Carson's Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process is quite straightforward, as they tend not to be overly rigorous when hiring associates for most departments. While prior experience is beneficial, it's not a strict requirement. They often prioritize filling positions at less popular counters first; these are smaller departments, but two of them have very slow sales and low commission rates. It's a good idea to visit the department in person and connect with some of the current associates. This way, you can get a better understanding of which counters are actually worth applying to.

I sent in my application at the start of May and got a call back about a week later. I went to the old service center where the management offices are. I was shown into a neat, organized office and the interview started. It was a chill chat where they asked me about my interest in Carson's, my thoughts on commission sales, how I'd manage slow periods, ways to attract customers, and what I'd do if colleagues took my customers. They also brought up my internship at a nearby salon/day spa. It felt like talking to a friend, and the conversation went smoothly. They said I'd hear back in a week. After a week with no news, I called them. They said the manager was swamped and I'd get a call in 3 days. We played phone tag for a bit, and yesterday they finally called to say they found someone with more cosmetics experience, but they offered me a part-time gig in Sportswear, which I accepted.

You fill out an application online, and if they like it, they'll call you in for a one-on-one interview with the hiring manager. She'll ask you basic retail sales questions, like why you're interested in retail sales, and then ask for examples from your past experiences that relate to sales. I got the job the same day, but I've heard it can take up to a week. After the interview, they do a background check, and then they train you on the computers and on the sales floor.

So the hiring and interview process was pretty minimal. I was already working for the company in sales, and then an opportunity opened up in security. At the time, I was actually planning to get into law enforcement, and I figured getting on a security team at a local retail place would be a good stepping stone. I actually already knew the security manager, so I just had a chat with him about my interest in security, and they hired me.