Are you hoping to start a new career at Big Lots? With over 1,400 stores across the US, this trusted retail chain is frequently hiring for a variety of positions. Whether you‘re seeking an entry-level role or have years of experience in the retail industry, preparing for your Big Lots interview is key to setting yourself apart as a top candidate.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll walk you through the most common Big Lots interview questions and how to answer them with confidence. You‘ll learn what hiring managers are really looking for, how to highlight your most relevant skills and experience, and insider tips to avoid common mistakes. Let‘s dive in and get you ready to land that job offer!
Working at Big Lots: Company Overview
Founded in 1967, Big Lots is one of the largest discount retailers in the US. They offer an ever-changing assortment of products across categories like furniture, home decor, kitchen essentials, pet supplies, toys, and seasonal items at significantly reduced prices. With a focus on delivering exceptional value to customers, Big Lots aims to be a one-stop destination for savvy shoppers looking for great deals.
As an employer, Big Lots prides itself on a fun, fast-paced, and team-oriented work environment. They offer competitive pay, generous employee discounts, and opportunities for growth and advancement. Whether you‘re interested in part-time or full-time work, Big Lots has a variety of positions available in their retail stores, distribution centers, and corporate offices.
Some of the most common retail roles include:
- Sales Associate/ Stocker
- Customer Service Representative
- Cash Office Associate
- Assistant Manager
- Store Manager
Across all positions, Big Lots looks for friendly, hardworking individuals with a positive attitude and strong work ethic. Retail experience is certainly a plus but not always required, especially for entry-level roles. Demonstrating your enthusiasm for the company and commitment to providing excellent customer service can go a long way in the interview process.
Acing Your Big Lots Interview: General Tips
Before we jump into specific questions, let‘s cover some essential basics for making a great impression in your interview:
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Dress professionally. While Big Lots has a relatively casual environment, it‘s important to look neat, clean, and put-together for your interview. Business casual attire like slacks/skirt and a collared shirt is a safe bet.
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Arrive 10-15 minutes early. Giving yourself a buffer helps you stay calm and collected, and ensures you‘re not late if you hit unexpected traffic. When you arrive, politely introduce yourself to the staff and let them know you‘re there for an interview.
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Bring copies of your resume and references. While not always required, having these materials on hand shows you‘re prepared and organized. Make sure your resume is tailored to highlight your most relevant experience for the role.
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Research the company. Take some time to browse the Big Lots website and familiarize yourself with their brand, mission statement, and product categories. This background knowledge will help you speak more knowledgeably about why you‘re interested in working there.
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Prepare a few questions of your own. At the end of most interviews, you‘ll have a chance to ask questions about the role and the company. Having a few thoughtful queries ready shows you‘re engaged and seriously considering the opportunity. Some ideas:
- What does a typical day/shift look like in this role?
- What training is provided for new hires?
- What characteristics define your most successful employees?
- What opportunities are there for growth and advancement?
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Practice active listening. In the heat of the moment, it‘s easy to get caught up thinking about what you‘re going to say next. Make a conscious effort to listen carefully to each question, take a beat to formulate your response, then answer concisely. It‘s okay to ask for clarification if needed.
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Use positive body language. Nonverbal cues can convey just as much as your words. Make eye contact, sit up straight, and smile genuinely. Avoid crossing your arms or fidgeting excessively, which can make you appear closed-off or nervous.
With those general guidelines in mind, you‘re well on your way to making a positive first impression. Now let‘s look at how to handle some of the most common Big Lots interview questions.
Frequently Asked Big Lots Interview Questions
Big Lots interview questions typically fall into four main categories:
- Questions about you and your background
- Questions about customer service
- Situational and problem-solving questions
- Questions about your availability and scheduling
We‘ll break down a few examples of each type and walk through what you need to know to formulate a strong response.
Questions About You
These open-ended questions are designed to help the interviewer get to know you better and understand your interest in the role. Some common examples:
- "Tell me a little about yourself."
