Tell me about your most recent significant achievement.

"The past six months, I was awarded with the highest sales scores in my store. Previously, I had placed considerable effort into reaching such goals, but for quite some time, I was making no progress. Then, in a way, I shifted priorities. I stopped trying, and I instead just solely focused on the customer. That's my favorite part of the job. Just creating a celebratory atmosphere of a unified appreciation of the finer things in life. And, ironically, it is because of my hyper-customer focus that I reached those sales. That incredible mental shift, which enabled me to succeed simply through enjoying my work more, is probably the biggest accomplishment of my career to date."

Your interviewer is curious what the accomplishment you share will say about you, and your experience level, as a professional. How you answer this question, and why this accomplishment was significant, will offer them insights into your motivators, and the level of performance they potentially can expect from you.

When browsing the website and career pages on Hermès' website, you'll find the culture language they post there is unlike most other companies. They pride themselves on their unique and distinguished artisanal culture. They advertise everyone in their company has a creative spirit and an entrepreneurial spirit. "Combining creative freedom, innovation and the preservation and transmission of exceptional know-how, Hermès' vision of entrepreneurial spirit shapes a unique artisanal and independent house. Showing the outside world our achievements allows better understanding of actions undertaken."

How do you cope with change?

"I love life, and life is change. Time is change. Experience is change. I enjoy change and surprises, and my perspective is informed by my attitude, which embraces change. I just try to savor and enjoy each fine moment as it passes, regardless of whatever it brings. If change brings uncertainty or an undesirable outcome, the only thing I have control over is my perception of it. So, I just keep moving forward, with appreciation for everything that is going right."

Not only does Hermés rotate their artisanal products in each of their métier each year, but they also want to ensure that you can adapt and grow with the company rather than resist change when it happens. Your interviewer's ideal candidate is one who prefers challenge and can grow and adapt to the company rather than those candidates who prefer the status quo and rarely step outside of their comfort zone.

As you explore Hermès' website, you'll note that they place a great deal of emphasis on retaining their talent, and build long-term professional relationships with those they employ, who they refer to as family. They emphasize that they take great efforts to support their employees through all sorts of transitions and periods of change or upheaval. "The group, through its humanist values, is committed to providing individual support to all employees who may be affected by any site closure, regrouping or restructuring, including training, internal mobility and working time organisation."

What other questions do you have for me?

"Thank you for asking. Can you tell me how this position came to be available? Once oriented, what does a routine day on the job look like in this position? What does an out-of-the-ordinary day look like? Before we end this interview, would you be willing to share any questions or concerns you have about my qualifications as a candidate, or about the answers I've delivered in this interview?"

This is your last chance to frame yourself as a memorable candidate. The questions you have in reserve, which weren't asked or answered earlier in your interview, showcase how invested you are in this opportunity and how thoroughly you prepared for it. Also, how thoughtful and original your questions are can help you stand out in their minds as a candidate they are interested in speaking with again, either in another interview or on the job.

What would you do if a customer came to you with a product that was 20 years old in a state of disrepair?

"Well, I would first express interest in the item, especially one from a previous collection of that age. I would ask the customer to share their experiences with it, and their love for the item. I would share in their affection and admiration of the item. I would then ask if any work had been done on it previously, which would be important considering Hermès workshops won't do repairs on any items that were serviced, altered, or repaired elsewhere. Then, I would share with them the details about our workshops, what they are like, and share my confidence that they can trust us with their repair and the restoration of their beloved artisanal piece."

Your interviewer is curious to learn more about the level of experience you have in catering to their clientele, and the level of customer service they expect the representatives of their brand to deliver. Additionally, how you answer this question stands to inform them of how familiar you are with the quality and reputation of their products. As Robert Dumas, Executive Chairman of Hermès from 1951 to 1978, once said, "A luxury product is one that can be repaired."

According to sources online, most Hermés items have a 2-year warranty, and they won't work on or service items that have been altered or serviced by others. However, they do advertise that if "you wish to entrust us your object, go to the nearest store to drop off your item to be serviced or repaired.""Since 1837, Hermés has remained true to its values and today it remains a company of craftspeople. Hermés objects are designed to last and be repaired, thanks to their technical design and manufacturing methods that emphasise robustness and long-term use. By selecting the finest raw materials, Hermés produces exceptional objects that are both functional and beautiful, durable and repairable, and designed to be passed on. Made with utmost care, Hermés creations require special attention. Be it a saddle, a silk scarf, or a watch, all Hermés objects can be subject to repair and freshened up. Pushing open the door of one of Hermés' fifteen repair workshops around the world is like entering a magicians' den, where the passage of time is made to disappear. Restoring, repairing, it's what their métier is all about."

Would you consider this position your métier, or is there something else you are striving towards?

"I love my work and love what I do. And I would say that it falls in my métiers, but isn't precisely my métiers. Rather, I would consider connecting with others over luxury items my métiers. I love being surrounded by beautiful things and being surrounded by those who have the same fussy sentimentality as I do. I also consider myself an artisan craftsperson. In my spare time, I love doing high-caliber woodworking. I make fine chessboards and wooden bowls. So it isn't just one, or a few, of Hermés métier I have an appreciation for, it is all of them. Lastly, I love spending time in Hermés boutiques, for each one feels like a unique art installation with a different interpretation of the same body of work."

