Nordstrom Retail Associate Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 136 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Nordstrom.
Nordstrom
Retail Associate
Entry Average Negative experience Decline offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
After being initially rejected online for a retail sales position, I got an interview for a Women's retail sales job. I arrived early for my interview, but nobody could find my appointment. A helpful person at the customer service desk found someone to interview me. This person was not the hiring manager, but the former assistant to the hiring manager and didn't review my resume. She seemed irritable and had an attitude. The actual hiring manager wasn't even there. After this interview, I was told I'd have another interview to demonstrate my selling abilities with the hiring manager. It took her three days to send a generic email without an apology, but she expected me to come back the next day for a second interview. The person who interviewed me was a manager from another department, which didn't make sense since it didn't count towards the process and I still had to meet with the original manager. The whole experience was unprofessional, rude, and disappointing, confirming what I'd heard about the management.
Confirmed questions1 question
- The interviewer was upfront about the long hours, the hourly wage of $16.60, and the competitive nature of commission sales. Most questions were basic and focused on my communication skills and past customer service and selling experience.
Nordstrom
Barista
Entry Easy Neutral experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call
Interview formats
Behavioral
The phone call started late, making the interview feel rushed and like there wasn't enough time for everything. The interviewer was really nice though, and made the conversation easy and comfortable. They were friendly and approachable, which helped with my nerves. With more time, it would have been even better.
Confirmed questions1 question
- In your own words, what is customer service?
Nordstrom
Cashier
Entry Easy Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
It was a quick process. I applied online for a seasonal cashier job, and got an email the same day for a phone interview. A few days later, I got the call and they just asked about my availability and when I could come in for an in-person interview. For the in-person interview, there were about 10 other people, but we were interviewed one-on-one. I had 2 interviews with 2 different managers, which took about an hour. Both managers were really nice and knew a lot about the company. Make sure to talk confidently, highlight your experience and how important good customer service is, and ask them questions!
Confirmed questions8 questions
- Can you walk me through your resume and explain how your experience will help you succeed in this role?
- What inspires you to work at Nordstrom?
- Why is having the freedom to make decisions important in your opinion?
Nordstrom Retail Associate Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Nordstrom interview reports.
“What would you do if a customer asked for an item that was out of stock?”
Read reports →“What would you do if a customer was struggling to choose a pair of jeans?”
Read reports →“What would you do if you didn't meet your sales goals for the day?”
Read reports →“Do you see yourself as more of a leader or a follower on a team?”
Read reports →“What actions would you take if your sales numbers were below the monthly quota?”
Read report →“If you get the job, do you think you'll move up in the company?”
Read report →“Describe a situation where you didn't meet a goal. What actions did you take, and how did you manage the situation?”
Read report →“Why are you interested in this position compared to other coffee places such as Starbucks?”
Read report →“Can you tell me about a time you noticed a teammate needed assistance and what actions you took?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 136 Nordstrom interview reports.