Saks Fifth Avenue Stores (SFA) Sales Specialist Interview Questions
& Process

Saks is a tough place to get hired at, they often overlook applications from people who just walk in. If you're aiming for the San Francisco store, getting a referral is highly recommended. In my two years there, everyone who was referred got hired, regardless of their skills. I got lucky with a referral from a manager who contacted the recruiter directly. The HR person was nice, but her assistant seemed hesitant to set up a formal interview. Thankfully, the referral bypassed this. It felt like the whole process was just a formality because I was referred. After the recruiter call, I waited a few weeks to speak with the department manager due to her being sick. When we finally spoke, she was professional and courteous, discussing the role as if I already had the job, making it feel more like an introduction. My interview happened during the current month's training period, so I had to wait for the next session. The training and onboarding lasted a week and were quite effective. Afterwards, I moved to the sales floor.

You will be interviewed by the Department Manager and one of the Assistant Store Managers. Each person will interview you separately. Make sure you have an idea of how people dress in the store your interviewing for because that is how you will need to show up for an interview. You can always play it safe and wear a nice suite. It's imperative that you know the latest trends, colors, and designers carried in the store, especially the ones carried in the department you are interviewing for.

First you meet with HR. Then a sales manager interviews you. If you are a prospect for a particular vendor, you will then interview with a representative from that vendor. They ask how you would fit in and benefit their world of fashion and bring back recurring business and that is a key point in their cushiness culture.