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Forever 21 Visual Manager Interview Questions & Reviews

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Web: www.forever21.com | HQ: Los Angeles, CA

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Updated Apr 5, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 4 ratings

3.5

“Difficult” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 4 ratings

Positive	25%
Neutral	25%
Negative	50%

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4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Mar 2012 in Maumee, OH (took 4+ weeks)

This was the most UNPROFESSIONAL interview I have ever had!
1) I received a call a month after I applied from the DM asking if I was still interested in the position. I said yes & scheduled a store interview.
2) For the interview I sat down at the front of the store with the DM & Store Manager. I was basically ganged up on! They kept asking me questions that only associates would know, correcting my answers if they didn't like what I said or engaging with each other. I felt so lost and disappointed. I have loved this company forever & felt like I didn't get a fair chance.
3) After the "interview" the DM had me pick out 3 completely different outfits. I did well on this part.
4) She told me to call her back with my references, even though I attached it with my application online.
5) I called her 3 times a day for 3 days trying to give her my references. She never answered or responded to my messages. So I stopped trying!

Interview Questions

What experience do you have with visuals & merchandise recovery?

Answer Question

Why do you want to work for Forever 21?

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Nov 2010 in Victor, NY (took 2 days)

I applied online and after a few weeks I was contacted by the field visual manager. She wanted to interview me for the visual merchandising manager position. She was not going to be at that store for another week, so I had to go and have a first interview with the store manager. That was the worst interview I ever had. During the entire interview she complained and whined about how she got in trouble for how the store looked after she came back from vacation. We spent maybe ten minutes talking about me, and my experience and job history. The following week, I had the other interview with the field visual manager. This one wa better. We talked about my experience, and she told me all about the store. I should have known from the interview with the store manager how the job would end up being. I had a very negative first impression of her, but a good one of the field manager. This is why I accepted the job, even though I had my doubts. After not hearing from the store manager after a few weeks, I sent an email to the field manager following up. The store manager was supposed to have called me with a job offer earlier, but never got around to it. After that, she called, and the job offer was made.

Interview Questions

The store manager gave me three different scenarios, with different types of girls, and I had to go through the store and pick out a complete outfit for each one. This was done to make sure I understood fashion, and the forever 21 customer.

View Answers (1)

At the interview with the field manager, we were sitting outside of the store. She told me to start with the front windows and I had to tell her everything I thought was wrong with the store and how I would make it better visually. She did this to show me how terrible of a condition the store was in and to make sure I could fix it.

View Answers (1)

Negotiation Details

There was no negotiation phase. When she called with the job offer, she told ma at the end of the conversation what the pay would be.

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Sep 2011 (took 5 weeks)

I sent in my resume to Forever 21 in late June. I received a call from the Forever 21 District Manager and she wanted to interview me that day so I went in and interviewed with her. I was very not prepared when I went into the interview, but I figured it would not hurt to try. The whole thing was VERY disorganized. It was during a very busy hour and I went in and originally the store manager told me I had come an hour early. Went back an hour later and she apologized saying that she thought I was there for a group sales associate interview. When the district manager and I were introduced, originally it was just her and I. Once she asked which position I was more interested in *Visual Manager or Store Manager* she brought me over to resume the interview with her second in command as well, which I presume is what Forever 21 calls an Area Manager. The interview was very informal to be honest. Normally for an interview they take you to the stores back room or to the food court. They just took my to the front of the store and we sat down on the "ledge" of where their mannequins were displayed in the window. The second in command thanked me at the end of the interview and said the wrong name, and apologized. It was a very unorganized interview. They told me they would call me after they had finished interviewing the other candidates the following day and not to expect a call for a week or so. As usual, District Managers are VERY slow at the hiring process. I received a call five weeks after my initial and only interview and was offered the visual manager position, which I accepted.

Interview Questions

What would you do if you were visually merchandising an area and it did not "work" together?

View Answers (1)

What are the three trends that will be "big" this up and coming season?

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Negotiation Details

I really did not even try to negotiate. Forever 21 pays much more than I make now at a smaller retail company, so I was pleased with what they offered me. The lady who called me was from corporate (not the district manager or second in command I interviewed with) and basically told me they wanted me for the job and that this much was what they were offering.

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Group/Panel Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Apr 2011 (took a day)

The work culture in the store seemed very casual and friendly. I was a little surprised at all the different parts of the interview. I was asked to merchandise a fixture with product of my choice, then describe the type of girl that would shop the fixture. After that there was a one on one interview with a person on district staff, that was fairly typical. We then walked the store together to see if I could identify the different "shops" within the store and describe the type of girl that would shop them, also how I would improve those areas. I then was asked to pick out two outfits completely different from the product I used earlier and different from any of their "shops". Then I met with another district manager for more one on one. The whole thing took two hours and I was exhausted but it was a good learning experience.