General

Question 1

Tell me about yourself

Answer 1

I am a Visual Merchandiser and a Digital Marketing Specialist. My Visual Merchandising journey started at Nordstrom in Bellevue WA and I moved to Las Vegas to be the Visual Merchandising Stylist of Nordstrom Las Vegas. Then I went across the hall in the same mall to be the Visual Merchandising Stylist for Neiman Marcus where I transitioned to focus on luxury goods and fine apparel.

Question 2

What are your strengths?

Answer 2

I am naturally curious: I love learning. I am always looking at competitors, always wanting to learn such as adobe programs to enhance my work.

I love building relationships: not only does this help build a better work process and team, but I truly enjoy getting to know people within or outside my team. We all have such unique backgrounds and stories and some of my best friends I have built through work.

dedication and passion: Eileen

I am creative: weather it be a window,

Question 3

What are your weaknesses?

Answer 3

I am quiet: people perceive me as distant and shy at first. When I am, I truly am trying to observe and learn. This is more in a group setting and I am a lot more social in 1:1 settings.

I find myself taking over a project when it isn’t going my way : When I do merchandising for each of my stores, it is so important to involve the store team to work towards autonomy. But when they are unenthusiastic, slow, or the store is busy, I slowly start to just take over the floor merchandising because I hate wasting time. and because of this, slowly the store team started to expect this to be a solo- visual merchandiser job. I have since then created decks and planograms to guide them so to challenge the store team to merchandise the store without a visual merchandiser since I cannot be at all the stores all the time.

I have a hard time setting my boundaries (but I am working on it): When i learned photoshop, the buyers came to me to bypass the sign shop

Question 4

Tell me about something you did – or failed to do – that
you now feel a little ashamed of.

Answer 4

I find myself taking over a project when it isn’t going my way : When I do merchandising for each of my stores, it is so important to involve the store team to work towards autonomy. But when they are unenthusiastic, slow, or the store is busy, I slowly start to just take over the floor merchandising because I hate wasting time. and because of this, slowly the store team started to expect this to be a solo- visual merchandiser job. I have since then created decks and planograms to guide them so to challenge the store team to merchandise the store without a visual merchandiser since I cannot be at all the stores all the time.

Question 5

Why are you leaving this position?
If your contract extended, would you still come to walmart?

Answer 5

my contract ended
Yes - the changes being implemented will be more drastic at walmart since its a newer concept and team. I want to be a part of setting up visual standards for walmart. for walmarts visual revamp.
Its exciting to see articles of walmart investing in visual merchandising.

Question 6

the silent treatment

Question 7

Why should I hire you?

Answer 7

I have a strong VM background across various storefronts. This not only includes visual merchandising, but through the various companies I worked for, I have a strong technical skills, conceptualizing (Nike Well Collective), and marketing experience to add to this role.

Question 8

Are you overqualified for this position?

Question 9

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Answer 9

Id like to still be in visual merchandising but a leadership role. But more importantly, I feel like I am at a stage in my life where I want to grow with a company so I’d like to see that movement within a company.

Question 10

Describe your ideal company, location, and job.

Answer 10

a company that allows me to continuously learn and grow.

Question 11

Why walmart?

Answer 11

Its a recession proof business. I love how it offers product accessible to everyone.
More so recently, I know Walmart has been launching more exclusive and trendy lines within fashion. I know Walmart is revamping its store presentation and it is so exciting and I want to be a part of that.

the changes being implemented will be more drastic at walmart since its a newer concept and team. I want to be a part of setting up visual standards for walmart. for walmarts visual revamp.
Its exciting to see articles of walmart investing in visual merchandising.

I want to be able to say I contributed to this new look of Walmart

Question 12

what are your career options right now?

Question 13

Why have you been out of work so long?

Answer 13

Personal sabbatical for UX design. took time to really involve myself with my surf club and build the pnw surf community.

Question 14

Tell me honestly about the strong points and weak points of your boss (company, management team,
etc.)…

Answer 14

I truly appreciated the mentorship aspect of my previous manager - she was genuinely supportive of my growth. I would show interest in one thing and my manager would seek opportunities for me.
The weak point was the way she addressed criticism. It was just her personality but she was truly kind and gentle with words so certain criticism became long winded due to sugar coating. I prefer straightforwardness.

