Columbia Sportswear Customer Support Representative Interview Questions
& Process

I applied online and had an initial phone screen. The questioning during the phone screen was aggressive and felt more like an interrogation than a screening. The talent recruiter wasn't friendly, which made it uncomfortable and hard to sound positive or excited about working there. Honestly, her attitude made me want to NOT work for Columbia instead of wanting to do well. The recruiter's approach is damaging your image as a place people would want to work, in my opinion.

The interview process involved a phone interview and then a panel interview. The initial phone call went well, and the recruiter mentioned my experience with a local company that did wholesale with Columbia. My background in training and specializing in outdoor gear, along with my appreciation for Columbia's products, seemed to make a good impression. The recruiter thought I would be a suitable candidate and scheduled an interview at their headquarters. I arrived a bit early, dressed in business casual attire, and met with a supervisor, an HR representative, and a team lead. The team lead's attire was quite casual, and her only question for me was, "Why do you think you'd fit in here?" I felt a bit overdressed, and it seemed like my energy and enthusiasm might have been perceived as a threat to her.

I had my first interview with HR and it was pretty straightforward. They wanted to understand my background, my career goals, and what sparked my interest in their company. The HR person was really nice and friendly. They took their time to explain the job duties thoroughly and gave me some feedback.