7-11 is a popular multinational convenience store for food, drinks, and other commodities. It is, in fact, the world’s largest convenience store chain and therefore has vacancies for thousands of employees. If you have been eyeing a position in this entity, you are in the right place.
This article will look at some of the questions you should expect when interviewing for your position. Remember, you have to prepare early enough ahead of your interview to land the job of your dreams. Take a look at the following questions and use our answers to rehearse before your interview:
1. Why Are You Interested In Working With Us?
As your customer, I believe that you make life easier through your extended operation hours and high-quality products. I enjoy shopping at your store and would be proud to work here and serve your customers. I am also fond of the exceptional customer care you extend to shoppers, thanks to your well-trained and supportive attendants. It would be an honor to serve in this establishment and allow your customers to experience the service I have been receiving ever since I started shopping with you.
2. Mention Some Of The Qualities You Possess That Makes You A Good Choice For This Job?
I have several qualities that will help me succeed in this job. I have excellent customer care and handling skills to help me ensure that your customers are satisfied at the end of the day; great organization skills which will help me complete my work at the right time and proficiency in many software and tools used in retail setting. I am also a good negotiator and conflict resolver, which I believe will come in handy once I start working at this establishment.
3. What Was The Main Challenge That You Faced In Your Last Job? How Did You Manage It?
The retail industry can be challenging, especially for a beginner, like me. My last role was my first interaction with retail and customer care, and therefore, I faced several challenges. I was constantly on my feet and with many targets to meet, which did not augur well for me at first. However, I worked on my focus and organized myself well, making the transition from a desk job to retail and customer care easier and more manageable. I am glad about the experience I obtained in my last job.
4. Mention Your Experience
I don’t have vast experience in this field since this is my first attempt at a retail job. I am still in college, even though it is my study area. All in all, I have obtained lots of people-handling skills from my interactions in college. I am also proficient in several software and tools used in this role, such as Excel, which I believe will come in handy in this establishment. I will be willing to dedicate all my time and energy to obtaining more experience once I get this job.
5. What Hours Will You Be Willing To Work?
I am pretty flexible and won’t mind working any hours. I am also free at the moment, having cleared from my former job. I do not, therefore, have a problem taking up morning, afternoon or evening shifts. I will focus all my energy on adding value to this establishment regardless of the shift I am placed in.
6. What Do You Know About Us?
I have researched this establishment and discovered lots of great information about you. You are the largest convenience store globally, spread in more than 15 countries. You were one of the first stores to adopt a 24-hours operation and introduce coffee-to-go cups. You are headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and most of your stores are located within one mile of 25% of the U.S population. Your first store was referred to as Tote’m stored before the company was named 7-Eleven in 1946.
7. What Do You Think Is The Significance Of Our Slogan?
Your slogan ‘Oh thank heaven for 7-Eleven’ depicts this establishment’s contribution to society. This is one of the first stores to operate 24 hours a day. It offers loads of amazing and essential products to its customers, including breakfast and iconic hotdogs known as the Big Bite. 7-Eleven also offers the 7th drink for free for customers using its smartphone application.
8. Who Are Our Main Competitors, And Why Do You Think We Are Better Than Them?
The retail industry is quite competitive, given the number of participants. Some of your formidable competitors include Sheetz, Kwik Trip, Wawa, Circle-K, QuikTrip, Walmart, and Target. However, I believe that you are miles ahead of them, given your product catalog and 24-hour operation, which is greatly appreciated. You also have many amazing programs, such as the 7Rewards, which allows customers to enjoy a free 7th drink when they use an application.
9. What Would Your Former Manager Say About You?
We got along well with my former manager, given that I was one of the most hardworking and diligent employees in the establishment. I am confident that he would refer to me as a disciplined, highly motivated, hardworking, and meticulous employee. I also managed to win the best employee of the month several times, showing just how much my services were recognized and appreciated. I am willing to achieve the same in this establishment.
10. Can You Comment On Your Last Job’s Attendance?
I normally take my work seriously and can therefore confidently say that my last job’s attendance was perfect. I rarely missed work and would get there on time. I occasionally showed up during the weekends on request. I stayed close to the establishment and had no problem commuting to and from work. I should also add that I had the best attendance on the entire team. I will come to work every day and respect deadlines if I get this job.
11. Mention A Strategy And Mindset Needed For This Job
Given that the retail industry requires customer care skills and expertise, I have discovered that the best strategy anyone can adopt is tailoring all services and roles toward the satisfaction of customers. I normally go all out when helping customers and have consistently made an effort to ensure they leave the store smiling. As for the best mindset, one needs to be positive when interacting with customers since we serve people from different regions, backgrounds, ethnicities, and temperament levels. An accommodative attitude also goes a long way when dealing with customers.
12. What Is Your Greatest Achievement?
I have had a number of achievements in this job and in my personal life. However, the greatest was getting a chance to intern at Apple as an I.T. specialist. I learned a lot of things that have definitely shaped my career. I also shared rooms with some of the best engineers and software developers in the world, which changed my view on a lot of things. I am willing to apply everything I learned both at Apple and in my career to benefit this establishment.
