I applied in-person. The process took 5 days. I interviewed at BCBG (Toronto, ON) in Apr 2016
Interview
It was great. I was asked very thorough questions about my past experience and what I'd be able to bring to the team. They told me upfront that they need someone right away to turn the store around and bring sales up, so it l looks as though if I'm hired, i'll have my work cut out for me.
The first contact with the candidate, which can be a phone call or a short in-person meeting. This stage is usually conducted by a member of HR to determine if the candidate has the basic qualifications for the job.
I applied online. The process took 6 days. I interviewed at BCBG
Interview
All by Skype/FaceTime which was nice because I had extensive notes in front of my computer. You do feel a bit "on the spot" and tough to see body language etc. but overall, was great.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
They REALLY care about building a rapport with the customers that come in to shop. We had a customer book and wrote details about each of them so when they return to the store, you can say to them, "Hi Elena! How did your mothers surgery go?" Or, " did your event turn out well?" Details such as that. Focus on your need/want to build a friendly relationship with your customers. I can always tell a difference when I walk into, lets say, Forever 21 (not that I shop there), or some other mall multi chain retail store. When you walk out of BCBG, you feel like you've made a friend rather than a place that completely ignored you and took your money. So, make sure that Client Development is something to stress in your interview. Even though the district manager interviewing me could only see my top half, I did wear a cute black and white striped shirt with one of their blazers I had purchased a couple years before. Make sure you accessorize nicely and wear current fashion. I do recall being asked what were some of the current trends. And if you don't know this already, do not work in a fashion retailer. BCBG focuses a lot on presenting as a "boutique" if you will, Before working here I had corporate retail experience as well as boutique so I lead with having knowledge in both environments. Selling, then managing, a 2.8mil corporate store in the mall to a base salary plus commission boutique selling $700 shirts and $2k dresses. Man, I miss my retail days! Good Luck!!!!
