Job Interview Experience
Congrats! You got an interview. Here’s what you can expect.
Hiring Process
With retail stores across the world, Old Navy has accumulated a wealth of experience interviewing and hiring job seekers over the years. Most stores employ typical one-on-one interview sessions with a store manager or other hiring representative.
Group Setting
However, many Old Navy stores use a group interview format with several applicants participating at once. Panel interviews in front of multiple managers also remain popular, so candidates should plan and prepare accordingly.
Getting to Know You
Basically, the interview process enables Old Navy hiring officials to get to know potential workers. Questions mainly pertain to past employment, availability, job requirements, and personality traits. During group interviews, applicants spend time collaborating with other candidates pursuing Old Navy positions. Group interviews tend to require high levels of interaction and excellent social skills from job seekers.
Second Interview Expectations
Most Old Navy positions, such as stocker, cashier, and sales associate jobs, only require one job interview. However, stores looking to hire for leadership positions may conduct a second interview session, if necessary. Second interviews usually consist of meeting with a senior member of the Old Navy management team, such as a store or district manager.
What Will You Do?
Exercises and activities during the second interview often include personality tests, roleplaying exercises, and several situational questions.
Bring Your Resume
Candidates should bring a resume and work references to review with an Old Navy hiring manager. The ideal combination of relevant experience and energetic personality typically helps applicants secure employment with Old Navy.
Watch video of a Old Navy employee discussing their job
Video Transcript
Interviewer:
Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Old Navy Sales Associate:
At Old Navy, I’m a sales associate and some of the regular stuff that we do on the job are we make sales, we sell jeans, we sell all different pieces of clothing. We also have to clean up the store. So when you first come, say you get an early morning shift, you have to clean up, and then you have to fold and size everything to make sure that the store is neat and stuff. We also do shipment. So say we get a new bundle of clothes coming in, we open up boxes, we take out the clothes, the new clothes that we order in, and then we put them on the racks and then we get them ready to put them on the floor.
Interviewer:
What was the work environment like?
Old Navy Sales Associate:
The work environment is really good. Because I’m usually working the men’s section and stuff and then you have the women working in the women’s section, but I kind of work in both the men’s and women’s, but more of the men. At Old Navy, there’s a big employee number. I don’t know how to put it in words, but there’s way more employees at Old Navy than you would have at your typical retail store, due to the fact that we have so many different styles of clothes and stuff like that.
I love working at Old Navy. The people are actually really good. I love the customers as well. The customers aren’t rude and stuff, they don’t yell at you, trying to rush you to do stuff and get stuff. But the work environment is also really fast paced as well, because some people that you can get impatient and you want to serve customers the best way you can and it’s fast and efficient.
Interviewer:
How would you describe the application and interview process?
Old Navy Sales Associate:
Old Navy, actually, you have to apply online. They don’t do the walk-in and paper resume anymore, so you electronically apply. And then, if you’re lucky, they call you, they say, “Come in, we want to have an interview with you.” Sometimes they’ll do a group interview, sometimes they’ll do individual interviews. I actually had a group interview where I spoke with a group of people and luckily I got the job done.
I think personally I think it’s because I had the best personality and stuff. You don’t want to look dead at a job interview. You want to smile. You want to sound outgoing. You want to have a good personality, so that they would like to work with you in the work field.
Interviewer:
What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Old Navy Sales Associate:
One thing that stood out the most is they will tell you to put a outfit together. So you would have to go on the floor, pick jeans, pick a top, or whatever, whatever would look good together, and based off of your judgment on how clothes go together, that’s where they’ll make that judgment on whether you know how to build an outfit or not, because when you’re selling at Old Navy, you just don’t want to sell one piece of clothing, you’re trying to sell a whole outfit. Because the more things that you’re selling, the more money the company’s making. That’s one thing that really stood out to me, one thing that I really remember, after two and a half years of working there.
Interviewer:
What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Old Navy Sales Associate:
The best thing that you want to do is you want to make sure that they know that you’re really good with talking with people and that you can communicate with people. I think that’s actually one of the most important things, because on a regular basis you’re communicating with your employees, you’re communicating with the customers, so it’s really good to have that experience or to at least that volunteer experience of you working with other people and just engaging with other people, and that’s a skill that you can bring to the job.
Possible Interview Questions and Answers
Q: Why did you apply to Old Navy over other retailers?
A: I really like Old Navy’s styles of clothing and have enjoyed shopping here for years.
Related: Why Do You Want to Work Here?
Q: What do you expect to get from Old Navy as an employer?
A: I’d really like to start saving up enough to buy my first car. I think a steady job at a company like Old Navy would help me do that and build experience for a future career.
Q: Are you comfortable interacting with customers in any capacity?
A: Working with the public has never really been that big of an issue for me. I look forward to meeting new people on a regular basis, so yes, I would say I’m comfortable working with any number of customers.
Top Interview Questions for Any Job
Interview Tips
Attire: What to Wear
Most Old Navy interviews do not require an elaborate wardrobe. However, a professional, business-casual look often suffices at job interviews for most positions.
This is how you should dress: Wearing an article of clothing from Old Navy may help applicants earn extra consideration from hiring managers.
Men
Male interviewees should consider pairing a button-down collared shirt or sweater with a pair of khaki pants or slacks. Additionally, the appropriate shoes to wear should look and feel suitable for any kind of office setting.
Women
Women should follow many of the same rules when choosing what to wear to an Old Navy job interview. Conservative dresses or skirts matched with business tops represent ideal choices. Footwear should consist of low-profile heels, flats, or other office-appropriate shoes. Again, opting to wear Old Navy merchandise to the interview often enhances the candidacy of prospective workers.
