How to Hire Employees for a Clothing Store

When hiring employees, you want them to be conscientious, personable and trustworthy. When hiring someone to work in a clothing store, you also want them to be fashion savvy and imaginative enough to assist a variety of customers. Use these questions, exercises and considerations to find candidates who meet these qualifications.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Ask if the applicant has a particular interest in clothing styles or fashion. The added knowledge will help if she's giving opinions to customers, making suggestions when "upselling" and when creating window or floor displays. Consider having her put together a sample outfit from the items you've got in the store.

2. Inquire about his work experience at similar stores. Ask what his duties were to determine where he'd fit in with your current crew. Call his former managers to find out what the applicant's strengths were and to uncover the reasons why he's no longer working there.

3. Study the applicant's style and personality during the interview, particularly if your store is a specialty boutique that caters to a trendy or conservative crowd or a specific age group. Although you should look at her qualifications above all else, you should also consider how well she'd represent your business.

4. Consider an applicant's grade point average and extracurricular activities if you plan to hire teens to work in your clothing store. If he's a dedicated and involved student, he may also prove to be a hard-working employee.

5. Administer a personality test that may give you an indication of the characteristics that will cause her to get along or clash with your managerial style or the other employees.