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PetSmart
3.0 of 5 518 reviews
www.petsmart.com Phoenix, AZ 5000+ Employees

PetSmart Pet Care Specialist Interview Questions & Reviews

Updated Mar 3, 2013
All Interviews Received Offers

Getting the Interview  23 Interviews

91%
6%
2%

Interview Experience  21 Ratings

66%
23%
9%
1.8695652
23 interview experiences
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Pet Care Specialist at PetSmart

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Aug 2009 – Reviewed Mar 3, 2013

Interview Details – Easy. Was originally hired as a cashier. Few basic questions. Was sent for drug test and was hired.

Negotiation Details – no

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Pet Care Specialist at PetSmart

Accepted Offer – Reviewed Feb 24, 2013

Interview Details – Had three interviews each with managers then with general manager. Simple questions. Nothing too hard to answer. Just show interest in animals. Dress to impress as well. Drug test and background test consult given at last interview.

Interview Question – How would you deal with pet parent with aggressive dog?   Answer Question

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Pet Care Specialist at PetSmart

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Mar 2009 – Reviewed Jan 28, 2013

Interview Details – 2 interviews w ops/ store manager. drug tested. hired

Interview Question – why do u want to work here?   Answer Question

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Pet Care Specialist at PetSmart

Declined Offer – Interviewed in Roseville, MN Nov 2012 – Reviewed Jan 11, 2013

Interview Details – Filled an application online, was called for an interview a week later. Was interviewed by two different managers at the same time. Both were nice however neither asked me a single question about my experience with animals or seemed interested in how adept I was in handling and taking care of them, even though I was applying for the pet care specialist job. Instead they heavily pushed and questioned how good my sales techniques were and how much experience I had in sales. Ended up making me go on a walkthrough with them of the store and forced me to do a mock sales example. After the interview, got a call back 3 days later for the job. But was given an offer for a cashier position instead and not the pet care specialist. Even though the position for that was still open and up for grabs. Said pet care specialist position is still unfilled to this day for some reason.

Interview Question – Who have you helped recently that really appreciated it?   Answer Question

Reason for Declining – The hourly wage and hours were horrible. Considering my experience and qualifications; minimum wage and hours that you can't make a living on weren't very appealing.

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Pet Care Specialist at PetSmart

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Onalaska, WI Mar 2009 – Reviewed Sep 11, 2012

Interview Details – I spoke with the general manger for a brief time. Besides the general questions, she pointed to a bag of dog good I think, and said look at it for a few minutes and then try to sell it to me. She asked pertinent questions for selling. Afterward the pet care manager spoke to me. Maybe it was by chance, but she shared some delicate, past life experiences that were concerns in the interview process. Afterward, the general manager and I spoke briefly. Very good interview.

Interview Question – The selling question I detailed in the "Hiring and Interview Process" was unexpected, original, and very pertinent to the job.   Answer Question

Negotiation Details – As en entry level job, negotiation was not expected.

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Pet Care Specialist at PetSmart

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Atlanta, GA Jun 2012 – Reviewed Jun 26, 2012

Interview Details – I walked into the store, resume in-hand, and asked for a manager. Was told about an interview "session" that I should go to and I said I would be there. Called the day of to confirm that the session was still and and to let them know that I was exited to me them. Got to my individual interview with the store manager and was asked super easy questions, gave my contact info and was setup with an interview with the operations manager. That interview was pretty much the same and included a "behind the scenes" tour. Store looked very well kept and organized. Was told to get back to them with my school schedule for the Fall (I'm a college student) and they'd see if they could work with it. I'm going part time so it was a hassle to work around. Was given the papers to take the drug test (which I had no problem passing) and was called exactly a week after that by the Pet Care manager and told I could start training the next day. Today was my first day of training, filling out paper work, and watching vvvveeeerrrrryyyy long oooooolllllddddd PetSmart introduction videos. But all-in-all it was a fun day. The staff seem very nice and fun to work with. The managers seem like very cool people too.

7/12/12 UPDATE:
I must say, I love my job. I was so worried about working at a retail pet store due to the aweful rumors you always hear about the employers flushing dead/ dying pets down toilets. I work with the coolest people ever. They really do love the animals and even when they are told sick pets must be put down, they try their best to ween them back to health. The only thing I could possibly say that I dislike are rude customers but it that comes with the job. Just remember that behind every rude customer is an innocent and deserving pet.

Interview Questions

Negotiation Details – Asked for 8/hr. Manager tried to get me 9/hr but we ended up with 8.50/hr. See what I mean about the awesomeness of the managers???

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Pet Care Specialist at PetSmart

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Chicago, IL Oct 2009 – Reviewed Nov 9, 2011

Interview Details – I applied on line and then tailored my resume to the position. I dressed well and stopped by the store and asked to meet with the Pet Care manager. I gave her my resume and in a sentence or two told her my credentials because she was busy. Less than a week later I was called in to interview with the Pet Care manager and then the Ops manager. I was scheduled to come back in to interview with the store manager. After speaking with him for about 15 minutes, I was given paperwork for a drug test and signed consent to background check. It was all pretty standard. As soon as the drug test and back ground screen I started the training process -- 2 weeks shadowing petcare associates.

Interview Questions

  • Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult customer. What did you do? Were you able to resolve the issue.   View Answer
  • Tell me about your past experience with pets. Which animals do you know best.   View Answer

Negotiation Details – No not at that level. It does not pay very well. I starting at $8.50/hr. But the work with the pets is rewarding.

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Pet Care Specialist at PetSmart

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Philadelphia, PA Jul 2010 – Reviewed Aug 9, 2011

Interview Details – If they're hiring within a certain location and you fit their qualifications, you will get a call as soon as they need someone. In my case, they called me within 2 days of applying for the position. I was asked to come in and was interviewed by HR and then I was asked to come again within 3 days to be interviewed by the manager. After this, I was called within another 2-4 days and asked to take a drug test within 48 hours. After I took the test, they called me the following week and asked me to come in.

Interview Question – Describe a situation that you had to overcome.   Answer Question

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Pet Care Specialist at PetSmart

No Offer – Interviewed in Westlake Village, Los Angeles, CA Jul 2011 – Reviewed Aug 3, 2011

Interview Details – I was so excited when i heard back from PetSmart! I never thought it would happen. Manager called me Wednesday to schedule interview. Called back several minutes later, had interview on Friday. Questions fairly basic. Manager said there was a 3-step interview process. Did not call back following Monday. :(

Interview Questions

  • Why do you want to work at PetSmart?   View Answer
  • Describe to me a time when you have had a problem in school.   View Answer

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Pet Care Specialist at PetSmart

Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Las Vegas, NV Jul 2011 – Reviewed Jul 30, 2011

Interview Details – I applied on Thursday and got called back the same day. They scheduled my first interview for Friday (the next day). Going into the interview I didn't have much working experience but I have a lot when it comes to carring for animals. The process was easy. My interviewer was very laid back and we had a good dialogue. My experience when it came to dog food especially really impressed him. I got scheduled for a second interview right after for Monday. Will update this later.

Interview Questions

  • What policy don't you agree with?   View Answer
  • Name one of the hardest things you had to learn recently   View Answer

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