Job Interview Experience
Have an interview with Sport Chek? Here is what you can expect.
Hiring Process
The Sport Chek hiring process often varies by location. Many applicants report as many as three job interviews before hire.
Lots of Interviews
Sport Chek uses multiple rounds of interviews to gauge honesty, persistence, and levels of commitment in candidates for the positions desired. The first job interview generally features a one-on-one session with a supervisor, while second, third, and fourth interviews often include face-to-face meetings with managers and general managers, depending on position desired.
Phone Interview
After submitting the required hiring forms, which often include lengthy questionnaires, applicants receive phone calls from Sport Chek staff to schedule job interviews. Sport Chek hiring managers may conduct phone interviews during the initial contact phase.
Expect More Than One Call
Multiple phone interviews with different hiring personnel may prove necessary. Prospective associates who perform successfully during the phone interview phase generally receive an invitation to participate in formal, one-on-one sessions with Sport Chek staff.
Interview Duration
The average Sport Chek interview lasts between 20 and 30 minutes. Most job candidates cite participating in at least two interviews.
During each interview, Sport Chek managers gauge responses to questions regarding employment history, job skills, personality, professional motives, and the position desired. Most interview questions revolve around sports, sporting equipment, and customer service.
Questions for Manager Positions
Managers may respond to interview questions regarding various aspects of time management, discipline, and ability to effectively delegate work. Sport Chek managers may encounter three to four job interviews during the hiring process.
Second Interview Expectations
Sport Chek uses the initial interview to get a feel for candidate personalities and corresponding fit with the company. Based on performance in the first interview, Sport Chek invites potential new-hires who exude enthusiasm and genuine desire for the job back for subsequent interviews.
More In-Depth Questioning
Applicants should expect to respond to questions similar to ones asked during the first round of interviews, although a majority of interview questions encountered in later stages of the hiring process often touch on personal experiences from previous jobs. Some questions may even repeat from the initial phone interviews.
When Do You Hear Back?
Once an applicant completes all stages of the interview process, the prospective worker typically hears back about the position within a few days by either phone or email. Some candidates receive job offers on the spot.
Video interview with a Sport Chek employee:
Video Transcript
Interviewer:
Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Sport Chek Sales Associate:
Okay. I was a sales associate, part-time sales associate for two years. And pretty much what my job role was, was to get the customer at the door, engage them with the greeting and help them out however they needed and pretty much at the end of the day to upsell. So help them out with customer service as well as try to show them different arrays of shoes and get them to get the most expensive one, pretty much.
Interviewer:
How would you describe the application and interview process?
Sport Chek Sales Associate:
There was an online application process and I also went in store to hand in the resume. So after speaking to the manager, got called in for an interview, did the job interview. And then little while later I got called back and then I had to now fill out the full application form again and pretty much start. Then we began the training process. I believe it was three days of training at the time, where I would shadow and go around and I’m taught how to do everything.
Interviewer:
What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Sport Chek Sales Associate:
Previous job history, if I have any history in customer service, and then they also ask scenario based questions, just like in the interview as well. If a customer, or if I had this situation, how would I handle it? And also why I was interested in working in this position, what my availability would be. And I believe that was most of it, yeah.
Interviewer:
What set you apart from other candidates?
Sport Chek Sales Associate:
I think it’s basically how you’re able to relate to the customer service part of it, because it is a customer service position, a sales associate. So if you’re really good with communication skills, if you’re really good at dealing with conflict or addressing customers and helping them out, I think that’s really what they were looking for. Not just job history, because at the time I actually, that was my first job and I didn’t have any experience. So it was more of how I am in front of them during the whole interview process. And on the application, it was really how I answered the questions on how I would act in certain situations and about my character, I think.
Interviewer:
What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Sport Chek Sales Associate:
I would say really stress on customer service and how you are as a person. So you have to have a very personable character, especially if you’re going to be in the front of the store, you’re working as a sales associate. You want to be able to show them that I can interact with people properly. I can be professional and be helpful and know your limits in terms of what the rules are and how to follow it, but also how to address certain issues that come across. So yeah, I think that’s the most important thing.
Video Transcript
Interviewer:
Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Sport Chek Floor Clerk: I was a floor clerk, so basically I would just help all the customers that came in. I also did a few of the stocks that came in, folded some of the clothes. Basically, I was just a customer rep.
Interviewer:
How would you describe the application and interview process?
Sport Chek Floor Clerk: Their application was once again, you would have to just give them a brief intro of what you used to do before you worked there and also why you would want to work there. Their interviews was basically you had to just show that you can work in a team because Sport Chek, it was really team-based. If you were able to work in a team, you were pretty much almost guaranteed the job, but if you answer the questions a certain way, then you didn’t seem fit.