Your interviewer is curious why you are pursuing this position. How you answer could potentially inform them of whether you are trying to find any job anywhere, if this position is in your forte and your field of expertise, or if you are pursuing this position because you are hoping to get your foot in the door working with Hermès, and have your sights on growing your career in another direction with them.

Make sure to take as much time as you need to prepare for your interview beforehand. Read through every page on their website, familiarize yourself with their language, and how they define their brand of sophistication and luxury. They expect the representatives of their company to mirror their language, and to embody the artisanal spirit of Hermés. In relation to this question, a word frequently used in the cultural language of Hermés is métier. "Reinvent our métier. Hermés is an international house with a profoundly human dimension, ensured by teams attentive to authenticity and detail in a succession of steps that take the object from creation through to acquisition. Its métier evolve according to new practices, ceaselessly reinventing themselves and acquiring new tools. The house takes an ecologically responsible approach, adapting to support its growth while limiting flows and waste in line with its environmental goals."

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

"I would say, ideally, I could very well see myself working in a Hermès environment, growing and developing as a person, as a professional, as a collaborator, but still being immersed in the relaxed and creative atmosphere celebrated by the Hermès collective family, for the next five, ten, fifteen, twenty years. That is the dream of where I would like to be."

Your interviewer is curious about what you imagine your career might look like in five years. How developed and detailed your career goals are stand to reveal how far ahead you're thinking ahead, and your level of ambition. It may also offer insights into whether you see a position with Hermès as a means to an end or a stepping stone towards a career elsewhere, or if you are specifically interested in a long-term working relationship with them, where you stand to build long-term, sustainable career growth.

On their website, Hermès states that there are many career growth and training opportunities within their company, where everybody is expected to share and pass along their "know-how" to each other. They also place a great deal of emphasis on loyalty, counting on their employees to stay with them for the long term, and advertise they have a very high employee retention rate. "Loyalty is an important value to ensure the stability and sustainability of the Hermès model. This is why the Maison involves its employees in its long-term projects and encourages long careers. The group's policy is to consolidate and develop individual expertise, increase versatility, ensure the sharing of know-how within teams, strengthen the transmission of know-how from generation to generation and retain talent." In one of their videos on their careers webpages, a manager of one of Hermès boutiques in the U.S. states "You're able to grow from within. Hermès will allow you the opportunity to create your career path, and choose to go in a different direction than you intended."

Why does now feel like the right time to make this career move?

"I am proud of my work and accomplishments, and in mentoring others who are new to the field. But I feel I have reached a level of experience where I would prefer to enjoy my work more in a pressure-free environment, given the freedom to more creatively and expressly perform what now comes so naturally to me, rather the objectifying each customer for what they may potentially spend, or focusing solely on KPIs. Don't get me wrong, it is not my intention to speak poorly of the company that has provided so much development to me as a professional. I am grateful, and I am leaving on good terms. But this move feels right, right now, simply because I am prioritizing the quality of my professional life, by looking for work with a company that is more in line with Hermès than my current employ."

This question stands to inform your interviewer how in line this opportunity fits with your immediate career goals, and why this career move felt like the right move for you right now. They're curious whether you had viable reasons for leaving your current or most recent job. How you choose to answer this question may inform them of whether this is a beneficial career move for you, or if you are trying to find any job anywhere, hoping the grass is greener on the other side.

Hermès advertises that they ensure "training and skills development are given," along with "annual performance reviews and set objectives for the coming year, employees' skills, professional development and training are formalised and objectives are set." Additionally, they advertise that their "ambitious and multi-local development and training programme has a new common identity, Hermès Campus, built around four areas: corporate culture, management, expertise and personal development. Hermès is developing in-house training schools for its leather, textile and tanning métiers in order to ensure that this know-how is perennialised and successfully passed on."

What would you do if a client asked you about a product or service and you were unsure of the answer?

"I would view it as a great opportunity to connect with that client. I'd express what a great question it was, and tell them I didn't know, but that I had the resources to quickly get the answer for them. I would express enthusiasm that we were going to learn something new together. I would then find the answers to their question at speed and see how I could continue the opportunity for further conversation from there."

Your interviewer wants to learn more about how you would go about communicating with clients who trust their employees to be reliable resources of information. They also want to know whether they can trust you to accurately represent their products, their reputation, and their company. How you answer might inform them of whether you would be resourceful, and conduct yourself with integrity, while delivering clear and honest communication to their clients while also delivering exceptional customer service.

Hermès prides itself on its responsible communication, promoting transparency, and honesty. "Hermès unique communication is based on building an authentic relationship with its various stakeholders. The Group is committed to responsible, sincere, non-misleading, accurate and balanced communication, with an important place for multi-local expression. Through its communication, the Group also undertakes not to make unfounded allegations."

How long have you been a Hermès customer?

