Approaches to Interviews for Apparel Merchandising

Approaches to Interviews for Apparel Merchandising

All of we have our own way to adopt interviews & it varies from case to case or person to person (ways/interest of interviewer or theme of organization) but I am trying here to present a sequential overview which I believe to be making you confident prior to going for an interview especially for apparel merchandising job. 

Before going for an interview/insight thinking when you’re in the session: 

• Don’t be panic on getting the job while you’re on interviews.
• Be positive in thinking & try to feel for the entire session very lightly to grow your confidence.
• But be aware that you’re presenting yourself, so your any unusual manner can abuse your personality to market.
• Be formal in manner & approach, not only in dress-up.
• Try to think that whichever you know this is right & you have to establish this.
• Try to use simply “no” at your answer, don’t try to answer any point on which you’re not confident enough.
• Be honest & try to expose the real facts otherwise you will fall on the perplexing situation with your false answer.

Covering the questions at interviews: 

• Please describe/introduce yourself in brief.
• Highlight your present work/responsibility, educational & personal background (family/home district) in a couple of sentences.

• Why did you choose to merchandise as your profession? 
• You should say the valid/logical reason behind.
• How do you manage your assigned work/responsibility?
• Should answer on a summarized point, avoid lengthy explanation.
• How do you keep your record for daily follow-up/tracking?
• What is the sampling process?
• As example: development sample, fit sample, PP sample, production/gold seal sample.
• What are the most used commercial & shipping terms?
• i.e; FOB, C&F, CIF, L/C at sight, deferred, PI, CI, BL, HAWB etc
• What is the lead-time of your product?
• You have to answer it based on your product. This is variable like 60 days for knit basic tee/vest, 95 to 100 days for denim/woven bottom etc..
• What do you mean by T&A plan or critical path & do you think this is necessary for your order follow-up?
• You have to answer this based on your own experience/approach to working. But as per my understanding- this is really very necessary tools as it is a total framework for your daily follow-up process which includes your planning/forecast & working towards hitting the plan for keeping your order on track.
• How do you define a successful PP meeting?
• To cover up all the necessary discussion on comments, sampling, production plan, forecasting possible issues. And to make sure that all relevant production, QA team has clear understanding of everything.
• What do you mean by trim sheet/BOM? Or how do you take your order specification/clarification?
• Based on development records, you should make queries on all the points (fabrication, accessories, styling/fitting, color, approval reference, packing/folding reference) & take confirmation/understanding from your respective buyer.
• What are the necessary points for costing?
• Fabrication/relevant yarn count, consumption, knitting price, dyeing price, accessories cost, print/embroidery/wash/any other embellishment cost, size ratio, quantity, fabric & trims source, commercial, testing or any other charge, CM (cost of making), lead-time of product.
• An interviewer can show you some product to ask on price, lead-time, fabrication, print/embroidery/wash/any other embellishment, CM/SMV value?
• The interviewer will ask you on fabric lead-time, accessories lead-time, transit time for some imported fabric, yarn, accessories.
• What is the folding or packaging process?
• Flat pack, shirt fold, roll pack, hanging method etc.
• Write a mail to manage one-week extension from the buyer?
• How do you manage your customer for any approval (based on any particular case like fit rejection, PP rejection or any other submission rejection)?
• How do you plan yourself for the best adoption of new customer/account?
• What types of testing parameter your existing customer follows for base & bulk?
• How do you take commercial acceptance on testing?
• How do you get confirmed of care symbol/instruction for your product?
• You need to be aware of the testing parameter for what types of product?
• It’s also variable based on your product range. But for an idea like shrinkage/recovery for rib fabric(especially on lower gsm), pilling for CVC, wash fastness for pigment coverage AOP, wash fastness for lurex content fabric etc…
• What is the required percentage of fabric wastage which needs to be considered while booking?
• What is the usual width of woven fabric? Or what is the open width of knit fabric (S/J, rib or any other)?
• Can you please tell about some renowned supplier of woven/denim fabric?
• Do you know the change of weight after wash (both for woven/denim & knit fabrics)?
• What will be the per day output of a product (knit basic tee shirt, vest, fleece hoodie, woven/denim bottoms for men’s or any other kids item or anything)?
• What are the types of the zipper? Or how do you measure button size? Or anything on accessories?
• Types of wash, print, embroidery (varies from case to case)?
• What is the type of poly/carton- you’re using for your consignment?
• What is the type of vessel? i.e; feeder, the mother vessel
• Can you please share some DC/Port name for UK/any other importer country?
• How do you manage yourself in the critical situation like as air shipment at your company’s cost or any other alarming issue?
• How do you avoid issues in your working area?
• I think to flag out the thing at very beginning & to put the thing on the table not keeping on pocket at your own risk.
• How do you define risk assessment?

IQ views/general questions: 

• What is the total export value of BD garments on last year?
• What do you mean by brand?
• It’s like an identity to expose through a motto. This answer can be variable & to be as your own thinking.
• What are the top class fashion brand for all around the world i.e; Europe, USA, UK?
• Do you think you as perfect/confident & what’s your strength behind to make you perfect than others?
• What’s your thinking about BD garments trade or what do you think of this trade- after ten years?
• What do you want you to see you after 5 years? Or what’s your future planning? Or what’s your motto of life?
• Do you think you as positive thinking person? & why?

This is simply an overview of the interview- from my point of view. You may go through the same to match with your ideas. As I believe that everyone has their own thinking to present themselves or make them ready for any challenge. I will be obliged if someone can get help from this writing, thanks in advance & wishing for all of your better future.