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Nordstrom Cosmetics Sales Associate Interview Questions & Reviews

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Updated Feb 3, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 8 ratings

2.9

“Average” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 8 ratings

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3.0

Average Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Feb 2012 in Natick, MA (took 3 weeks)

I walked in one day and talked to the cosmetics manager and asked if they were hiring for MAC. She said yes and to apply online even if it just says a general cosmetics sales associate. The online application consisted of uploading your resume and answering personality questions. Two days later I got an email with a link to choose a date for the phone interview. The link didn't work. I tried it again for about three days and the scheduling system was down. I did a live chat online and they gave me a phone number for a website help line. I called them and they told me to call the store's HR abd they could manually set up a date. I called for three days and no one in hr answers the phone. I finally asked for the cosmetics manager who transfered me and then the woman in hr picked up. She scheduled a phone interview within a couple of days and told me she would call me at 11am. That day came and no call. I waited an hour and then called the store. Again, no one picked up. Called and left messages for the next four days. Still no call. On the fifth day after when my phone interview was supposed to be, I called again and she answered telling me she lost the paper that had my phone number on it but she wanted to know if I could do the phone interview now. Of course I said yes. She asked me basic questions like:
Why nordstrom?
Describe a difficult customer.
Describe a time you didn't reach a goal of yours.
How do you feel about making commission?
It took about 10 minutes and then asked about my availability and said a cosmetics manager would call me to schedule an interview. Waiting for phase 2. I see that a lot of people have gone through some type of miscommunication like I have, so we'll see. Hope this helps.

Interview Questions

Why nordstrom?

Answer Question

Describe a difficult customer you've had.

Answer Question

Describe a time you didn't reach a goal of yours.

Answer Question

Describe a time you were compared against your co-workers.

Answer Question

How do you feel about working for commission?

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

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Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Oct 2011 (took 3 weeks)

I applied for a part-time cosmetics sales position on the Nordstrom website, and two days later, received an e-mail asking me to schedule a phone interview online. A week later, I had the phone interview, and they asked basic questions like, "Why do you want to work for Nordstrom?" and "Why cosmetics?" and "Describe how you deal with difficult customers?" It was about 10 mins long and pretty easy if you prepare, and I was offered an in-person interview on the spot. I was told that I would be meeting with a cosmetics counter manager and was told to come in a week later. When I arrived, I realized it was a group interview, which was slightly annoying only because I wish I had known.

They brought us all down to a conference area, and a few managers from Nordstrom Rack introduced themselves and talked about how they were looking for people to join the Rack team. I started to get nervous because I really had no interest in working for the Rack. The offered us bottles of water and magazines to read, and then they called us in one by one to another room, where we met one-on-one with a manager, but you were still in a room with other candidates while they were being interviewed. I met with a customer service manager for a Rack store, and she asked questions from a standard form. They asked me about my background, asked for an example of how I went above and beyond in a past job for a customer, what my availability was, etc. In the end, I told her that I was under the impression I was interviewing for a Cosmetics sales position, and she looked at me surprised, and said, "Oh, okay, I'll write that down." Then asked, "Would you be interested in working for customer service?" I kind of panicked and said that I would consider it, but that my priority was cosmetics sales. I left the interview thinking nothing would come of it, and was disappointed in the lack of organization and communication.

Two days later, I got an e-mail from Nordstrom asking me to move forward with the interview process for a customer service associate for the Rack, and asked me to apply online for this position. I was really confused and called the woman in HR who phone interviewed me and asked what was going on because I applied for a cosmetics position. She said, "Oh, you want to work in cosmetics?" Well, yeah! I mean, she was the one who asked me during the phone interview, "Why do you want to work in cosmetics?" She said she would forward my info onto the cosmetics department and they would call me.

A half hour after that, I got a call to schedule a one-on-one interview with the cosmetics counter manager. I came in three days later and met with her. She acted like she had never seen my resume before. I felt like I really did well in the interview. I know a LOT about cosmetics and all kinds of brands and I told her I was ready to move forward if she felt I was a good fit. She then told me to go home and think about if I really wanted the job. Umm, okay? So I called her the next day and told her I wanted to move forward. She basically told me she didn't think I was a good fit and wanted me to take this "ambassador" position selling these new candles. At this point, I was just upset I had come this far without an offer, and I decided to move forward with what she was offering. But wait! I had to go through ANOTHER interview with the NY sales rep on the phone first!