"Well, I have been something of an online and brick-and-mortar Hermès window shopper for some time. Over ten years. My aunt, who is a rather successful stockbroker, bought me a super smart-looking cap from a Hermès collection about ten years ago on my birthday. It's a great piece. I haven't exactly been able to afford many other new items from their current catalog, but have procured a few items that were previously owned online. Especially items that I coveted which eventually disappeared from current collections."

Most companies aim to hire those who were first loyal customers before they were employees. This helps ensure that their employees connect with and relate to their customers, sharing enthusiasm and appreciation for their offerings. Your interviewer is well aware, that there are many whose income brackets might not enable them to be regular customers of Hermès fine luxury items. In fact, some of their employees who tell their stories on their careers webpages admit this was the case before they were hired. So what matters here is familiarizing yourself with the artistry, quality, and variety of the quality goods they sell, and in their current and past catalogs. That way, if you have not personally owned any of the Hermès products, you'll be able to talk about an item you have your eye on, which you hope to one day own.

The goal of answering this question is to communicate your understanding of Hermès clientele and the value they place on them. "Welcoming visitors and inspiring dreams, this is the spirit that permeates the stores and the hermes.com website. Hermès customers are a true community that transcends borders. For this loyal and ever-increasing audience, the house has created veritable "houses for objects", both online and in its international network of stores that differ from one another through their unique offer. By subtly combining the house's identity with local culture, each address has a particular resonance, which contributes to the bespoke experience offered to its customers. The aim of which is to provide ever-better support to its community of Hermès customers across the world."

"I love the atmosphere and the work model, and it is my dream to have a long and fulfilling career with a company such as yours which celebrates such an environment. I love how much creative expression there is everywhere. It feels magical, whimsical, and an environment of sophisticated pristine beauty."

Your interviewer is looking to build upon their teams, and hire those who would work well with their "collaborative family" and their clientele, and who would fit into their culture. Therefore, this question is aimed at determining whether you are singularly interested in working for them, or whether you are job hopping, salary springboarding, or trying to fill an employment gap and land any job anywhere, and fast. How you answer will showcase how prepared you are for the interview, and potentially how invested and passionate you are in winning this opportunity.

Many statements on Hermès website advertise their company as an ideal place to work. Such as employee testimonials, where they describe the company as continuing "to live in the clouds, continue to being whimsical, continue to blossom and unfold in that spirit that we have, that we share." In their recruiting efforts, Hermès says on their website that they are committed to "making beautiful things in beautiful places, built with high-quality, eco-friendly materials and in harmony with the surrounding natural environment. A desire to give something back to the world. An integrated model, providing humanistic management of employees."

Why should Hermès hire you over another candidate?

"I am an artist in several ways. I am a painter, I play the guitar, I play the saw, and I collect all sorts of curios and interesting artistic items. I decorate my home like an art installation and appreciate the finer things in life. These sensibilities carry over from my personal life into my professional life. I have an appreciation for the finer things in life, and am very centered and even-keeled, especially in my dealings with others. I have a calming energy, am very warm with my coworkers, and see all of my friends as family. So I would say that because of who I am as a person embodies the qualities of of the artisans of Hermès."

Your interviewer knows you cannot compare yourself to candidates you know nothing about. What they are looking for in your answer is whether you have identified, by doing your homework, how they describe their ideal talent and who they are looking to hire. So, how you answer this question aims to reveal a bit about your work standard, and whether you have identified ways in which you are a good fit for them, and are capable of communicating it in a way that showcases yourself as an ideal match.

Hermés describes their teams as a collective and as a family. And they describe all of their employees, regardless of their métier, whether it be leather working or sales in one of their boutiques, as "artisans who like to dream, and share that dream with their clients." A manager of one of Hermés boutiques in the U.S. describes the word Collective meaning "including everyone, every part of my team, from the front of the house to the back of the house, to ensure we are doing this together. You're joining a family." And, one of Hermés Artisans said, "To work for Hermés, you must have the qualities of curiosity, creativity, high standards, and mastery of your tools. There are no limits to creation at Hermés. At work, it's important to be given the freedom to be able to express yourself. The only limits are your imagination and your know how."

Are you familiar with the 16 Hermès métiers?

"I am. I often visit the online collections in every one of the 16 métiers, and all their subcategories. There are so many items, but the ones I love fantasizing about most are the furniture and lighting, complemented by the pillow and blankets. I enjoy spending time envisioning different combinations and what they'd look like in my living room."

Your interviewer is trying to assess how familiar you are with their company while evaluating the consistency of the message of your answers from question to question. Again, whether you are a loyal customer or recently introduced to their company, your aim is to showcase your work ethic in how thoroughly you've prepared for this interview while expressing enthusiasm and admiration for what they do.

Hermés calls their 16 artisanal lines of products "The 16 Hermés métier. Leather goods and saddlery, Women's silk, Women's ready-to-wear, Men's ready-to-wear, Men's silk, Shoes, Hats, Belts, Gloves, Jewellery, Watches, Perfumes, Beauty, Furniture and art de vivre, Tableware, and petit h. Inspired by a new theme each year, the 16 house's métier give full rein to their creativity, supported by exceptional artisanal know-how. For each collection, the vocabulary of shapes, the palette of colours, and the combinations of materials are enriched and renewed according to the values of the house: creating beautiful, useful, contemporary, yet timeless objects. The nobility of materials and the rigour of craftsmanship result in sustainable objects that can be passed down through the years."