Question 15

What good books have you read lately?

Question 16

Tell me about a situation when your work was criticized.

Answer 16

I’m always open to criticism as it’s a learning opportunity. In my last contract job, I was told that I was quiet. It’s just in my nature to really observe and absorb as much information as possible but that is when I learned being vocal as a part of the Nike culture. Ever since I would ask questions as they come up or vocalize my thoughts and opinion
But after that feedback

Question 17

What are your outside interests?

Answer 17

Feel good surf club

Question 18

The “Fatal Flaw” question

Answer 18

what is your fatal flaw?

Question 19

How do you feel about reporting to a younger person
(minority, woman, etc)?

Answer 19

You greatly admire a company that hires and promotes on merit alone
and you couldn’t agree more with that philosophy. The age (gender, race, etc.) of the person you report to would certainly make no difference to you.

Question 20

On confidential matters…

Answer 20

“I certainly want to be as open as I can about that. But I also wish to respect
the rights of those who have trusted me with their most sensitive information, just as you
would hope to be able to trust any of your key people when talking with a competitor…”

Question 21

Would you lie for the company?

Answer 21

I would never do anything to hurt the company..

Question 22

Looking back, what would you do differently in your life?

Answer 22

I wouldn’t change anything. Everything I’ve done has led me up to where I am now and I am very happy where I am.

Question 23

Could you have done better in your last job?

Answer 23

I suppose with the benefit of hindsight you can always find things to do
better, of course, but off the top of my head, I can’t think of anything of major
consequence.

Question 24

Can you work under pressure?

Answer 24

Yes! in a world of tight deadlines, Ive learned to think 3 steps ahead and have plan B.
Knowing we have delays in shipments and last minute due dates, which affects the turnaround time of the signage development, I’ve taught myself photoshop and illustrator to create signage in case of emergencies and to use as backups.

Question 25

What makes you angry?

Answer 25

Im not an angry person, but things do disappoint me like lack of care. My store team was usually younger, just out of college kids who really lacked a sense of urgency.

Question 26

Why aren’t you earning more money at this stage of your career?

Answer 26

what?

Question 27

Who has inspired you in your life and why?

Answer 27

Adam. He truly inspired me to really push boundaries. He encouraged me to be creative and stretch projects outside of VMS. He supported me

Question 28

What was the toughest decision you ever had to make?

Answer 28

Adams window request / holiday deck (thats going against two managers and fighting budget)

Question 29

Tell me about the most boring job you’ve ever had.

Answer 29

I think I am lucky that I’ve never found myself bored at work. Even during down times, I find this an opportunity to be proactive - I’ve used this time to shadow or do stretch work with other departments to get a better understanding of my cross functional teams.

Question 30

Have you been absent from work more than a few days in any previous position?

Answer 30

no

Question 31

What changes would you make?

Answer 31

I feel like the store is very much sterile - also very cluttered. I would like to implement a system and structure for store teams to have guidelines of how many skus to live on the floor, how many skus to live on a hang bar or a fixture, etc styling guidelines, maintenance strategy.

Question 32

I’m concerned that you don’t have as much experience as we’d like in…

Answer 32

are you kidding?

Question 33

How do you feel about working nights and weekends?

Answer 33

I am used to this kind of schedule as a Visual Merchandiser - when I worked at nordstrom and neiman marcus, Weekends were on rotation. And during Holiday, we all came in on Thanksgiving day to setup for Holiday prep. This is an annual non-negotiable for visual. But I am at a stage in my life where I would like to have my evenings and weekends to pursue extracurricular activities.

Question 34

Are you willing to relocate or travel?

Answer 34

Yes! I have never lived on the east coast and I am excited to be in a new city!

Question 35

Do you have the stomach to fire people? Have you had experience firing many people?

Answer 35

no

Question 36

Why have you had so many jobs?

Answer 36

When I was younger, a new opportunity presents itself and it excites me, I usually take it. But at this stage in my life, I’m a bit more picky and spending more time to look for a company to really grow with.

Question 37

What do you want in a good manager?

