you been innovative; who is Debs customer; Debs competitors; career plans; anything competitors do which Debs could do better; how do you keep up with fashion / trends.
In store interview very long for a minimum wage job. Tasks very time pressured. Staff short of time too. Advised that job could be very pressured.
