Monica Vinader Interview Questions
& Process

I applied for a Sales Associate job and was put through a 3-round interview process that felt way too long. Three rounds for a basic entry-level sales job is just too much and shows they don't respect people's time. It seems like the company isn't focused on being efficient or hiring the right way for this kind of role. I wouldn't suggest applying if you don't want to spend a lot of time on interviews when other places can figure things out faster.

So, the process started with an initial screening, then I had to do a task, and after that, there was the first proper interview round. Overall it was a good process, but I felt doing the task before the first stage was a bit tough. When I didn't get through the second stage, it felt like I put in a lot of work for not much back. I think it would be better if the task was done between the 1st and 2nd stage, that would feel less discouraging too.

The process was three steps, starting with HR screening. The HR person was nice and set up the first online interview. The first interviewer was alright, and the questions were dynamic and related to the job. But, they made comments about my age, assuming I was a student, which was wrong because my CV shows I have years of experience. This made me think it was just a formality and not a real interview based on my qualifications. It was unprofessional and could make anyone feel unqualified. After I answered questions about KPIs and management tactics well, I got invited to the second interview. The second interview was strange. The interviewer seemed unnatural and looked for reasons why I wouldn't be a good fit instead of focusing on my strengths. Even though I answered KPI questions correctly before, they kept asking similar questions differently. When I didn't repeat the exact answer, they said 'No, I was looking for...' while shaking their head and taking notes, but they hadn't noted my previous correct answers. It felt like they were trying to trick me. Despite my good answers on leadership, a few days later, HR emailed feedback saying the interviewer ignored my relevant answers and called the interview 'negative'. This was not what happened and felt like gaslighting. I suspected prejudice from the first interview and almost cancelled the second because I felt it wasn't fair. They had decided against me but went through the motions and distorted the truth to end the process. I like the brand and have experience, but this interview process really soured my view of it. It was a toxic situation I avoided.

So, I had 3 virtual interviews and a 2-hour task to complete. It started with HR reaching out and then a general chat about my current role and what I expected from this one. After that, I spoke with the line manager, the Merch Manager, who dug deeper into my experience and how the job works. It wasn't your typical interview with strengths/weaknesses, but more about how my experience fit the role and how it would be different from what I'm doing now. The last interview was with the MD, and it was more rapid-fire, asking about my university choice, my thoughts on the task, and more about the job itself. Even though some parts were tough, everyone was really friendly and easy to talk to.