Answer 37

I appreciate a leader who provides guidance and support while allowing room for autonomy. A manager who is results-oriented and sets clear expectations is crucial for me. I thrive under leadership that encourages professional growth and development, and I admire a manager who leads by example in terms of work ethic and commitment to the company’s values. Ultimately, I’m seeking a manager who not only challenges me to reach my full potential but also values the contributions of each team member and creates a positive and inclusive work atmosphere.

Question 38

What would you say to your boss if he’s crazy about an idea, but you think it stinks?

Answer 38

Adam/ holiday deck proposal

Question 39

How could you have improved your career progress?

Answer 39

I’m pretty happy where I am now. but when I was younger, I was so scared to voice my concerns because I didn’t think I could or should disagree with management. Through my career I learned that closed mouths don’t get fed (like the sku count or holiday deck)

Question 40

What would you do if a fellow executive on your own corporate level wasn’t pulling his/her weight…and this was hurting your department?

Answer 40

sku count or holiday deck

Question 41

You’ve been with your firm a long time. Won’t it be hard switching to a new company?

Question 42

May I contact your present employer for a reference?

Answer 42

no

Question 43

Give me an example of your creativity (analytical skill…managing ability, etc.)

Answer 43

In my visual career, problem solving and creativity was key. You run into a log of shipment delays, low stock, vendor competition etc. marc jacobs window

Question 44

Where could you use some improvement?

Answer 44

I’m working on setting my boundaries.
Print shop/ photoshop story
I love when people come to me for help. So when a store needs me, I naturally want to help them.

Question 45

What do you worry about?

Answer 45

I wouldn’t say worry, but more so anticipating curve balls. Working in visual, we are always problem solving from unexpected curveballs and so I’ve learned to be flexible, be proactive, and have a plan B.

Question 46

How many hours a week do you normally work?

Answer 46

40 but there are projects that asks more of my time. When I have presentations, I usually spend the evenings or weekends to prepare with my colleagues, friends or family so to prepare myself.

Question 47

What’s the most difficult part of being a Visual Merchandiser?

Answer 47

I wouldn’t say difficult, but it is challenging as a visual merchandiser, we are usually hit with unexpected events like delayed shipments,

Question 48

The “Hypothetical Problem”

Question 49

What was the toughest challenge you’ve ever faced?

Answer 49

sku count
fleece
building SOP for Caesars product rotation calendar

Question 50

Have you consider starting your own business?

Question 51

What are your goals?

Answer 51

I want to make an impact in a company. For walmart, I would love to be a part of - I want to be able to walk through a walmart and say, hey I did that. This chapter of walmart was implemented by me.
Personally, Id love to buy a house now. I love decorating and really making a space feel like HOME but as long as im in an apartment and knowing that I will be moving or its not permanent, its hard to really invest in decorating.

Question 52

What do you for when you hire people?

Question 53

Sell me this stapler…(this pencil…this clock…or some other object on interviewer’s desk).

Question 54

“The Salary Question” – How much money do you want?

Answer 54

I was told by Jennifer that this was 115k

Question 55

The Illegal Question

Question 56

The “Secret” Illegal Question

Question 57

What was the toughest part of your last job?

Answer 57

sku count

Nike politics. things are always changing and at the last minute too and you have to learn to be flexible with stakeholder requests.

Question 58

How do you define success…and how do you measure up to your own definition?

Answer 58

Getting recognition. Got Business Support award when I was working at Caesars. With such a small team, I was able to help set up SOP for structure which streamlined the workflow of merchandising. From exit strategies, planograms, and quarterly merchandising decks.

Also helping Eileen and her telling me, I am so happy, I am fully booked this month is so satisfying to hear her gain confidence in her business

Question 59

How do you stay updated in the visual world ? in the market ?

Answer 59

A lot of my friends are in retail. We chat about what we see in our respective works, talk about our competitors, talk about what we observe. But during my own time, I like to look in to Linkedin to see the new innovations and what retailers are doing new. On instagram, I like to follow business of fashion.

Question 60

Looking back on your last position, have you done your best work?

Question 61

Why should I hire you from the outside when I could promote someone from within?

Answer 61

Ive worked in different companies in different formats that will allow me to offer different perspective from an outsider. On top of that, I also bring marketing skills.

Question 62

Tell me something negative you’ve heard about our company…

Answer 62

bad. thats why this revamp is crucial.