The Body Shop Interview - help!

jlynncsf

I have an interview on Tuesday for a Christmas part time job with a small Body Shop store :j I'm not too worried about the interview itself but the lady who called said I would have to do a floor demonstration I've no idea what that might entail. Can anyone help? I really need this job! Thanks.

borders_dude

Sweeping the floor and giving it a quick mop.

Only kidding!

greenspark

I don't know exactly what they mean by this term but I'd guess it means part of the interview will involve doing something in the shop, as opposed to the whole interview taking place in an office room. Possibly showing a customer a product or serving someone, something to demonstrate how you are with people, or arranging a small display. I wouldn't think it will be anything awful to deliberately make you more nervous like expecting you to know all about every product, or march up to people and force them to buy something, probably more to check you don't swear at people or stand around looking bored. Smile and act helpful and confident (even if you don't feel it!).

Always worth doing a little background reading on a company though, especially one like the Body Shop where there are particular ethical policies, this can give you an edge over other candidates.

That term she used was probably one of those 'company speak' things - people often forget that non-company people may not understand exactly what the term means. I don't think there'd be any harm asking if she could outline what the floor demonstration will include, but I'm sure they'll explain fully at the interview what you need to do and not just say 'okay, now do the floor demonstration'! Also, it's usually okay to ask for clarification if something isn't clear, or repeat back what you think they mean...something like 'okay, so I just scan each product, press 'Total' and then say the amount to the customer'.

Best of luck with it!

jlynncsf

thanks greenspark!

dogcat_2

Good Luck with the interview!

cali_

Hi jlynncsf, I was a christmas temp in 2004. It means they test you and see how you sell on the shop floor. If your bubbly and can get people to buy more then they need then your hired. It is part of the interview.

¬ They look at how you mix with customers and other staff. Look at your customer service skills and your personality.
¬ They look at if you can get people to buy more then they need. The trick is to ask the customer questions to see what they need, give them that and get them to buy more by recommending other things that can be used alongside their products. If you can get people to buy more then they need, you will be fine. :-)

It was good at first but by the end, i hated it because they always wanted you to get people to buy more. If your basket didnt have loads of products in it, you were in trouble.

cali_

Well i hope it goes well for u.

speedbird1973

And best not mention that they don't test on animals because they pay GSK to do it for them!

minerva_windsong

I did something similar when I applied to Lush - I think it will basically involve you being on the shop floor and speaking to customers about the products, asking them questions about their skin type, telling them about what ingredients are in the products and what they do and that sort of thing, in the hope that they'll buy something.

Don't be (too) pushy but don't be shy either, that's the only advice I'd give. Obviously it depends on the nature of the shop though - the Lush I applied to was fairly high in the sales league table and consequently the staff could be quite aggressive (I noticed this as a customer in there and I *hate* shop assistants who pounce on you as soon as you look at something, but maybe that's just me), but the smaller one in the next big town was one where the staff would by and large leave you to it.

cali_

minerva_windsong wrote: »

I *hate* shop assistants who pounce on you as soon as you look at something, but maybe that's just me.

The staff are trained to do that. Pounch.

U have to say hi, be extra nice and give them a basket because they want the customers to buy buy buy. And if you fail to get them to buy buy buy, the managers have a go at u. Its not only them, their managers also have a go, By the end i absolutely hated it and havent bothered to shop there again because i know what we were trained to do.

cali_

speedbird1973 wrote: »

And best not mention that they don't test on animals because they pay GSK to do it for them!

:eek: They test on animals?

It doesnt really surprise me. They dont recycle neither. They throw it all away even when the customers bring in things to recycle.