REI Sales Specialist Interview Questions & Reviews
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Updated Apr 2, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 19 ratings 
“Easy” Interview
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Interview Experience [?] Based on 19 ratings
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| 1–10 of 19 REI Interviews | Sort by |
Sales Specialist at REI
Posted Apr 2, 2012
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1.0
Very Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Declined Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2012 in Durham, NC (took 4 days)
There was a simple phone screen and then a one on one interview at the REI.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Sales Specialist at REI
Posted Feb 13, 2012
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1.0
Very Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Jul 2011 in Brookfield, WI (took 1 week)
Great interview! They were super friendly, very helpful and overall left me feeling very accepted. The store manager looked at my Linked In account and made the process very painless. Seriously the best interview I've ever gone through. So respectful, even when I had car trouble on the way there, they were super understanding and accommodating and re-arranged my interview without a problem. All employees should take advice on their interview and hiring process!
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
There is no negotiation for a sales specialist.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Sales Specialist at REI
Posted Dec 17, 2011
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5.0
Very Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Apr 2011 (took a day)
Group interview process was intense. Needed to focus on what the interviewers were actually trying to evaluate, not the task presented to the group. Job coaching proved invaluable in gaining confidence and anticapating queries that the interviewer threw out to you.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a Group/Panel Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Sales Specialist at REI
Posted Nov 10, 2011
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1.0
Very Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Sep 2011 (took 2 weeks)
It was a 2 part process starting with a phone interview. During the phone interview they a brief history of the company and a short job description. Then I was asked some basic questions as to availability. Why do I want to work for REI. What departments I would like to work for.
The group interview was extremely easy. There were about 15 people in the group with me. The key here is to be able to stand out from everyone else. There were no standard interview questions. We started with a brief introduction (Name, where you're from and favorite region to be in). Then they discussed the REI mission statement and we needed to talk about how that made us feel. Finally we split up into groups and sold a product to our partners. During this time, the managers went around taking notes.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
There was nothing to negotiate.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a Group/Panel Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Sales Specialist at REI
Posted Oct 13, 2011
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1.0
Very Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Aug 2009 (took 1 week)
REI hires usually through job fares which attract people who are strongly involved in the outdoors and come from a background of passion for what REI does. I did some research on the company as well as prepared a resume outlining my sales and customer service experience. The interview was very important to show enthusiasm, passion, and knowledge of outstanding customer service. Group interview was to see how candidates manage in a large group, individual interview to learn more about REI as well as share strengths and challenges.
I have never met so many capable and passionate people who love what they do.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
REI new hires start at a certain hourly wage which is higher than minimum wage.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Background Check, a Group/Panel Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Sales Specialist at REI
Posted Oct 5, 2011
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Sep 2011 (took 1+ week)
Two interviews. First one was a large screening type process; a huge room full of applicants and we did very brief 1:1's. I got a call back and when in for a 4:11 group interview. Still waiting for a call back
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and a Skills Test.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Sales Specialist at REI
Posted Sep 13, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Sep 2011 (took a day)
Everything so far under the group interview process has been fairly accurate, from random objects on table to test your selling ability to questions about their mission statement. I do suggest that if you really are interested in working here that you do do your home work and research about REI and their values and how it would relate to you working there. Also, this is a great opportunity to show your public speaking skills or if not your team work skills while you work in group. Best of luck to everyone!
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Sales Specialist at REI
Posted Sep 10, 2011
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Sep 2011 (took 1 week)
It was a pretty straight forward interview. The person interviewing was very friendly and went through a series of questions focused on my strengths and backgrounds... lot of "how would........ contribute to your work at REI" One of the last portions of the interview involved a role-play for selling merchandise. After that floor was open o ask any additional questions.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Sales Specialist at REI
Posted Sep 10, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Sep 2011 in New York, NY (took a day)
Learned about the interviews through a Criagslist posting - apparently that makes me a bit of an anomaly because almost everyone else applied through REI first and then got called in for the interviewing process. It started out with a Workforce One pre-screening event, took about five or ten minutes extremely basic information; just showed off our resumes and our qualifications.
The actual interview was at the REI temp office downtown; REI apparently prefers to do group interviews. Opens with a introduction (Name/Outdoor Activity/Why REI?), then a presentation of REI. Then a few group exercises, the interviewers posed a question to a table and had us try to develop a cohesive answer together. Questions: What is good customer service? What does the REI motto mean to you?
I'm pretty sure they had a few other questions and exercises planned for us, but the interviewers decided to "go rogue" at this point and asked each of us which department of REI we would like to work in, and why.
Overall, a lot of fun. Low stress, cool people. Gave out snacks.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview and a Personality Test.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Sales Specialist at REI
Posted Aug 30, 2011
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Aug 2011 in Paramus, NJ (took 1 week)
I had roughly the same experience as everyone else on this board. The group interview seems to be standard fair as things go. First a group introduction, followed by being broken down into a group to talk about the mission statement, followed by a mock sales pitch to a fellow interviewer. It was a fun experience, but I can't help thinking that it isn't really a good way to capture the strengths of the interviewees. I, for example, did fairly well until the final stage of the interview where we were meant to role play salesperson and customer within our group. At this point, it really is the luck of the draw with who you get paired with. If you get paired with the wrong person (say, someone who wants to show off as opposed to be cooperative-- my guy,) it will reflect badly both on them and you. There's very little one can do about it.
Other than that, it was a good experience. If I were corporate REI, I would try to make the interviews more focused, but I doubt that the fact that they'll lose a few good candidates because of the fickleness of their interview process is really going to make or break the company. It's a good company and I'm sure 90% of the times the method works.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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