Are you a pet-lover looking for a pet or animal-related job? Petco might be the place for you. This American pet retailer deals in a range of pet products, food, services, and several small live animals. It started as a veterinary supply company in 1965 and went public in 1984.
We have included a number of questions in this article to help you find the job you desire at Petco. Note that these are well-researched questions obtained from people who have attended Petco’s interviews. We hope they will help you prepare for yours if you make the shortlist. Let’s get started!
1. Why Do You Want To Work For Us?
I am a pet lover looking for a pet or animal-related job, which Petco has. I have worked in several pet stores before and therefore understand different pet products that I will gladly suggest to customers. I am confident that my skills and experience will be better used here as I also learn more about this field.
2. What Do You Know About Us?
I know that Petco started as a mail-order veterinary supply company in 1965 before growing into a renowned pet and food supply chain. You have more than 1500 stores in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States that sell pet food, fish, and small animals. A number of your stores also offer additional services such as pet vaccinations, dog grooming, veterinary care, and obedience training. Some of your products include the PetCoach app, Vital Care, and Pet insurance quotes.com.
3. Do You Own Any Pets?
Yes. I own 3 pets. I have two Japanese Spitz and a Chihuahua. I grew up in a family of pet lovers, which must have rubbed off on me. I am trying to adopt two cats, which I believe will be an excellent addition to my pet collection. I am confident that my experience caring for and living with pets will come in handy in this job.
4. Which Animals Are You Not Comfortable Working Around?
In the spirit of honesty, I have a phobia for amphibians and some reptiles, which started at a young age and I haven’t been able to overcome. Given my phobia of geckos and some lizards, I may not be the best fit for your reptile section. However, I’d gladly serve in all the other sections, that is, the pet products and services sections. I hope that it won’t affect my chances.
5. Do You Have Any Pet Training?
Yes. Growing up in a family of dog lovers and keeping my own when I came of age meant that I had to learn and be perfect at dog grooming. I know how to attend to dogs and ensure that all their styling and care needs are met. I am also a first learner looking forward to any pet-related training you may have to offer. I love caring for pets, and anything that furthers that is welcome.
6. Tell Us About Your Experience
This is my seventh year working in the retail industry. I have been a sales associate in several chain stores, helping customers with their purchases and, sometimes, working as part of the customer support team. I also have vast experience in pet care, specifically dog grooming, which I am ready to put to good use if I get this chance. Lastly, having worked in several retail stores, I am experienced in dealing with a range of customers, from the polite to the most aggressive ones. I am confident that all the experience I have obtained over the years will help me create a positive impact in this job.
7. You Have Mentioned That You Have Vast Experience Dealing With Different Types Of Customers. Can You Please Tell Us How You Would Deal With An Angry One?
I have encountered several angry customers in my career, especially during my days in retail stores. I discovered that the best way to deal with them is to avoid escalating the situation but rather work on reaching a favorable solution. This means patiently listening to their complaints without unnecessarily disrupting them. Giving such customers a chance to vent their anger or frustrations is important. It also means being polite, behaving with the utmost respect, and staying calm. I have never had to call my supervisor when dealing with an angry customer because of the hacks I’ve just mentioned.
8. In Your Opinion, What Is The Best Way To Cope With Insults?
I always expect and prepare for every type of customer interaction whenever I report to work, which has significantly helped me to serve customers better. As a company representative, it’s important not to take any insult personally to the point of getting angry or hurling back insults. Instead, I politely but firmly request the customer to cease hurling insults. If they don’t, I usually stop the conversation and inform my supervisor, who will know what to do. The establishment’s security officials can also help in the absence of the supervisor.
9. How Will You Stay Motivated In This Job?
I intend to draw my motivation from my love for pets. As I mentioned, I love caring for pets and have quite a handful at my place. Since this is a pet store, I will meet pet lovers and owners, who I’m positive will make my time here worth it. I also normally create goals at the beginning of the week, which I strive to achieve. I won’t, therefore, have a problem with staying motivated.
10. What Is The Biggest Challenge That You Foresee In This Job?
Every job has challenges, which can be easily conquered with the right preparation and execution. My challenge, however, is quite personal owing to my phobia of reptiles. I may have a hard time working in the small animals section, which can, fortunately, be solved by being assigned to the products or services sections, where I am sure I will thrive. I am confident that we will find a way around it.
11. How Do You Normally Deal With Workplace Stress?
After years of working in retail stores and dealing with thousands of customers and orders, I have discovered many ways to manage workplace stress. I normally try to avoid being overwhelmed by planning my day early in the morning. This means understanding everything that needs to be done throughout the day to have control of how things unfold. However, when the pressure becomes too much, I usually take some time to recharge and breathe in and out before going back to whatever I was doing before.
12. Your Resume Says You Have Worked As A Customer Service Professional. Have You Ever Had To Deal With Threats?
Yes, I once encountered a customer who threatened me physically over the phone because of a delay in their order. I decided not to take the threat personally, given that I have little or no control over what a customer does. I still listened patiently after the threat and tried to solve the problem to their satisfaction. However, I reported the threat to the right person, and the customer was blacklisted.
13. Dealing With Customers Can Be Rough, Especially The Difficult Ones. How Do You Normally Manage Your Emotions?
As a sales representative and customer service professional, it’s important that my emotions remain in check all the time. Even though I may slip and get worked up, I normally ensure that it doesn’t stay that way for long since other customers expect the best from me. To do that, I normally take deep breaths to calm myself or, if possible, vent my anger by talking to a few of my colleagues. I also understand that it’s important not to dwell on the issue but to move on.