According to Hermès website, only currently available items are available for viewing on their website. However, if you'd like to go above and beyond in familiarizing yourself with their products, go onto the sites of some online resellers, such as eBay, to view items from their previous collections.

Would you consider yourself an artistic person?

"I do consider myself to be very artistically inclined, and very studious in my presentation. One of my strengths is my sense of balance between the pragmatic and the creative. I believe one is dependent on the other to communicate something to everyone, and I believe wonderment and order complement one another perfectly."

How you answer this question will further help your interviewer determine your fit for this role with Hermès, where they declare, "We're All Artisans." They advertise that they give all of their employees "creative freedom" to do their jobs. So whether the candidate is a craftsperson, a digital engineer, or a representative at one of their boutiques, the recruiter is looking for those who exhibit artistic vision, with an eye for timeless elegance and luxury.

"Inspired by a new theme each year, the sixteen métier of the house create collections that combine freedom with inventiveness and know-how. For each collection, the vocabulary of shapes, the palette of colours, and the combinations of materials are enriched and renewed according to the values of the house: creating beautiful, useful, contemporary yet timeless objects. The 16 Hermés métiers work in a climate of creative freedom, guided each year by a theme that nourishes the entire house. The house has created veritable 'houses for objects', both online and in its international network of stores, that differ from one another due to the purchasing freedom enjoyed by its director. Its artistic and poetic spirit permeates the creativity of stores and window displays. No two window displays are the same, which reflects the uniqueness of each store around the world, each a facet of the same resolutely elegant spirit, one that is at once artisanal and innovative, contemporary and timeless. Each store is a vibrant place of encounters and experiences. By subtly combining the house's identity with local culture, each address has a particular resonance, which contributes to the bespoke experience offered to its customers."

Tell me about the type of experience you aim to create for your customers.

"I try to approach every customer with curiosity, and in a way that makes them feel admired and celebrated for their taste. I often look for something about them that communicates sophisticated taste, and I express a fondness or admiration for that detail. This makes them feel celebrated, valued, and understood. But most importantly, it makes them feel seen. The way every person presents themselves is a thoughtful creation of expression, after all. So then, I experience their experience with them. A partner or a guide on their exploration of our collection. I try to understand their vision and try to participate in it. This is the core of the artisanal experience I try to create for each and every customer."

Hermès suggests everything they do, from their artisanal crafts workers who design their creations, to the store employees at their boutiques, is done with their customers in mind. They describe all of their employees as a collective, and invite their target talent to "be part of a collective adventure." So, with this in mind, whether you are applying for a customer-facing role or not, familiarize yourself with Hermès' approach to their customers, and the experience they aim to create for them every step of the way. Then research your experience, and the manners in which their approach parallels yours.

"The creations are the fruit of their creators' curiosity and of their artisans' exceptional know-how, and they achieve the house's goal, namely to accompany customers in their everyday lives, across a diverse range of activities. The objects are designed to be durable and to adapt to changing lifestyles. Creating and crafting bespoke objects have been central to the story of Hermès since its origins, and today, Hermès Horizons undertakes special orders to make customers' dreams come true. The nobility of materials and the rigour of craftsmanship result in sustainable objects that can be passed down through the years.Hermès continues to reach out to its customers through new stores worldwide. Store employees are responsible for sharing this unique artisanal and family odyssey with customers, while at the same time adapting to changing habits. Each person combines expertise with availability in order to welcome all customers with the same elegance and authenticity."

Tell me about yourself.

"A bit about me. I love the world of fine art fashion and fine art furniture. I went to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, in Los Angeles, and from there worked in Seattle for the fine art clothing store, Baby&Co. Then I later moved to New York City and landed a job at Lilith, and worked there for a few years before I was recruited to IF in Soho by an old colleague. No matter which city I travel to, I always stop in the boutique stores, whether it's Joan Shepp in Philadelphia, or the new Hermès Flagship location on New York City's Madison Avenue. Now I've decided to branch out beyond just fashion, to a broader set of luxury goods, with the hopes of perhaps, after building a career with a company such as Hermès, finding a position, moving into a role in one of their workshops. So, in a nutshell, that's who I am, why I'm here, where I come from, and where I'm going. How about you? How long have you worked for Hermès?"

Your interviewer wants to get to know you as a person, which will help them assess how well you will fit into Hermès family of artisans in their world of boutique luxury. Not all of their employees come from a world of luxury, but all of them are creative, studious, have high standards, and the "know how" to excel at their métiers.

Before your interview, customize a brief and succinct bio, detailing your career journey, on a personal and professional level, and how your path paved your way to this interview. Remember, it is your interviewer's job to try to get you to relax and to be yourself. So do what you can to make their job easier. Relax, be your sincere and authentic self, smile, and put your best foot forward. The person you're interviewing with is a representative of Hermès and embodies the type of dynamic individuals they aim to recruit. So how well you get along with them will be a testament to your fit for their organization.