- "Why do you want to work at Big Lots?"
- "What interests you about this position?"
- "Why should we hire you?"
Navigating these broad questions can feel a bit like a trap – what part of your background should you focus on? How much personal info is too much? The key is to keep your responses concise and relevant to the job at hand.
Let‘s say you‘re interviewing for a Sales Associate role and the hiring manager asks, "Tell me about yourself." Here‘s one way you might respond:
"Absolutely! I‘m originally from Columbus, Ohio and I‘ve been working in retail for the past 4 years. I started as a part-time Cashier at a local grocery store during high school, then worked my way up to a Sales Floor Associate position. I really enjoyed interacting with customers and helping them find the products they needed.
More recently, I spent a year as a stock lead at a big box retailer, where I gained experience with merchandising, inventory management, and team leadership. I‘m excited to bring that background to Big Lots and continue growing my career in retail."
See how this response offers a snapshot of relevant work experience while showcasing a few of the candidate‘s strengths? You don‘t need to recite your entire life story – just hit the highlights as they relate to the role you‘re discussing.
When answering "Why Big Lots?" or "Why this position?", aim to demonstrate your knowledge of the company and enthusiasm for the specific opportunity. Maybe you‘re a frequent Big Lots shopper and have always been impressed by the helpful customer service. Perhaps you‘re drawn to the fast pace and team atmosphere of the store. Or you might be excited to take on more responsibility as an Assistant Manager after working your way up in a previous retail job.
Whatever your personal reasons may be, make it clear that you‘ve put thought into this specific position and are confident it‘s a good fit for your skills and goals. Avoid generic statements like "I just need a job" or "I heard you were hiring." Showing a genuine interest in Big Lots and the role will make you stand out as a more engaged, thoughtful candidate.
Questions About Customer Service
As a discount retailer, Big Lots puts a major emphasis on delivering excellent customer service to keep shoppers coming back. Expect to field questions like:
- "What does good customer service mean to you?"
- "How would you handle an upset customer?"
- "Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer."
Customer service questions are an opportunity to showcase your people skills and share relevant stories from your work history. Even if you don‘t have direct retail experience, you likely have other examples of helping clients, working on a team, or solving problems in a professional setting.
Let‘s say the interviewer asks, "What does good customer service mean to you?" One way to approach this question is to share your personal philosophy and give a specific example of how you‘ve put it into action.
"I believe excellent customer service is all about making the customer feel valued and efficiently solving their problems. It starts with a friendly greeting and a genuine desire to help. Then, it‘s important to listen carefully to the customer‘s needs, ask clarifying questions if needed, and work quickly to find a solution.
For example, in my previous role as a Customer Service Representative, a shopper came in looking for a specific product we no longer carried. Rather than just saying "We don‘t have that," I asked a few follow-up questions to better understand what she was looking for. Based on her responses, I was able to recommend a few alternative products we did have in stock. She ended up finding an item she loved and thanking me for taking the time to assist her. I always aim to take those extra steps to turn a potentially negative experience into a positive one."
In this response, the candidate does a great job demonstrating their customer-centric mindset and problem-solving approach. They define good customer service in their own words, then follow up with a relevant anecdote from their experience. The story has a clear challenge (out-of-stock item), action taken by the candidate (engaging with the customer to find an alternative), and positive result (satisfied customer).
When you share an example in your own interview, be sure to choose a story that puts you in a positive light and relates to the requirements of the job you‘re discussing. Did you handle a tricky return with poise and empathy? Did you go out of your way to special order a product for a customer? Did you take initiative to reorganize a messy store display? Pick stories that showcase the customer service skills most relevant to the role at Big Lots.
Situational and Problem-Solving Questions
In addition to asking about your direct experience, the Big Lots hiring manager will likely pose a few hypothetical scenarios to see how you think on your feet. These questions might sound like:
- "How would you handle a situation where a customer is trying to use an expired coupon?"
- "What would you do if you noticed a coworker stealing merchandise?"