13. Why Do You Believe That You Are The Most Suited For This Position?
I have extensive retail experience spanning ten years and in different positions that I believe will come in handy in this job. I have worked as a cashier, customer care assistant, and on graduating, an accountant. I believe that everything I have learned in these years will help me succeed in this job. I also have many skills and competencies that definitely make me suited for this position. I am a good conflict resolver, excellent customer care professional, and an amazing accountant. I am confident in my skills, abilities, and expertise.
14. How Do You Normally Deal With Angry Customers?
I have dealt with many angry customers in my career, which makes me confident that I can handle any type of customer. In such circumstances, I generally give the irate customer full attention, apologize for whatever made them angry, and start working on fixing the situation. However, I may also bring in the manager if it is beyond me. I believe in ensuring that customers stay happy and loyal to be business, which is generally achieved through excellent customer care skills.
15. How Do You Normally Stay Motivated In Your Job?
Motivation plays a huge role in productivity, and therefore, I normally ensure that my motivation levels are always high. Having worked in this field for quite some time, I have learned that the best way to stay motivated at any particular time is to focus on the end goal. We normally have targets that must be met at the end of the day or week that I generally use as anchors. I also look back at some of my achievements in this field whenever I feel demotivated. I am quite sure that I won’t have a problem with motivation.
16. Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?
I love and appreciate change. Even though I enjoyed my last job, I felt that I had outgrown my previous role and needed a new place that would expose me to new challenges, which I hope to find here once I get this job. I also wanted a place that would allow me to advance in my career. Therefore, I quit giving someone else a chance to learn through my former role and improve their career.
17. How Did You Know About This Position?
I have always wanted to work for this establishment and have been looking out for vacancies. I luckily came across one from the net and therefore decided to apply through your website. I am glad that I got shortlisted for the interview, and I’m currently hoping that I will get this job. At one point, a friend who worked here informed me of vacancies, but they were filled up by the time I applied. All in all, I believe that I have all it takes to thrive as a 7-Eleven worker.
18. Have You Ever Gone Above And Beyond For A Customer?
Yes. I have gone above and beyond for several customers, which gives me confidence in my customer handling skills. I once had a customer who wanted a detailed piece of information about a product that I did not possess. Seeing that it was crucial for her purchase, I called one of my friends who had a similar item and inquired. She got all the information she needed, made a purchase decision, and left the store all happy and smiley, meaning that both she and the store benefitted.
19. What Other Skills Do You Possess Outside This Job Description?
I have a number of additional skills that I am sure this establishment will find worthy. I can adequately solve conflicts given my vast experience with conflict resolution and an extra course I took in college. I have managed to help people work on the different work quarrels they have had, thus restoring order in the workplace. Even though I am going for a managerial position, I am also a qualified accountant, given my education and years of experience. I am confident that this entity will benefit from both skills.
20. Have You Ever Worked In A Convenience Store?
Yes. I have worked at Target and Walmart before and obtained lots of experience and skills that will come in handy if I get this job. I know how to handle customers and manage their expectations as well as work well under pressure, which is normally needed in such a setting. Some of the essential skills (that I possess) in a convenience store setting include the ability to work under pressure, quality customer handling skills, and proper communication skills. I am positive that my experience in these settings will help me succeed in this job.
21. How Will You Ensure That Customers Feel Welcome In The Store At Any Particular Time?
I understand the importance of making customers feel valued and welcome in the store, given my years of experience. I normally do that by listening to them, offering needed service, and going out of my way where necessary, which has consistently proved useful. I also welcome customers into the establishment with a warm smile and position myself where they can easily see me. I am glad that most customers have always seen my efforts and become loyal to the places I have worked in.
22. What Would You Do If A Customer Complained About You?
I believe that customer feedback is necessary, especially in the retail field, as it helps us grow, know where to improve on and what to keep on doing. I normally take compliments or corrections seriously since I need to better the services I offer customers. In such a case, I will listen and work on the areas the customer has complained about without taking things personally. I am generally fond of constructive criticism, which I am sure has played a great role in shaping my career and allowing me to be at my best.
23. What Is Your Favorite Work Environment?
I love working in places that value teamwork and would do anything to ensure that employees get along well. I also prefer working in areas that are receptive to change and love their employees, just like this establishment. I believe that I will have an excellent time dealing with your customers and going about my job, which I am honestly looking forward to. Lastly, I love working in spaces where I feel seen and heard, which this entity does to its employees.
24. What Would You Do If You Caught One Of Your Colleagues Stealing?
I do not condone any type of theft in the workplace, given the resultant effect. Also, someone has to take a cut when things go missing, which does not sit well with me. I believe that this store has a clear policy on handling store theft that I will rely on in this case. All in all, I will ensure that such cases are reported, and the guilty person does not walk free. I will also definitely alert the security guards, who are better placed to prevent the theft.
25. What Is The Main Challenge That You Foresee In This Workplace?
I have worked in several workplaces before and therefore understand what people go through in the retail setting. Having said that, I believe that the greatest challenge that awaits me in this role is increased scope of work, given that you serve one of the largest populations in the U.S. However, I am also glad since I have been looking for new challenges for quite some time, which will help me better my career. I am more than ready to put my best feet forward.
Conclusion
We have covered some of the questions you should expect in your upcoming 7-Eleven interview. Remember to be articulate and familiar with the store chain to increase further your chances of landing the job you are targeting.