What kind of people do you work well with?

"In all honesty, and I don't mean this to sound cliche, but I work well will all types of people. Or rather, when I am working with a group of people who represent all types of people, I am happy. The more diverse everyone is, whether it's the personality, background, whatever. I just thrive best when I am working with a unique crowd."

Your interviewer needs to ensure you will get along with their employees, and that you will be able to adapt and fit into their work culture and environment comfortably. How you answer this question will potentially inform your interviewer whether you will get along with their collective family, which they celebrate as diverse, equitable, inclusive, individual, and fair. They pride themselves on making efforts to employ those who are disabled or physically challenged and to foster an environment where everyone can be creative, and express their authentic selves comfortably.

"Family is at the heart of Hermès. At Hermès of Paris, we are committed to being a Maison for All, a home where we make efforts to generate, support and advance the values of diversity, inclusion and family both within our own walls and in the wider world. At Hermès of Paris, we look to create a diverse workforce of talented and unique individuals with different backgrounds, skill-sets and worldviews that will enrich our Hermès of Paris family. We support our individual team members' personal and professional success through a culture that values equality, individuality and fairness and through an environment where individuals can thrive and feel comfortable being their authentic selves. Beyond the walls of our Maison, we advance our DIF values through the work that we do in partnership with our community and non-profit partners."

What does diversity and bespoke career development mean to you?

"I would say it is the exact kind of career path I would like to follow with an employer who supports and encourages authenticity and diversity. Where every individual is celebrated for what makes them unique and what he or she contributes to the team. I'd say my career path is evolving, and so far it has done so rather organically. I consider myself very flexible, and the more I learn about myself and what makes me happy, the more I've adjusted my goals. So, the career path I'd like to pursue with my next employer will hopefully be flexible and long term, and supported by a company such as Hermès."

Your interviewer is curious to learn more about your cultural competence, and how well you would be able to work alongside their collective teams. Although the majority of its production is in France, through its 54 production sites, it continues to develop its international distribution network of 300 stores in 45 countries, providing everyone the freedom "to find fulfillment through the opportunities provided by the house by means of in-house mobility and the cross-sector approach to career paths encouraged within the group."

Hermès advertises that they aim to "build bespoke career paths," taking "great care to ensure diversity in its employees' profiles and experience." They also emphasize that they aim to ensure the diversity of their staff represents the diversity of their locality. "Hermès seeks to welcome each customer with warmth, respecting diversity and cultures. Hermès maintains a relationship of trust based on integrity and loyalty, and focused on durability."

Tell me about a time you failed at something.

"Well, the first time I was given the okay to build a window display, I had grand ideas of what I was going to do. And there was nothing wrong with my vision. But when it came time to execute it, I couldn't locate any of the materials I'd envisioned to implement it. I realized this should have been done on the front end before I pitched my ideas. As a result, I had to go back and redesign the whole thing. In the end, it was fine, but I was disappointed and didn't live up to my promises. My manager was forgiving and asked what I learned from the experience. I told them, and they assured me that since I learned from it, I wouldn't make the same mistake again. They were right."

Your interviewer is curious about what you view as a failure or a professional setback, which may be informative regarding your current level of professional experience. Additionally, how you answer this question may reveal something about your emotional intelligence. Someone who tries to conceal their failures or setbacks likely has learned little from them and will repeat them. Whereas someone who takes ownership of their failures or setbacks is less likely to repeat them and more likely to succeed in the next round. As Axel Dumas, CEO of Hermès once said, "We have success and sometimes we have failure. And sometimes if I see no failure, I wonder if we didn't push it enough."

Tell me about your wellness routine, and how you balance your personal and professional spheres.

"Well, I manage my time well, and take care of all of my personal demands appropriately, just as I am thorough and well-organized in my work. I take care of my mind, body, and spirit, read a lot of poetry, subscribe to several philosophical YouTube channels, go on mediation retreats, do yoga, get massages once or twice a month, and I am Ayurvedic in my diet and in my cooking."

Your interviewer needs to ensure whomever they consider hiring is a well-balanced and emotionally intelligent individual before considering bringing them on board. Their ideal candidates will manage their time well, have a good wellness routine, and deal with issues concerning their personal life in their personal time, and not regularly bring their work home with them.

Hermès advertises online that they place a lot of focus on promoting "a better balance between personal and professional life." They also want to ensure their employees aren't always taking their work home with them, ensuring them "the right to disconnect." They've taken various measures to provide their employees "the best possible support for their daily work."

What does quality mean to you?

"I would say that quality is everything. My motto is quality of life. And by that, I mean everything. Quality is genuine and sincere. It is integrity, attitude, style, and purpose. It is a standard and a state of being. Quality belongs in every moment and is timeless. That's what quality means to me."

Hermès prides themselves on the quality of everything they do. From the quality of their customer service to the quality of their work, their attention to detail, craftsmanship, art, etcetera. The quality of your answer to this question stands to inform your interviewer of how effectively you would be able to represent Hermès as a member of their collective.

