bebe stores Interview Questions & Reviews

Interviewed May 2009 in Burlington, MA (took 1 week)

The store manager at the bebe store in Burlington contacted me and asked me to go in for an interview. I had applied online through my school's career service website. I got dressed up for the interview, because, c'mon, it's an interview. Not only that, but it's for a co-manager position, not just a random hourly associate position. I actually wore a top that was a little more dressy-casual than I usually wear, only because I thought, hey, it's a fashion retailer, not an office job. I thought I should show that I had a little bit of fashion sense, yet still show that I was professional. So I showed up early for the interview and the manager had me fill out an application. I did, and then she was busy helping customers, so I was patient and I waited. Although, honestly, I thought it was a little rude, because she had plenty of associates working and I'm pretty sure there were more associates than customers in the store. There was no reason for me to have waited so long. While I was waiting, a customer tried on an outfit and the manager told her it made her look wide. It also appeared to me that she may have known the person from the way she was acting. But regardless, it almost sounded rude coming out of her. Finally, we get to our interview. She was very nice and she seemed to like me. She told me she would contact her manager about getting me an interview at a different store, because they were actually trying to hire someone for the store in Cambridge. Of course, I guess she was lying to me, because I never got a call back from her. She made it seem as if she was going to call me back the same day and let me know when the next interview would be. I think she should have made it more clear that I may not have been getting a call-back for a second interview. Also, she commented on my outfit. I seriously thought I looked sexy-professional. She told me that I looked "cute" but that for the second interview w/ her manager, that I needed to "think outside the box" and try to show off some of my fashion sense. She also mentioned that they were looking for someone who was fashion forward. Basically, she made it sound like they were looking for a model first, and a manager second. Honestly though, I looked at her clothes and I looked at some of the associate's clothes, and I thought they looked a little too casual. Bebe is a major fashion retailer that specializes in clothes for sexy, sophisticated women. And yet, one of the associates was wearing capris and a wifebeater. The manager herself was wearing leggings and a loose flowy top. Which was fine, I guess. But the only reason I figured out that she was the manager was the fact that she was way older than everyone else who was working that day. Some of the other girls looked like they were trying way too hard with their outfit choices and their body shapes actually did not even flatter the bebe clothes they were wearing. They honestly looked like they were a little too meaty to be wearing what they wore. Honestly, that place just seems like a very clique-y place. And I think it's fine that they are looking for a certain image for their associates. It only makes sense since they are selling clothes that they want certain people to work for them and wear their clothes. But the associates that I noticed did not exactly strike me as model material. If you really want a job at this place, I suggest you wear something sexy. Try not to show too much skin, though. Wearing high heels is a must. And like the manager hinted to me, "think outside the box". If you really are not a fashion-forward person, this job is not for you. But, if you really want the job, I suggest you lie and say you are.
Oh, by the way, I applied for a co-manager position. And as soon as we got down to the interview, she told me that I did not have enough experience and that she wanted me to start off as a shift lead. If that was what she wanted, she could have told me that over the phone and saved me a car ride. Also, all their store positions are hourly, even manager positions. We did not get to discuss pay, but I could assume that since I was not being cosidered for the position that I applied for, that I was not going to get the pay that I requested.