IT Cosmetics Interview Questions
& Process

First, I talked with the counter manager, and they asked me about what good customer service means to me, how much I knew about the brand, and some things about my past jobs and resume. Then, I had an interview with the area manager where we discussed customer service skills and how I'd handle customer complaints. They also asked why I wanted to work for It Cosmetics.

I had a phone interview, then another interview at L'oreal HQ. They said they'd let me know in two weeks. When I didn't hear back, I emailed them. I got a really nice email back saying they just needed confirmation from Boots. After that, I still didn't hear anything. I tried calling, emailing, and even sent a letter because the feedback was so good and I was sure I'd get the job. They ignored all my attempts to contact them. It was super unprofessional and disappointing that L'oreal didn't even have the courtesy to reply and say what happened.

I showed up looking polished and professionally dressed, like for any interview. The office has an open floor plan. I had 4 interviews scheduled back-to-back in one day, each lasting 20-40 minutes. It was pretty tiring, honestly. I wish I could have spoken with all interviewers at once. The first meeting was with HR, who seemed to lack energy and wasn't very welcoming before I'd even answered anything. The next two interviews were with people from the department I'm applying to. They were energetic and did a great job explaining the job, mentioning some current challenges they're facing, and the company culture. The questions were standard for a mid-senior marketing position, aiming to understand my skills and experience. I felt prepared, and the questions were straightforward. I felt good about how those went. The fourth interviewer couldn't make it due to an 'emergency.' HR rescheduled, but then a few days later, they told me they decided to go with someone else. A heads-up if you're interviewing here: I don't think they're keen on freelance experience, based on how the HR person reacted when it came up. Also, I'm not sure if they're comfortable discussing the significant criticisms about their brand's lack of diversity. You'd expect a PR department to proactively address this, but they seem to avoid it. Maybe downplay or skip those topics if they come up to keep them at ease.

I was contacted for an interview because I would be on the east coast and they had just started their search for the role posted on LinkedIn. I was invited to meet with the EVP of Sales. Upon arrival, the receptionist seemed flustered. I completed an application and waited about 15-20 minutes. Then, I was taken to an office and waited another 30 minutes. Another Retail Director came in and explained the EVP was unavailable due to travel. I proceeded with the interview, discussing my resume, and was asked to wait to meet a Sales Director who was on a conference call. I returned to the lobby and waited for another hour. When I inquired about the meeting status, I was brought back to the office, and eventually, the Sales Director spoke with me. They mentioned they were early in their search but my experience seemed to align with the role. They would inform the EVP and I would hear back within two weeks. I ended up leaving about 3 hours after I arrived. A week later, I received an email from the receptionist stating they were passing on my candidacy. This experience was similar to what a friend went through for a Marketing position; she was interviewed three times and then offered a different role than she expected. It's disappointing that IT Cosmetics, despite the L'Oreal acquisition, still seems to have organizational issues.