So then I interview with that guy, and I thought it went really well. It was probably 10 mins, and he asked me about my availability and gave me a speech on the products. I gave it a week, and then I called the cosmetics manager back to ask for an update. She never called me back. I'm not expecting an offer.

I'm REALLY disappointed at how this whole process was handled. I felt like they didn't respect my time and I also feel like they led me on. After the interview with the cosmetics manager, she made it sound like she liked me and thought I would be a great addition to the team. Then suddenly, I wasn't a good fit. And then, she ignored me.

Interview Questions

How do you handle difficult customers?

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Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Group/Panel Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Aug 2011 in Saint Louis, MO (took 2+ weeks)

I applied for Cosmetics Sales, but ended up having my 1:1 in Handbags. The store isn't open yet, so the process is taking longer. My 1:1 had many of the same questions as my phone interview did, with a few more about teamwork and leadeship added to the mix.
My interview with the HB manager went very well, and she informed me that she is in need of a Design Lead and gave me details on what that would entail and how to show my interest. We discussed the job, the pay, and how the scheduling is managed. She informed me that I would hear back from her by the end of the following week, so now I must wait.

Interview Questions

What do you do if you are unfamiliar with a product?

View Answers (2)

Other Details

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

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed May 2011 in Columbus, OH (took 5 days)

I submitted an online application, was directed to a 30 min or so personality test, that consisted of alot of the same questions reworded, ( ie. Are you a team player, are you friendly, Multitasker ect. ) Then e mailed to schedule a phone interview, 4 days later I had a very short phone interview, they asked the standard "why nordstrom?" " tell me about the most diffucult customer service problem you have had?" " tell me about a time a co worker was doing something they should not?" " how do you feel about commission sales?" I guess I didn't do all that well, they said they had other applicants to review and would get back to me, It's been a week and I have not heard from them.

Interview Questions

Tell me about a goal you set for yourself and failed to meet?

Answer Question

Tell me about the worst customer service problem you have had? how did you handle it? and what was the outcome?

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a Personality Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jan 2011 (took a day)

First you must submit an application online. If you apply several times and never hear back, but are really interested in working there, go to the store and try to meet a floor manager. they can pull your application and interview you, even if HR didn't select your application for interview.
The interview was pretty straight forward. She read questions from a booklet so they must ask everyone the same questions. A few questions I remember: describe a time you sucessfully convinced someone of something. describe a time when you provided excellent customer service. explain how you know you are successful with a customer interaction. what would you do if you were in conflict with a colleague? what would you do if you were not meeting your sales goals? why Nordstrom? why cosmetics? Try to sell me these items (she handed me a lip gloss, moisturizer and fragrance).

Interview Questions

in an experience where you provided customer service, how do you know you were successful in the interaction?

View Answers (1)

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Oct 2009 (took 4+ weeks)

It took about 10 minutes to start the interview she basically wanted me to convience her of my saleing skills in the bad economy and how I would perform and introduce new products and promotions to customers. well i guess I didntt convience her and I was told that it was for a cosmetics sales not manager postions so i was pretty thrown off by that and got a waste of my time vibe from that interview.

Interview Questions

How would you market the product and drive sales?

Answer Question

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Personality Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Feb 2010 in Orem, UT (took 3 days)

The interview was pretty easy. I interviewed 1:1 with the Human Resource Manager and he directly took me to interview with the Costmetics/Fragrance Manager. After sitting down in her office and talking about my past experience in other areas, she offered me a job on the spot. I also interviewed with the manager from Hosiery.

Interview Questions

What is a difficult situation?

Answer Question

What would you do with an irate customer?

Answer Question

Other Details

I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed May 2009 in Chicago, IL (took 2 months)

Very long process, interviewed by many people. Training was excellent. Very long process, interviewed by many people. Training was excellent. Very long process, interviewed by many people. Training was excellent. Very long process, interviewed by many people. Training was excellent. Very long process, interviewed by many people. Training was excellent.