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I've been out of work for almost 5 months now, and this seems like the best opportunity to get a job related to something I'm actually interested in(seeing as Guitar Center likes to bait you into interviews then ignore your calls). I'm really nervous, and was hoping someone could give me some advice for the interview. I've never worked retail before(I used to bake at 4:30 in the morning, I don't have much experience dealing with customers.) and if anyone could impart some wisdom it would be much appreciated.
The manager asked me to look up what a GA and SGA are, I think it's pretty self-explanatory but if anyone is affiliated with Gamestop and wanted to give a detailed description, that would be great. Also, I was asked to look up a bunch of games that are coming out soon, if anyone knows of any that have kept under the radar, I would love to use some of those to impress them. Last, maybe leave some of your stories or experiences while working there or in retail in general, because that can be fun.
Thanks everyone.
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I don't know. Just show that you have an unbiased knowledge of the gaming community, including the politics of it. Show that you are reliable, and dress in khakis and a polo. Dealing with nerds might be easier than dealing with customers at say, a grocery store. I wouldn't worry too much about that.
My experience with an employee was awful. I asked how fallout 3 was selling, and he told me it was an awful game... Don't be like that guy.
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If you're actually interested in games I'm sure you'll hate working there. Some people might ask your opinion but you're mostly going to have to smile and nod while people buy the worst stuff you can think of.
So I guess my advice for the interview is to not come off as terribly opinionated.
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On July 13 2010 04:29 Dance.jhu wrote:
I don't know. Just show that you have an unbiased knowledge of the gaming community, including the politics of it. Show that you are reliable, and dress in khakis and a polo.
They world is full of gamers , not good workers. You can mention some games and stuff sure, but be deteremined, friendly, and show that you are going to be a great employee. Product Knowledge can always be gained with experience, he can teach anyone about the things in the store, you have to show you are going to the be "the guy".
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Get the message across that you enjoy doing mindless work and you have no opinions. Also show that you are levelheaded ofc and responsible. Thats retail.......
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Have fun selling game informers and asking me if id like to pre order. I dont.
..anyways good luck! I always have a hard time at interviews..
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motbob
United States12546 Posts
Being good at job interviews in general is much more important than needing retail-specific knowledge. Be confident and polite, don't bullshit more than you have to, and, over the course of your answers, show that you have an interesting personality. Specifically, don't give by-the-book answers for the entire interview.
You're trying to convince the manager that you'll be reliable and competent. That's where the confidence comes into play: you need to be convincing when you tell your interviewer that you'll come to work on time every day, or whatever. You want the manager to like you; that's why you need to show personality.
A good rule of thumb is to dress up for the interview as much as your future manager dresses up for work every day.
If you think of an interesting question to ask the manager about something that comes up during the interview, seize the opportunity and ask it.
How did you lose your last job?
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On July 13 2010 04:52 motbob wrote:
How did you lose your last job?
My boss had to choose between cutting everyone's hours or firing someone, and since I was the only one who hadn't worked there for 3 years, I got cut. I only worked 3-4 hour mornings anyway, but the pay was enough at the time.
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When it comes to retail, it's always customer services.
Helping and giving the customers what they need.
That's how i got my first job :D
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motbob
United States12546 Posts
On July 13 2010 04:56 moshmoshmosh wrote:My boss had to choose between cutting everyone's hours or firing someone, and since I was the only one who hadn't worked there for 3 years, I got cut. I only worked 3-4 hour mornings anyway, but the pay was enough at the time.
Well, I think your interviewer is certainly going to ask about that. For at least that question, and preferably more potential questions, do a mock interview with a friend. Have him critique your answer.
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If I was a manager of a video game franchise, I would hire the people that are able to sell overstocked games. So get good at making crappy games sound legendary. I would expect that in the interview, they would ask you to help a mock customer. I've had that a lot in the interviews that I've been in.
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On July 13 2010 05:02 motbob wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 04:56 moshmoshmosh wrote:On July 13 2010 04:52 motbob wrote:
How did you lose your last job? My boss had to choose between cutting everyone's hours or firing someone, and since I was the only one who hadn't worked there for 3 years, I got cut. I only worked 3-4 hour mornings anyway, but the pay was enough at the time. Well, I think your interviewer is certainly going to ask about that. For at least that question, and preferably more potential questions, do a mock interview with a friend. Have him critique your answer.
I've already talked to the manager about that ordeal, she seemed pretty sympathetic. I'm mostly just trying to focus on the actual interview process, my last job was also my first, and the interview was more of a conversation about food. I can only assume a corporate place is completely different.
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have fun asking people if they want to preorder madden 2012 or the new CoD for the rest of your life 
i know you sound like you really need a job so im not saying dont go for it, but isnt working at gamestop really shitty? Ive heard a lot of horror stories about horrible pay and that youre supposed to meet a quota for new preorders per week or something lol. plus i hate going into gamestops -_-
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yo OP
Why are you applying to work here?
