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| Behavior |
Question: |
| Awareness to
Detail |
| Let them know of your
reputation for accuracy
especially in relation to
authorizing payment of invoices
and return of merchandise; You
take full responsibility for
your work. |
Is detail important to you?
Maybe you leave the details to
your assistant! Give me some
examples of your attention to
detail as a Fashion Merchandiser. |
| Communication
skills |
| Is confident in conducting
staff meetings with sales
personnel when introducing new
merchandise. Can adapt their
presentation to the audience
they are facing. Breaks up the
complex information so that it
is easily understood. |
Give me an example of when you
had to make a presentation to
staff regarding a new range of
stock. |
| Conflict
Resolution skills |
| Takes steps to stop the
mistake from happening again by
making the supplier aware of
their error in a polite but firm
manner; leaves the supplier in
no doubt that a repeat will not
be acceptable. |
How have you handled a
situation where a supplier has
made a serious mistake? What
steps did you take? How did it
affect your relationship with
this supplier as a Fashion Merchandiser? |
| Customer
service |
| Tackles problems head on, can
create successful long-term
customer service processes. |
What approach do you normally
take to difficult customer
service problems? Please give me
a recent example? What were the
issues involved? How did you
solve them? |
| Can handle all types of
clients, is not intimidated by
aggressive clients, does not
becomes emotional with them,
divorces their attitude from the
sales issues involved. |
Tell me about the most
difficult client you have had as
a Fashion Merchandiser?
Why was he/she so difficult? How
did you handle them? |
| Interpersonal
skills |
| Will not shy or procrastinate
from telling suppliers necessary
but unpleasant news if their
services have not been up to
standard, does so forcefully but
diplomatically. |
Tell me about a time you had
to tell a supplier - things they
did not want to hear? |
| Does not shy away from
confrontation, does not let
things become personal but deals
with the issues firmly. |
Tell me how you handle
confrontation? Give me a recent
example? |
| Continually building up your
network of suppliers and
vendors, uses such contacts to
achieve company and personal
professional goals. |
How frequently do you add
contacts to your address book?
Do you think it is worth
building a network of suppliers? |
| Listening
skills |
| Listens and communicates
closely with vendors to obtain
and develop desired products.
Has the confidence to clarify
points and issues during a group
discussion. Gets others to fully
participate in discussions, and
expand upon their ideas, listens
attentively to all views
expressed, observes vocal tones
and body language? |
Give an example of a time when
you had to ask direct questions
to clarify an important issue
during a discussion with
vendors. |
| Negotiation
Skills |
| Excellent ability to negotiate
prices, discount percentages and
transport arrangements for
merchandise; Applies a
structured approach to
negotiations, and sees the
different motivations, interests
and objectives of all parties
involved. |
Tell me about a successful
negotiation that you led as a Fashion Merchandiser.
What were the main factors in
your success? |
| Plenty of examples to show
your ability to select and
purchase quality merchandise
which meets specifications at
the most favorable price and
terms. Has the capacity to
employ effective negotiating
skills; can imagine the
situation from clients viewpoint
and suggests mutually beneficial
solutions. |
Tell me about the last time
you used your negotiating skills
to win a large price discount? |
| Pressure |
| Strong examples of performing
in pressurized conditions with
equal effectiveness if not more
so. |
Give me an example of an
occasion when you successfully
used your skills in an emotional
situation where an important
supplier was threatening to stop
supplying their goods. |
| Problem solving
abilities |
| Describe your systems to
analyze and monitor sales
records, to monitor trends and
economic conditions which
provide clues to consumer buying
patterns; mention your success
in predicting what the company
will sell and how much inventory
is needed. |
Tell me about a time when you
correctly predicted a demand for
a new product? How were you able
to do that? How would you advice
others who wanted to develop
this skill? |
| Maintains close contacts with
sales and purchasing personnel
to obtain and update information
about customer needs and
preferences; Looks at things
from the customers point of
view; wants genuinely to solve
their problems; has a solid
history of successful problem
solving at the highest level. |
Tell me about a recent
purchase that best demonstrates
your ability to solve a
customer's problem? |
| Technology
skills |
| Adapts their presentation to
their audience. Can communicate
complex information succinctly,
clearly, persuasively and
confidently. Can master their
brief and can field tough
questions on it. |
Tell me about a time when you
had to make a presentation to a
group of major clients. Did you
get your message across
persuasively? |
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