What do you like least about working in retail?
"I think that the part about retail that I would enjoy the least is dealing with a customer dispute. I know that with some training, I will be great with this kind of the task. However, right now, the thought is a bit intimidating because I am so new to my career. I am confident in my ability to pick this up quickly, though."
"What I like least about being a manager in retail is the high turnover of staff. Not necessarily because people are quitting but because they leave to return to University or retail just isn't in their long-term career plans. To combat this a bit, this year, I have started screening my candidates better and choosing people that I know will stay for at least 1-2 years. My new interviewing methodology has been working quite well, and I have increased our employee retention rate by 35% this year."
The interviewer would like to know the areas of retail employment that do not interest you so much. When giving your reply, avoid complaining about parts of the job; instead, discuss what you do to make the best of an unpleasant situation. You also do not want to seem nit-picky or like a complainer who plays the 'woe is me' card. Choose an example that is relatable yet not too serious that it becomes a deal-breaker for hiring you.
"In retail, as you know, a lot of personalities come through the store in a day. I do not particularly enjoy rude customers who speak down to me because I am a sales rep. I genuinely want to help my customers! When I do have a rude customer, I continue being my nice and helpful self. They usually come around."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Dealing with a customer dispute and an angry customer. But I am sure I will
be trained to handle situations like this and a policy to follow.
I also have previous experiences to use.
Rachelle's Feedback
These are the 'not-so-wonderful' aspects of retail, for sure. To flip your response into a positive, it would be great to add some detail regarding how you cope or best manage these situations.