What has been your greatest accomplishment?
What would you do if your replacement doesn't show up?
What is customer service?
Why do customers shop at this store?
A customer complains that the game they got is terrible, what would you do?
A co-worker is rude to customers, what would you do?
The credit card machine is broken. What do you say to the customers?
A customer wants to pay for $15 worth of merchandise in quarters, do you accept it?
If hired, how long do you plan on working here?
Who was your best boss? Why?
On July 13 2010 05:53 Ideas wrote:have fun asking people if they want to preorder madden 2012 or the new CoD for the rest of your life i know you sound like you really need a job so im not saying dont go for it, but isnt working at gamestop really shitty? Ive heard a lot of horror stories about horrible pay and that youre supposed to meet a quota for new preorders per week or something lol. plus i hate going into gamestops -_-
That has little to do with gamestop and everything to do with retail. I think people who work their are disillusioned that all the years they've put into game are going to get them a promotion or something.
The store exists to SELL MERCHANDISE. Do you want fries with that? How about a blueberry scone? Do you collect our stores bonus points? How about a large size instead? If you get a second one, you'll get 10% off. Would you like pre order madden 2220 today? How about a quick questionnaire for a chance to win 10 free products?
everyone has to do it. It's not the worst thing, it's just spirit crushing if you let it get you down. If you leave work at work, and dont think about it until you go back, it's fine.
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On July 13 2010 05:55 ella_guru wrote:
A customer wants to pay for $15 worth of merchandise in quarters, do you accept it?
Is this a trick question? Everyone in their right minds would say yes.
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On July 13 2010 06:07 illu wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 05:55 ella_guru wrote:
A customer wants to pay for $15 worth of merchandise in quarters, do you accept it?
Is this a trick question? Everyone in their right minds would say yes.
It's not a universal thing, I've been rejected from some stores for trying to pay in coins. Of course I guess it's all relative to the amount.
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On July 13 2010 06:09 moshmoshmosh wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 06:07 illu wrote:On July 13 2010 05:55 ella_guru wrote:
A customer wants to pay for $15 worth of merchandise in quarters, do you accept it?
Is this a trick question? Everyone in their right minds would say yes. It's not a universal thing, I've been rejected from some stores for trying to pay in coins. Of course I guess it's all relative to the amount.
In practice, of course you may get rejected by a worker not being supervised by the boss. But it's hard to say no in an interview.
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I remember of a video of some dude paying a towing company all pennies. At first they didn't want to accept it but he called the cops and the cops made them accept the pennies lol.
Good luck getting the job OP, I've never had experience because the places I apply for never call me  Luckily I kinda found a job that doesn't even require an interview haha (campus bus driving  )
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On July 13 2010 06:09 moshmoshmosh wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 06:07 illu wrote:On July 13 2010 05:55 ella_guru wrote:
A customer wants to pay for $15 worth of merchandise in quarters, do you accept it?
Is this a trick question? Everyone in their right minds would say yes. It's not a universal thing, I've been rejected from some stores for trying to pay in coins. Of course I guess it's all relative to the amount.
You must answer the questions as payment for our advice!
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On July 13 2010 06:40 ella_guru wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 06:09 moshmoshmosh wrote:On July 13 2010 06:07 illu wrote:On July 13 2010 05:55 ella_guru wrote:
A customer wants to pay for $15 worth of merchandise in quarters, do you accept it?
Is this a trick question? Everyone in their right minds would say yes. It's not a universal thing, I've been rejected from some stores for trying to pay in coins. Of course I guess it's all relative to the amount. You must answer the questions as payment for our advice!
I was trying to discretely avoid answering your slew of questions, but if you insist.
Why are you applying to work here?
For a career in the store that has single-handedly emptied my wallet of its contents for the better part of my childhood. I've thought of working here for a few years, and I'm grateful for the opportunity.(In reality, my response will go along the lines of "fuck bitches, get money.")
What has been your greatest accomplishment?
I have no single great accomplishment, if I had to name one it would be getting my life back on track after a number of hardships in my childhood.
What would you do if your replacement doesn't show up?
I would offer to remain working, and(were it necessary) either wait for them to show up or finish out their shift for them. I was brought up understanding that sometimes things don't work out the way they're scheduled to.
What is customer service?
Servicing customers.(i have to wrap this up)
Why do customers shop at this store?
friendly atmosphere, easily accessible(mall-wise), convenience.