On their website, they say, "THE Hermès OBJECT is identifiable by its style, the know-how that gave rise to it, and its quality, which is an absolute requirement, in terms of materials, know-how, attention to detail, both internally and externally. The authenticity of the materials, including their origin, as well as their manufacture, ensure the durability of the objects." And, a manager of one of Hermès' boutiques in the U.S. describes being a creative salesperson who delivers quality customer service as "developing new techniques and new ways to showcase the product to the client, to explain how to use the product, or the many ways they could implement it into their wardrobe, greeting our customers as soon as they enter our store, and making sure the client is number one."

What would you say is currently your greatest developmental opportunity, and how can Hermès help you with this challenge?

"Although I consider myself to have strong communication skills, sometimes my confidence in communicating my vision generates self-doubt. I often have an artistic vision of something, and when I try to communicate it, I get excited, and eager to share, and don't communicate my vision as effectively as I'd like. Then, when I realize I'm not being wholly understood, I lose confidence and say never mind. I have gotten better at this, but still have a little way to go. When I am in an environment that is more patient, forgiving, and understanding, I find this is less of an issue for me."

This question is similar to asking you what your greatest weakness is, or that area where you hope to grow professionally the most, right now in your career. How you answer stands to reveal your authenticity, sincerity, and how self-aware you are of your growth opportunities. More importantly, it stands to reveal whether any of Hermès' growth offerings played a role in your pursuit of this role.

"Sustainable development at Hermès rests on the ability of its teams to commit to the group's values and long-term plans. To enable new employees to play a part in its corporate plan, and in the best possible conditions, Hermès takes great care and devotes time and attention to their integration. Consolidate and develop individual expertise, increase versatility, ensure the sharing of know-how within teams, strengthen the transmission of know-how from generation to generation and retain talent."

What motivates you in your work?

"I am motivated by being surrounded by art, by beautiful people who are supportive, diverse, and creative. I'm motivated by doing what I love and by being celebrated for my contributions. Most of all, I am motivated at work when I know those who I am working with are looking forward to seeing me the next workday."

Hermès offers a unique business model and recognizes that there are few other businesses with an approach to their employee culture similar to their own. They are ideally looking for employees who would be motivated by the job satisfaction they offer and the professional lifestyle they celebrate. In other words, they are looking for employees who would be motivated by doing what they love and are passionate about the work that they do. For example, in a video on their careers site, the head of sustainable construction at Hermès describes her experience working for Hermès, "The meaning of my work at Hermès can be summed up as making something beautiful and sustainable for the artisans who make beautiful objects. It's having the opportunity to make and build something beautiful to serve beauty and sustainability."

What work environments do you struggle in, and how do you go about improving your work environment?

"I struggle in environments that are solely focused on numbers and profits and competition, rather than on the customer, the company's values, and the experience of the culture. Also, environments that are shark tanks and where your team doesn't really feel supportive. I also struggle in work environments that operate on a consistent level of organized chaos, never really turning the corner to being a finely tuned mechanism that runs like clockwork."

This question can be interpreted in a variety of ways, and how you interpret this question is what your interviewer is after. An interviewer will often pose such questions as a method of getting a better sense of your attitude, worldview, or range of experience. Their ideal candidates will be self-aware, and have a firm sense of how to create work conditions for themselves which will bolster their productivity, while seeking innovative solutions to improve the environment, safety, systems, and conditions of the workplace for everyone on their teams.

Hermès advertises that they have made efforts to create a healthy, safe, and sustainable work environment for their employees, "working with the Management Committee and the Health, Safety and Working Conditions Commission of each site. The work themes selected are varied: time management, fatigue and physical well-being, warming-up/stretching, hazard management, repetitive strain injury, emotion management, communication, etc., in the prevention and identification of risk situations relating to health or well-being. Similar approaches of analysing well-being at work are carried out within our retail subsidiaries."

Tell me about your experience training and coaching other members of your team.

"I thrive on learning from others' know-how and love passing on my know-how as well. That is what teamwork is all about. If everyone learns from each other the best way of doing something well, then everyone can collectively work together in synchronicity, complementing each other's next move, like a dance. So, I take every opportunity to share my know-how with others, whether they are new to the team, or just doing their job in a less efficient manner, but didn't know of a better way."

At Hermès, they describe their brand of mentoring or training as a "transmission of know-how." Your interviewer is curious about what kind of leadership potential you possess, if you share your "know-how" with others, and are a collaborative team player who views the success of the collective team as your own success. These are the qualities they are looking for in their ideal candidates, those who "ensure the sharing of know-how within teams, strengthening the transmission of know-how from generation to generation."

On Hermès' website, they state, "Sustainable development at Hermès rests on the group's employees acquiring, developing and passing on know-how (regardless of their profession, be they craftspeople, sales associates or support staff, etc.), one of the Hermès' key assets." And as Olivier Fournier, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and Social affairs said, "As a humanist group, at Hermès we share a deep-seated conviction that human creation, enhanced by know-how, is a source of pleasure for both the maker and the receiver. Our desire to always remember that our objects are made by the hands of men and women makes it natural that we would consider training to be the foremost gesture we can make to the group's employees."