- "Imagine you‘re working the cash register and your drawer comes up $20 short. What steps would you take?"
Situational interview questions can feel stressful in the moment, but the key is to walk through your thought process out loud. The interviewer wants to understand how you approach problems and make decisions.
Let‘s walk through the expired coupon scenario as an example:
"In that situation, the first thing I would do is apologize to the customer and explain that unfortunately, we‘re not able to accept expired coupons. I know it can be really disappointing to get to the register and find out your coupon is no longer valid.
If the customer seemed upset, I would do my best to empathize with their frustration while still politely holding firm to the policy. I might say something like, "I completely understand being frustrated, especially if you were really counting on that coupon. Unfortunately, the expiration dates come from the manufacturer, so we‘re not able to make exceptions. I‘d be happy to help you look for any current deals or promotions that could help you save on your purchase though!"
At that point, I‘d try to guide the conversation in a more positive direction and see if I could find another way to help the customer feel like they‘re getting a good value. If I wasn‘t able to find a suitable solution or the customer was still very upset, I would calmly offer to get a manager to assist further."
Here, the candidate demonstrates interpersonal skills like empathy and positive language while still enforcing necessary boundaries around store policies. They walk through each step, from the initial customer interaction to problem-solving to potential escalation.
In your own responses, aim to strike a balance between company policy and customer satisfaction. Show that you can be both warm and firm when needed. If you‘re not sure how to handle a given situation, explain how you would find the answer or seek help from a manager or coworker. Avoid responses that are overly confrontational ("I‘d tell them too bad, rules are rules!") or dismissive of company policy ("I‘d just let them use it this one time.") Instead, aim for an approach that is fair, professional, and solution-oriented.
Questions About Your Availability
Finally, expect a few questions about your work availability, such as:
- "Do you have reliable transportation to get to work?"
- "What days/hours are you available to work?"
- "Are you willing to work evenings, weekends, or holidays as needed?"
- "When would you be available to start?"
Availability questions are relatively straightforward – the hiring manager needs to make sure your schedule aligns with their staffing needs. Answer honestly about the hours and days you‘re able to work. If you‘re not sure about an aspect of the schedule, don‘t be afraid to ask for clarification.
For example, if you‘re a student applying for a part-time role, you might say:
"I‘m available to work after school on weekdays, typically any hours between 4pm and 10pm. My schedule is pretty flexible on weekends – I can work anytime between 8am and 10pm on Saturdays and Sundays. I do have a couple of upcoming school holidays where I‘ll be out of town visiting family, but I can get you those exact dates as soon as I have my flight details nailed down. Do you know yet what the typical schedule might look like for this role?"
Being upfront about your availability from the start helps the manager determine if you‘re a good fit for the team. If there are certain aspects of the role‘s hours that you‘re not sure about, don‘t hesitate to ask follow-up questions. The more both parties understand each other‘s needs and expectations, the better your chances of moving forward as a strong candidate.
Putting It All Together
Interviewing can certainly be nerve wracking, but just remember: you‘ve already put in the hard work to land the interview. You have the skills and experience needed for the role. With the right preparation, you‘re well-equipped to confidently navigate your Big Lots interview and stand out as a top candidate.
Before your interview, spend a little time practicing your responses to these common questions. Write out a few stories you can draw from to illustrate your customer service skills. Make a list of the key points you want to convey about your background and what makes you a great fit for the role. Research the company and the specific job duties so you can speak knowledgeably about the opportunity.
Take a few deep breaths before walking into the room or picking up the phone. Make an effort to speak slowly and smile. Remember, your interviewer genuinely wants to learn more about you – this is your chance to show them what a great addition you‘d be to the Big Lots team.
Keep your head up, put your best foot forward, and walk out knowing you made a strong case for yourself as a candidate. Then, be sure to send a thank you note within 24 hours to reiterate your interest. With a bit of preparation and a positive attitude, you‘ll be one step closer to starting an exciting new chapter in your retail career at Big Lots.