A customer complains that the game they got is terrible, what would you do?
depends on company return policy of course, but if they wanted to return the game I would do as much as I could to get them their money back,(ill probably not tell management about that), otherwise i would offer the trade-in value of the purchase
A co-worker is rude to customers, what would you do?
hint to them to stop, if that didnt work id probably take over for them
The credit card machine is broken. What do you say to the customers?
good question. tell them about the possible atms around the mall, the wawa down the road, try to process their card through a different machine
A customer wants to pay for $15 worth of merchandise in quarters, do you accept it?
i would find it comical and, policy permitting, i would process their god damn quaters(tell them to gtfo)
If hired, how long do you plan on working here?
years and years and years
Who was your best boss? Why?
only had one, he was a pretty awful person but i loved him like a father. his work ethic impressed me more than anything else. also had a thick russian accent, so i couldnt understand when he asked for more star pastries(sounded like shit patties everytime he said it.)
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I have an idea!
When asked about the 15 dollars in quarters, I will tell the interviewer that instead of counting the quarters, I can spend that time to sell three extra copies of the game to three other customers! Consequently I should refuse the ridiculous payment of 15 dollars in quarters.
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Thread is 5/5 because of the recent addition of "shit patties" to my vocabulary.
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iNcontroL
USA29055 Posts
GameStop is retail 1st gaming 2nd.
Lead with "I love retail, I like the excitement of competing to get add-ons or earn return customers through reservations or subscriptions to game informer = hired
Then talk about how you are ACTUALLY a gamer and you feel that better equips you for being able to connect and relate to the customer.
Seriously, if you follow this you will 100% be hired.
I work at gamestsop btw
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United States12238 Posts
On July 13 2010 07:54 {88}iNcontroL wrote:
GameStop is retail 1st gaming 2nd.
Lead with "I love retail, I like the excitement of competing to get add-ons or earn return customers through reservations or subscriptions to game informer = hired
Then talk about how you are ACTUALLY a gamer and you feel that better equips you for being able to connect and relate to the customer.
Seriously, if you follow this you will 100% be hired.
I work at gamestsop btw
God that statement is so dripping with schmooze it's disgusting and I knew right after I read it that you already work there haha.
Gamestop is an interesting place. As a gamer, I already know what I want when I go in and I ask if they have a specific thing, they tell me yes or no, I either buy or I don't. I'm much more interested in speaking with someone who knows a good game when they see one, and more importantly who can explain to me why a game is good. I mean, if I worked there I could interact with a gaming-savvy customer for quite a long time getting into design philosophy and production schedules and future plans for a game, so that level of depth is all that I'm interested in hearing from a clerk.
However, there are many customers who walk in who buy on impulse, who can be talked into preorders and subscriptions, and clerks interacting with those customers need to be able to maximize their sales. Someone who goes into a store not knowing exactly what they want is open to suggestion.
I think there are very few employees who are capable of crossing between both worlds, and I think Inc that you're probably one of those people. I just think it's a little demeaning that you have to ultimately nudge unwitting customers into buying more than they need, but then again, that's retail =)
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On July 13 2010 05:05 Chairman Ray wrote:
If I was a manager of a video game franchise, I would hire the people that are able to sell overstocked games. So get good at making crappy games sound legendary. I would expect that in the interview, they would ask you to help a mock customer. I've had that a lot in the interviews that I've been in.
I hope I'm not being naive here, but if I was the manager of a game store I wouldn't want my employees spouting disingenuous bullshit.
Sure, he buys big road truckers once, but I guarantee he's never coming back to your store.
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On July 13 2010 12:17 Subversion wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 05:05 Chairman Ray wrote:
If I was a manager of a video game franchise, I would hire the people that are able to sell overstocked games. So get good at making crappy games sound legendary. I would expect that in the interview, they would ask you to help a mock customer. I've had that a lot in the interviews that I've been in. I hope I'm not being naive here, but if I was the manager of a game store I wouldn't want my employees spouting disingenuous bullshit.
Aaaaaaaaand your business tanks.
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On July 13 2010 12:17 Subversion wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 05:05 Chairman Ray wrote:
If I was a manager of a video game franchise, I would hire the people that are able to sell overstocked games. So get good at making crappy games sound legendary. I would expect that in the interview, they would ask you to help a mock customer. I've had that a lot in the interviews that I've been in. I hope I'm not being naive here, but if I was the manager of a game store I wouldn't want my employees spouting disingenuous bullshit. Sure, he buys big road truckers once, but I guarantee he's never coming back to your store.
What I've learned today, among other things, is that retail is not as much about the customer service as it is about getting an initial sale, especially when it comes to a place that, frankly, doesn't need the continued support of any one customer. Customer service seems to come to a close second, but the ability to litter a receipt with subscriptions and strategy guides is what's important. Morally, I object to this, but morals will not pay for food/gas/insurance.
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Jokes aside, it might pay to play the "I know what Battletoads is" card.
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EPT
