Whether you are looking for a job during the summer, for the holiday season, or just a job in general, the TJX corporations are a great place to start. They are comprised of Home Goods, Marshalls, Sierra Trading Post, Home Sense, and TJ Maxx. The company starts its employees out at nine dollars per hour. After six months of employment, you are given ten dollars an hour, which is a whole dollar raise! After that, you get raises yearly, ranging from ten to fifty cents.
You must be 16 years old to work at Marshalls and all its sister stores. The entering pay and raises vary by state, and they are closed for Easter, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Marshalls Interview Questions Answered by an Employee (video)
Positions Available
Like its sister stores, Marshalls has several positions available to apply for, depending on the location. These positions are part-time associates, backroom associates, merchandise coordinators, key holders, and salaried managers.
Part-Time Associates
You will work less than 30 hours per week as a part-time associate. You are responsible for cashiering, “flowing” merchandise (stocking), returning merchandise to the sales floor, price checking, and cleaning the section you are assigned to if you are part of the closing team. You can also be put on the markdown team, meaning you would be marking items down to clearance. You might also be placed in the back room to help the back room associates.
Back Room Associates
Associates who work in the back room are typically part-timers. They unload the merchandise truck, price items, fill tanks with products for the stocking team, and make sure nothing damaged gets to the sales floor. They are put in individual sections in the back room, on a line filled with boxes of items they will unbox according to the area they go in. For example, pet toys, kid toys, storage bins, and cookware could be section one, while section two could be towels, decorative pillows, and candles.
Merchandise Coordinators
The merchandise coordinators work full-time. They are assigned several areas of the store and are required to merchandise them. They are also required to cashier, price check, and are part of the stocking team. They are paid more than the part-time associates.
Key Holders
Key holders are like mini store managers. They are responsible for the store like salaried managers are, during their opening or closing shift. They are not salaried but do get a pay raise. Key holders have the keys to the store, and like the salaried managers, are running the store, dealing with customer complaints, and locking the store down at closing.
Salaried Managers
Salaried managers are typically divided into four slots: the store manager, the two merchandising managers, and the operations manager. Usually, the operations manager initiates the hiring of employees. Each manager is salaried and must deal with customer complaints, stealing, employee issues, and many other problems.
Things to know about Marshalls
The TJX stores are discount stores, meaning all of their products are reduced from original retail prices to discounted prices. On the tickets, or price tags, they have their price, and then a “compare at” price. For example, a Kat Von D eyeshadow palette is $24.99 at Marshalls, and the “compare at” price is $50.00 at regular retailers.
Marshalls, as well as its other sister stores, thrive on its discounted prices. They carry top quality brands like Waterford glasses, Spode dishware, and Cuisinart cookware. They have a pets department, kids department, clothing department, cosmetics department, and have specific areas for handbags, luggage, kitchen-ware, towels, bathroom items, and so on. At the front end or the area of the cashiers, there are dozens of impulse-buy items, like chocolate, mugs, chips, candles, and other tchotchkes.
Marshalls Interview Questions With Answers
Q: Are you available and willing to work nights, days, mornings, holidays, and weekends?
A: If you aren’t available, be sure to state that during the interview. Marshalls will work with school schedules, regardless of whether it’s high school or college. Be prepared to have open availability on weekends, though, because Saturdays and Sundays are a must-have for the company.
TIP
Ask about how you can put in days off! If you have a baby shower, a birthday, or an event planned ahead, ask to how to put that in as soon as possible! The sooner they know, the better.
Q: What are you bringing to the team?
A: Evaluate your strengths. Are you a perfectionist? Do you love straight-lining things? Are you good at stocking? Are you good with customers?
Q: How would you handle customer complaints or angry customers?
A: Usually, managers won’t like the “I would call the manager” response. Always tell them how you, individually, would handle it. Always tell them you’d call the manager after everything else has failed.
Q: Describe a time you had to solve a difficult issue.