14. How Has Your Previous Job Shaped You For This Role?
As a customer care professional for a busy departmental store, I learned how to work under pressure, given the number of calls, inquiries, and complaints I had to deal with. I had to learn how to prioritize work and not let my personal life affect my performance at work. My last job also exposed me to different customers, including the difficult and insulting ones, meaning that I am well-prepared and able to handle every customer that comes my way.
15. You Seem To Have Learnt A Lot Of Things From Your Last Job. Why Did You Leave?
It is true that I learned several things from my last job, an opportunity I will always be grateful for. However, I felt the need to give someone else the opportunity to learn since I had covered everything I could. I also wanted a new opportunity to further my learning and experience career growth, which I am confident I will have here. I am confident that a new work environment will positively impact my creativity and performance.
16. What Would You Do If A Customer Wants A Full-Grown Fish But Does Not Have The Right-Sized Tank?
Even though my work is to help the store make enough sales, I believe that the small animals and fish this establishment sells deserve to be cared for. I will politely tell the customer that even though I’d love to give them the fish, their tank is too small to support its life, and then suggest the right specifications depending on the size of the fish. It’s always imperative to stay polite, regardless of the situation.
17. What Would You Do If You Were Running Late Because Of Traffic?
Even though I normally strive to get to work on time, I understand that it may not be possible due to different unavoidable circumstances. In such a scenario, I would inform the shift supervisor that I may be late for a few minutes because of traffic or ask a coworker to cover for me until I get to the workplace. I always maintain excellent relations with my workmates; therefore, having someone to cover for me for the first few minutes won’t be a problem. However, I don’t intend on running late (on a lighter note)
18. What Would You Tell Someone Looking For Advice To Groom Their Dog?
I have a few tips that I normally share with anyone who wants to groom their pets in the comfort of their homes. I would tell dog owners to brush their pets’ coats regularly to prevent matting and keep them glossy. It also allows them to do away with loose hair, dirt, and dander, which stand in the way of a healthy coat. Grooming also requires that they trim the dog’s hair and nails regularly while exercising high levels of caution. Additionally, I’d tell them to check their pets’ skin and ears during grooming for parasites or infections. I usually practice these tips while grooming my dogs; therefore, I am positive that they work.
19. What Would You Do If A Customer Wants A Product That Is Out Of Stock?
I would tell the customer that we don’t have the product at the moment and apologize for the inconvenience. If unsure, I won’t give an exact date but ask that they check with us soon. If it’s a bulk order, I’d write down the customer’s contacts and inform them once the products have been stocked.
20. Where Do You See Yourself In The Next Five Years?
After working in different positions for the last eight years, I hope to take a shot at management in the next five years. Even though I am not entirely focused on it at the moment, I am ready to put in the work that will guarantee success if I ever get the chance. I am, however, confident that I will be in a better place in terms of skills and experience. Lastly, given my love for pets, I intend to work with you for a longer duration; therefore, the next five years will probably find me here.
21. What Is Your Greatest Strength?
My greatest strength is my creativity. I can come up with the most creative solutions regardless of the situation, a trait that has always helped me find solutions to several problems. Besides my creativity, I also know how to deal with different types of people, given my well-developed people skills. Therefore, I believe I will thrive here if given a chance owing to the two traits.
22. What Would You Do If You Encountered A Vulgar Customer?
I understand that some customers resort to vulgarity when registering their displeasure or reporting an issue. Without being rude, I’d request the customer to stop using vulgar words immediately so that I can help them better. However, if they don’t, I will terminate the discussion before referring them to the supervisor or someone who can handle them better. Depending on how they act on top of their vulgarity, I may ask security to intervene.
23. How Do You Tell When It Is The Right Time To Escalate A Problem To The Supervisor, Especially When Dealing With Difficult Customers?
I normally try as much as possible to avoid getting carried away when dealing with difficult customers. However, I also understand that it may sometimes be necessary owing to different circumstances. I normally get my supervisor involved when I feel I have crossed a set limit when handling such customers; when the supervisor or another person can better handle the issue, or when the difficult customer asks to talk to a senior person. I believe it takes a team to uphold excellent customer service standards; therefore, any input that can help the customer is welcome.
24. How Do You Define Excellent Customer Service?
The simplest definition of excellent customer service I can think of is giving the customer a reason to come back to the store. This usually involves several actions depending on one’s role in the store, such as warmly welcoming the customer and ensuring they get all the help they need to make a successful purchase. In short, excellent customer service entails going above and beyond to satisfy customers.
25. How Do You Handle Indecisive Customers?
Customers being unable to decide between different products is common in retail. I have discovered that the best way to deal with such customers is to find out their greatest concern when it comes to the product they want. This may vary from one customer to the next. Whereas some may be concerned about price, others want quality and select features. After determining what they need, it becomes easier to recommend the best products and help them decide. Another trick is introducing some ‘urgency’ to push them to decide.
Conclusion
Above are some of the questions to expect in a Petco Interview. Note that this company deals with pet products; therefore, getting acquainted with their offerings may be necessary before stepping into the interview. Also, remember to groom well and exude confidence to increase your chances of landing the job you want at Petco. We wish you all the best, and remember to check out our other articles!