How would you describe your leadership style?

"I would say that my style is being encouraging, supportive, and caring. I make sure that everyone on my team has all the tools they need to do their job well and safely. I show them that I care, and I set them up for success, through mentoring them or communicating to them everything they need to know to get the job done. I create a work environment that is focused, calm, safe, and comfortable, with an unobstructed view to success."

Your interviewer is curious whether your leadership style would complement or clash with the leadership style and culture they encourage and promote within their company. So before your interview, spend time familiarizing yourself with the varying leadership styles out there and the leadership style they encourage in their offices, boutiques, and workshops.

In a video on their careers page, the director of Hermès workshops in Paris describes leading a team as being "about supporting the artisans, helping them develop their know-how, and progress their jobs and their careers. It's about looking after the surroundings and ensuring they can work in safety and comfort, in an environment that is studious but also serene and cheerful and cohesive. The creative part of my job lies in my management style, how I support my team and the agility we seek in our organization, always bringing positive energy to the team."

What does trust and solidarity mean to you?

"I would say trust and reliability is when you trust everyone on your team, and you know your situation is reliably supported by those in your collective workspace. Everyone stays true to their word and is supportive in helping you reach your unified goals. No one is out for themselves. If you close your eyes and you trust them to catch you, you have no fear and fall back, and you're safe."

This question has a few purposes. It is aimed at determining how familiar you are with their company, and namely, their unifying values, which are, "trust, exemplarity, excellence, high standards, recognition, respect, enthusiasm, solidarity, discretion and the quest for harmony." It also aims to determine how aligned your values and your character are with theirs. How you answer with continue to paint a broader picture of how well you would fit into their company and get along with their teams.

Do you feel performance should be rewarded over tenure?

"I feel that loyalty should be valued, and merit should be recognized. I feel that promises should be kept, and everyone should operate with integrity. And lastly, I think everyone should be appreciated for what they uniquely offer while creating a positive and wonderful working experience for those they work with."

This question is aimed at generating a trigger response that aims to reveal what kind of employee you are. What it is truly asking is whether you are a "cruise worker," which is someone who performs at the bare minimum, gaining seniority and job security. Or are you ambitious and driven, constantly striving to go above and beyond, hoping to be rewarded for the merit of putting your all in? Or are you, ideally, a little of both, such as someone who consistently goes the extra mile, with the aim of growing with the company while furthering the company, for the long term? This is the nature of this question.Hermès states on its website that they are "committed to rewarding employee performance at both the collective and individual levels, and the development of variable compensation at both levels in recent years reflects this commitment."

What are your salary expectations?

"Currently, I earn a commission, which I don't prefer, as it generates fierce competition which in turn has damaged the cohesiveness of the team. Aside from my commission earnings, I earn a base salary of $45,000 per year plus a potential 20% annual bonus. Last year my earnings were $52,000. My benefits are somewhat comparable to what Hermès offers. Right now, I am aiming to pursue a role that provides definable opportunities for growth within clearly adhered to parameters."

Your interviewer isn't just curious about how you will go about establishing your professional worth while negotiating your pay. They are also curious about what your expectations are. For example, none of their locations operate on a commission basis. In fact, in their code of conduct they strictly prohibit their employees "from offering or paying bribes and/or commissions, and from offering any perks in an attempt to influence an individual's behaviour and decisions in order to obtain any undue advantage in a business context. In parallel, seeking or accepting any kind of perk in the same manner is also prohibited. The offence is committed even if the offer of corruption is rejected (it is the intention that counts)."

"Social value is also created at an individual level, with annual profit-sharing and incentive schemes benefiting all staff, as well as through free share plans. Hermès thus demonstrates its commitment to sharing the fruits of its growth with the men and women who embody the house's entrepreneurial spirit through their work. The Hermès Group's employees' compensation policy is ambitious and is based on a wide range of individual and collective compensation tools. This policy includes both short-term items and benefits, through fixed salaries, individual and collective bonuses, paid holidays and profit-sharing, and long-term items and benefits, such as employee shareholding plans granted to all Group's employees worldwide, as well as post-employment benefits (retirement benefits, supplementary pension schemes, etc.)."

Before your interview, familiarize yourself with all the benefit offerings they provide to their employees. Compare these to the current benefits and perks you receive and factor that into the equation, primarily those that you value or would lower your cost of living. Try to determine the pay range they offer for the position, and how many performance reviews with pay increases they offer annually. Compare this to your projected pay for the coming year, accounting for your next performance review and any pay increases you expect to receive. Then volunteer this information as an introduction to the conversation.

Tell me about a time you helped drive the success of someone on your team.