A: Go for something that you dreaded. Something that challenged you, not only mentally, but emotionally or physically. You can tell them about a test at school or the time your car broke down on the side of the road. Maybe you’ll tell them about how you decided to flambe your first bananas foster. Whatever the issue, make sure the resolution was memorable. Something funny to break the tension can work, too.
How To Ace Your Interview At Marshalls – Tips & Tricks
- Do Your Research
The first step to acing your interview is to do your research. Learn as much as you can about the company, its culture, and its values. This will not only help you answer questions more confidently, but it will also show the interviewer that you are truly interested in working for the company.
- Dress for Success
It is important to dress for success when you are going on an interview. Wear professional clothing that is clean and pressed. Avoid wearing anything that is too casual or revealing. You want to make sure that you look like someone who would be a good fit for the company.
- Be On Time
It is important to be on time for your interview. This shows that you are punctual and reliable. If you are running late, call the interviewer and let them know. Do not try to make up excuses for why you are late.
- Be Confident
One of the most important things to remember when you are on an interview is to be confident. Sit up straight, make eye contact, and speak clearly. Remember that the interviewer is looking for someone who is confident and capable.
- Ask Questions
At the end of the interview, asking questions is always a good idea. This shows that you are interested in the position and that you have been paying attention during the interview. Some good questions to ask include: “What are the next steps in the hiring process?” and “When can I expect to hear back from you?”
- Be Honest
An interviewer can always tell when you’re lying, exaggerating, or aren’t serious. This can seriously impact your interview. And though it may sound cheesy, be yourself. You’ll get hired if you’re the right fit for the job.
What to do after getting the job at Marshalls
You should be aware of a few things before you walk into the interview. If you aren’t comfortable with these things, this company might not be right for you.
Credit Cards
When working for The TJX Companies, you will be required to ask customers to sign up for their TJX rewards credit card. This credit card is an instant approval or rejection process, meaning once you enter the information into the register, you’ll get an INSTANT response from the bank. If your customer gets approved for the card, they will receive a ten percent off coupon, which they can use at that purchase or save it and use it at your location within thirty days. Please note: They have to use their temporary shopping pass with the coupon. They cannot use a different credit card and still use the ten percent off coupon.
Donations
During the course of the year, TJX gets involved in many charities. During the holiday season, you will be required to ask your customers if they would like to donate to Saint Jude Children’s Hospital. When natural disasters occur, the company might ask for donations to places like the American Red Cross.
Uniforms
Marshalls does not have a required uniform, but they have a dress code. No shorts, printed T-shirts, or sleeveless shirts of any kind can be worn. They recently added blue jeans to the “okay to wear” section of the rules, but you cannot wear pants or jeans that are ripped, worn out, stained, or damaged. Some sister stores, like Home Goods, are required to wear aprons.
Rewards
Star Cards are scratch off cards you are given whenever you perform excellent customer service, stop fraudulent returns, exercise safety protocols, and other displays of excellence. The scratch off cards can get you a $10 gift card to Marshalls, and even if you don’t get the $10 instant win, you can put your accumulated star cards into a weekly drawing. If you win the weekly drawing, you get a $25 gift card to Marshalls. These gift cards can be used in any of the TJX stores and never expire!
Sometimes, you might show up to a shift at Marshalls to a break room full of catered food, donuts, or desserts. The TJX Companies loves to reward its employees with free food, desserts, candies, and more.
Final Thoughts
We went over a few major questions you’ll be faced with above. Always keep your strengths in mind when going on an interview, and be prepared to answer other questions that the Marshalls operations manager might ask. Think about what you might ask someone who was applying to work at your business. Keep those questions in mind.
If you keep this Marshalls guide in mind, you can apply to any of the TJX companies and still be prepared. Be confident, ask questions, and enjoy your experience at Marshalls!
Conclusion
Starting out in Marshalls, or any of the TJX companies, is a great way to earn cashiering, back room, or managerial experience. Though the pay varies between states, you can start out at $9 an hour, and after six months, you are elevated to $10. Not to mention that the company loves to reward its employees with gift cards, free food, and other items for continued excellence.