Interviewer:
What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Sport Chek Floor Clerk: I would say that it’s because it’s a lot more team-based you’d have to like working with people. You would also have to be able to think quick on your feet because you want the person to buy the product that they’re holding, right? You have to know exactly everything about the products in the store. Basically, you just have to be a sports wiz because people like when you know what you’re talking about, right? So if they come into the store and they’re asking you about something and you’re not too sure about the sport, you’re not too sure about the equipment, then they’re iffy and they don’t really want to buy.
Video Transcript
Interviewer:
Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Sport Chek Sales Representative:
I was a sales rep selling. I worked more in the sports section, so actually dealing with equipment, because I play football, play basketball basically all my life. I play every sport. I dealt with a little bit with the shoes, but mainly cleats. I never really dealt with the sneakers, but more cleat, sizes, maybe worked in the back room and get sizes. When I first started to get sizes, but as I went on, eventually moved me to the front and I can sell a few things here and there, but it was mainly working with the equipment section.
Interviewer:
How would you describe the application and interview process?
Sport Chek Sales Representative:
Online, or I also bought an application in, because as I said, I get trained, so did to be more assertive. I don’t like waiting. I believe I called them to see if they received my application. Yes they have. And then they way I got my interview. I don’t like sitting back as I said. I like being more assertive. But it was a interview process. It was pretty cool. I did my research on the company before I went there, because I was more familiar with a [inaudible] shop than I was at Sport Chek. So I did a lot more research about their products and what they sell. And then the interview went pretty well.
Interviewer:
What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Sport Chek Sales Representative:
It’s research. It’s research, research. Everyone just thinks it’s just sports, but you got to understand that if someone comes to you and they’re trying to get into a new sport, you got to be able to talk to them and in a beginner way, saying, “Okay, these shoes,” posted these shoes. You got to just be able to relate to them because it’s more than just selling a product. You got to be able to sell their idea, especially to someone, as I said, a beginner that’s just trying to buy basketball shoes, maybe for their son that’s just starting out. Got to be able to sell an idea more than just the item. If you relate to them, they’ll come back to you for more stuff. And in the long run, both win. Both parties win, win. Yeah. Biggest thing for me was research, got to understand the job.
Sport Chek Sales Advisor
Video Transcript
Interviewer:
Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Sport Chek Sales Advisor:
I am a sales advisor at Sport Chek for the clothing department. So I would pretty much have to clean up the area, make sure all the merchandise is clean, looks good. Help customers with whatever needs they have in regards to jackets, athletic wear, anything like that.
Interviewer:
What was the work environment like?
Sport Chek Sales Advisor:
Everyone’s nice, if you need help they’re willing to help you right on the spot. They address any problems occurring in the store as a whole store. There’s no secrets or none of that.
Interviewer:
How would you describe the application and interview process?
Sport Chek Sales Advisor:
It was quick. I applied online. They started using a middleman when I started to get hired. So I applied online. A person from British Columbia or something called me. We did a small phone interview and then I went to the store for 10 minutes.
Interviewer:What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Sport Chek Sales Advisor:
Sport Chek, they asked me if I played sports, why I like playing those sports and I would choose one of my favorite sports and try to give advice and think of different products and different things that a customer would need to know about the sport and the products in order to play on the team or whatever.
Interviewer:
What set you apart from other candidates?
Sport Chek Sales Advisor:
I think maybe because I actually like sports and I have a pretty good product knowledge and sport knowledge to help customers out.
Interviewer:
What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Sport Chek Sales Advisor:
I know you’re going to get nervous, but try to be yourself. They’re pretty good at spotting BS. If you’re faking something, they’re pretty good at noticing that, because they’re very knowledgeable on everything in the store in regards to hockey, basketball, everything. So you need to know what you’re talking about because they’ll call you out on it.
Possible Interview Questions and Answers
Q: Why do you feel it is important to stay active?
A: Staying active builds positive character traits and mental strategies – you feel better about yourself and you’re able to perform better in all aspects of life.
Q: What are your long-term career goals?
A: Eventually, I would like to coach men’s track at a university. I’m in school now, and I think this job will help keep me on that path.
Q: Describe a time when you encountered a problem and how you worked to solve it.
A: One time, during a race, my shoe came untied and slipped off my foot before I could do anything about it. I went back and picked up my shoe but continued running without putting it back on. I was able to finish close to my goal and stayed ahead of the next-closest person.
Interview Tips
How To Dress
As a reputable, Canadian sporting goods retailer, applicants should wear professional attire to all Sport Chek job interviews, regardless of position desired.
What To Wear
Button-down shirts and ties, slacks, and well-kempt appearances serve appropriate for men, while women should wear nice dresses or conservative, formal blouses with slacks or skirts of appropriate length. Polo shirts and dress pants may also prove suitable for men during Sport Chek interviews.