"I was working with someone who was learning something new from their mentor. They'd been clamoring for this opportunity for some time. But as I was actively listening to the instructions, their mentor was giving them, it was clear to me they weren't really grasping what was being explained to them. After trying to clarify a few times, they blushed and said they understood, but I had a feeling they were still confused. So their mentor left their side, and I watched them staring at their workspace blankly. That's when I stepped up and started explaining this tricky lesson from scratch. I reassured them that it took me a few tries to figure this one out and demonstrated while rephrasing the instructions in a more simplistic way. Then suddenly their eyes lit up, and I could tell they got it. I told them I'd stick around to make sure they could do it, and they did and aced this task on every attempt moving forward."

At Hermés they place a great deal of emphasis on the passing down of "know-how." They call their workforce a "collaborative." This, in large part, defines their culture. So, accordingly, your interviewer wants to know what role you will play if asked to join their family. Additionally, Hermés describes ambition as contributing to, and "preserving and perennialising artisanal know-how and skills, which lend themselves to responsible and sustainable economic development."

Describe your brand of teamwork and collaboration.

"I'd say my brand of teamwork is being present, and maintaining a strong connection with every person I am working with every day. Being in tune with them and respecting the space while empathizing with their needs. Supporting them, leaning on them, communicating, and listening. When a team can accomplish this, then the entire team is one."

Your interviewer is curious about how effectively you will earn the trust of their teams, the types of relationships you would build with them, and what you would contribute to their evolution, growth, and know-how. Reflect on your experience and share how you go about introducing yourself, and how your methods align with the approach Hermès encourages in their culture, built upon trust, collaboration, integrity, transparency, and humility.

Hermès describes the main principles of their relations as "trust and consideration, selectivity in social and environmental spheres, the search for balanced long-term relationships, fair treatment and impartiality, absolute respect for the criteria of ethics and integrity, transparency in the relationship." And in a video on Hermès careers webpages when describing the teamwork they foster in their "world of luxury," the Head of product for the Hermès digital department said, "This is a house where we can truly be ourselves. It is very relaxed. We have a sense of unity, trust, and mutual support. We have challenges brought by strong growth. We're all on the same team working together for Hermès."

Hermes Interview Questions

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1. Tell me about your most recent significant achievement.
2. How do you cope with change?
3. What other questions do you have for me?
4. What would you do if a customer came to you with a product that was 20 years old in a state of disrepair?
5. Would you consider this position your métier, or is there something else you are striving towards?
6. Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
7. Why does now feel like the right time to make this career move?
8. What would you do if a client asked you about a product or service and you were unsure of the answer?
9. How long have you been a Hermès customer?
10. Why Hermès?
11. Why should Hermès hire you over another candidate?
12. Are you familiar with the 16 Hermès métiers?
13. Would you consider yourself an artistic person?
14. Tell me about the type of experience you aim to create for your customers.
15. Tell me about yourself.
16. What kind of people do you work well with?
17. What does diversity and bespoke career development mean to you?
18. Tell me about a time you failed at something.
19. Tell me about your wellness routine, and how you balance your personal and professional spheres.
20. What does quality mean to you?
21. What would you say is currently your greatest developmental opportunity, and how can Hermès help you with this challenge?
22. What motivates you in your work?
23. What work environments do you struggle in, and how do you go about improving your work environment?
24. Tell me about your experience training and coaching other members of your team.
25. How would you describe your leadership style?
26. What does trust and solidarity mean to you?
27. Do you feel performance should be rewarded over tenure?
28. What are your salary expectations?
29. Tell me about a time you helped drive the success of someone on your team.
30. Describe your brand of teamwork and collaboration.

Hermes Interview Questions

1. Tell me about your most recent significant achievement.

2. How do you cope with change?

3. What other questions do you have for me?

4. What would you do if a customer came to you with a product that was 20 years old in a state of disrepair?

5. Would you consider this position your métier, or is there something else you are striving towards?

6. Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

7. Why does now feel like the right time to make this career move?

8. What would you do if a client asked you about a product or service and you were unsure of the answer?

9. How long have you been a Herm&egrave;s customer?

10. Why Herm&egrave;s?

11. Why should Herm&egrave;s hire you over another candidate?

12. Are you familiar with the 16 Hermès métiers?

13. Would you consider yourself an artistic person?

14. Tell me about the type of experience you aim to create for your customers.

15. Tell me about yourself.

16. What kind of people do you work well with?

17. What does diversity and bespoke career development mean to you?

18. Tell me about a time you failed at something.

19. Tell me about your wellness routine, and how you balance your personal and professional spheres.

20. What does quality mean to you?

21. What would you say is currently your greatest developmental opportunity, and how can Herm&#232;s help you with this challenge?

22. What motivates you in your work?

23. What work environments do you struggle in, and how do you go about improving your work environment?

24. Tell me about your experience training and coaching other members of your team.

25. How would you describe your leadership style?

26. What does trust and solidarity mean to you?

27. Do you feel performance should be rewarded over tenure?

28. What are your salary expectations?

29. Tell me about a time you helped drive the success of someone on your team.

30. Describe your brand of teamwork and collaboration.

9. How long have you been a Hermès customer?

10. Why Hermès?

11. Why should Hermès hire you over another candidate?

21. What would you say is currently your greatest developmental opportunity, and how can Hermès help you with this challenge?