30 IKEA Interview Questions (with Answers)

1.

Personality fit is important to us at IKEA. How would you describe your personality?

The culture at IKEA is based on a 'spirit of togetherness, enthusiasm, and fun,' and we are looking for coworkers who bring that spirit to work with them every day. Talk to the interviewer about how your personality will strengthen this cooperative environment and what you add to a team.

Jordan's Answer

"First and foremost, I'm a major team-player; I do my best work when I feel like I'm a valuable member of a team instead of just a cog in a machine. My friends always describe me as extremely loyal; when I'm on someone's 'team', I become their loyal advocate and supporter. I'm also very friendly and personable, and I love to bring positivity into an environment that could use some sprucing up."

Jordan's Answer

"If I had to boil my personality down into one phrase, I would say 'lifelong learner.' I love research, reading, and I especially love getting to know new people. I think my love of learning translates really well into a retail environment because I would get to learn new things about the products here every day and also get to learn more about my coworkers and customers."

Anonymous Answer

"I'm outgoing and really enjoy working with people. I think having fun and a good sense of humor is very important. I think those words would describe me."

Rachelle's Answer

Try relating your best personality traits to how they will benefit your future employer.

"I would describe myself as willing to jump in and help, sociable, and good-humored. My friendly personality makes me approachable at work, helping my co-workers when they need a hand."

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2.

How do you like to be recognized for your accomplishments?

We all like recognition in some way for our accomplishments in the workplace. Share with the interviewer how you would want credit for your hard work. Through gifts? Financial perks? Public recognition? Kind words? Title promotions?

Jordan's Answer

"I am very much an over-achiever and find that the best way for me to be recognized for a job well done is through words of kindness and recognition. I am easily encouraged, and the best reward for me is to know that my hard work is noticed."

Jordan's Answer

"As a sales professional, I am driven by a challenge with a financial perk. Sales contests, for example, are a great way to motivate me."

3.

In a retail environment, staff turnover is often high. How would you handle it if your co-worker did not show up for their shift?

Being flexible in your schedule is valuable as a retail-based employee. How would you handle it if your co-worker did not show up for their shift and you were asked to cover? Assure the interviewer that you are a team player.

Jordan's Answer

"I am more than willing to cover a shift for a co-worker if I am able. I don't mind accepting overtime hours and do consider myself to be a team player."

Jordan's Answer

"If a co-worker failed to show up for their shift, I would pick it up if possible. I always strive to be a team player."

Anonymous Answer

"I've been asked to cover shifts before when someone didn't turn up. It happens. What is most important to me is that the customer is not let down. In my mind, the customer comes first so I will, where possible, be ready to roll up my sleeves."

Rachelle's Answer

Wonderful answer! You are showing the interviewer that you have the team-driven and customer-centric mindset that IKEA is all about.

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4.

At IKEA, 'We Love Challenges' because they push us to achieve more. What challenges or problems have you encountered and solved at work?

Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, liked to say that 'Most things still remain to be done' -- he was excited by the knowledge that new challenges were always waiting around the corner. At IKEA, we celebrate challenges as opportunities to come up with our next great idea. Talk to the interviewer about how you react to challenge, or describe a difficult problem you worked through on the job.

Jordan's Answer

"Creative problem-solving is one of my natural talents, so my brain feels really energized when I meet a challenge at work. When I was working at a smaller, family-owned retail shop a few years ago, the owners realized that they needed to put a system in place to perform a yearly inventory, but they didn't know where to start. It was a big challenge because we needed to figure out how to use our limited resources and workers to complete an inventory of the entire store before the shop opened for the day. I came up with a plan to split the store up into sections, like a grid, and assigned each of my coworkers a 'grid section' to work on. It meant everyone had to come in really early in the morning, but I tried to make it as fun as possible by bringing in coffee and breakfast from a local restaurant."

Jordan's Answer

"I totally agree with the philosophy that big challenges are opportunities for big ideas -- that's a really encouraging perspective, and it makes me excited to think about working for a company that values challenge and creative problem-solving. At my last job, my managers always seemed tense and frustrated when they encountered problems, so it would be refreshing to work at a company like IKEA that has such a positive outlook on challenge."

Anonymous Answer

"I love to be challenged. I love to solve problems. When I was working in the family retail business, I realized that we needed to put our business online or we would lose sales to competitors. I researched, found, and implemented an e-commerce solution. Soon we were selling 5% of our sales online!"

Rachelle's Answer

Try to lead with the result rather than burying it in the story. Even more specifics would be helpful here.

"In my previous role with a small family retail business, we realized the need to become more relevant online. I boosted our sales by 5% in 6 months by introducing an e-commerce solution. This solution allowed us to be competitive in the market while boosting our customer reach."

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5.

We need reliable people on our team at IKEA. How many days were you absent from work last year?

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IKEA Interview Questions

Personality fit is important to us at IKEA. How would you describe your personality?

IKEA Interview Questions

Personality fit is important to us at IKEA. How would you describe your personality?

How do you like to be recognized for your accomplishments?

In a retail environment, staff turnover is often high. How would you handle it if your co-worker did not show up for their shift?

At IKEA, 'We Love Challenges' because they push us to achieve more. What challenges or problems have you encountered and solved at work?

We need reliable people on our team at IKEA. How many days were you absent from work last year?

Do you have reliable transportation?

What is the most competitive work situation you have experienced? How did you handle it? What was the result?

How do you handle situations that could cause you to be late or miss work?

IKEA recently raised their average minimum hourly wage to $11.87 per hour, and they offer a competitive benefits package for workers over 20 hours per week. What are your salary expectations?

IKEA is intentional about being a great place to work. What stands out to you about what makes IKEA different from other retail environments?

This position requires you to wear a uniform to work. Have you worn a uniform in the workplace before? How do you feel about this?

This position requires a flexible schedule as we are open evenings, weekends, and most holidays. Are you able to commit to these hours?

Why is this job with IKEA right for you at this time in your career?

What type of work environment do you dislike working in?

What does your future with IKEA look like?

How can IKEA motivate you on the job?

At IKEA, we value diversity, inclusion, and equality. What makes IKEA stand out to you as a great place to work?

How do you handle a situation where your supervisor does not properly communicate information to you?

What type of manager brings out the best in you?

At IKEA we like to hire strong achievers. Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond.

For IKEA coworkers, retail experience is preferred but not essential. Do you have any retail or sales experience?

IKEA has a unique set of company values that define the way they do business at every level of their organization. Which of IKEA's values stand out to you?

What do you think about IKEA's commitment to Democratic Design?

Working in a retail environment, you will sometimes come across rude customers. How would you handle a customer who is aggressive towards you or a co-worker?

Tell me 3 qualities you possess that make you a strong fit for this position with IKEA.

At IKEA we firmly believe in grooming our employees into management roles as they show potential. Are you interested in potential leadership roles with us?

What is your experience as a shopper at IKEA?

In this role you may be required to handle customer transactions. On a scale of 1-10 how strong are your mathematical skills?

We have a strong employee honesty program in place at IKEA to prevent loss. What would you do if you discovered that a co-worker was stealing product or money?

IKEA's vision is 'To create a better everyday life for the many.' How do you plan to adopt this vision as your own as an IKEA coworker?