Do you love watching, playing and talking about sports? Are you looking for a job that allows you to interact with customers that have the same interests? If so, consider applying for a job at Dick’s Sporting Goods. To land the job, you must create a resume that stands out and nail your in-person interview. We will walk you step by step to succeed in your interview process.
Dick’s Sporting Goods Interview Questions – video edition
Tips to Make Your Resume Stand Out
Employers receive hundreds of applications for every job posting; this is especially true at Dick’s Sporting Goods. That means they are looking through their fair share of resumes. After a while, they all blend together. To get noticed, create a resume that stands out. We have seven tips to help you do just that.
Update Your Resume Per Job
If you are applying to every job with the same resume, you are doing it wrong. A resume that works for every situation is typically generic, and a generic resume will never catch the eye of an employer.
You will need to tailor your resume to fit the job you are applying to. To do this, read the job posting carefully. Have you figured out what sort of candidate they are looking for? Great. Now fine-tune your resume to show off the skills this ideal candidate has. You can even pull keywords and phrases directly from the job posting.
Incorporate Industry Keywords
While this is a common fact, it is probably worth being restated. No one is reading your whole resume. At most, they are skimming it. At least, they are running it through a filtering system that will scan the document for previously selected keywords. Incorporating keywords you know they will look can get you past the first stage.
Use a Header
While having the right keywords and phrases will help you stand out, so will a well designed header. At the top of your resume, your name and contact information should stand out and grab the reader’s attention.
List Your Skills
Everyone has a “skills” section on their resume. Focusing on the skills that will be most impressive to your potential employer is key. Besides listing out your skills, you can take a different approach and back them up.
Instead of saying you met your sales goals, list how much you met them by. Using metrics to back up your skills gives the recruiter something to be excited about.
Try Telling a Story
Did you know you could tell a story on a resume? Neither did we. But we recently learned that it is a great way to showcase your skills, experience, and accomplishments. As we mentioned before, recruiters look at numerous resumes every day. Why not give them something different?
Add a Cover Letter
We know, writing a cover letter is the worst. But submitting it with your resume, especially when it is not required, can help you stand out from the other applicants. Take this opportunity to use your cover letter to expand on your skills and explain why you would be a good fit.
Don’t Forget to Proofread
This probably goes without saying, but you’ll want to read your resume over one or ten times before sending it out. If you can, get others to read it too. Not only should you be on the lookout for spelling errors and typos, but formatting errors can also make you look just as bad. No recruiter will take you seriously if you have errors of any kind in your resume.
How to Ace an Interview at Dick’s Sporting Goods
Okay, so your resume got you an interview. Now what? The interview gives you a chance to sell yourself to the organization. To do that, follow our tips on how to ace your interview.
Do Your Research
Before walking in for your interview, you should have done as much research as you had time to do. Understand and be ready to speak about the company’s mission, their space in the market and their future plans. You should also search job boards such as LinkedIn and Glassdoor. Here you will read real accounts from former and current employees.
Use Those Connections
Do you know someone who went to school with someone who now works at Dick’s Sporting Goods? If so, time to reach out to them on social media or via email. Get as much information as you can about the company before heading in for the interview.
Practice Your Elevator Speech
While there are many parts of an interview you cannot plan for, a few questions are standard at any interview (as discussed above). Because of that, there is no excuse not to practice your answers beforehand.
Dress the Part
Deciding what to wear to your interview is important. First impressions are real and valid. For most offices, business or business casual is fine. You don’t want to be too overdressed. If you showed up to an interview with a hip new startup in a three-piece suit, you would tell the interviewer you didn’t take the time to look into the business. If you show up to an interview at a law office wearing jeans and a sweater, you are telling them you are not taking the process seriously.
Bring Copies
Always bring extra copies of your resume, a list of references, and writing samples with you to an interview. While more often than not these pages will stay in your portfolio, you never know when someone will need a copy. You should also bring a notepad and pen, just in case you are told something important. An interview is not the time to take notes on your phone.
Be the Best Version of You
When meeting the interviewer and any other employees for the first time, you want to be polite and gracious. Shake everyone’s hand you meet, smile and make eye contact. You never know when the receptionist has a hand in choosing the best applicant based on their interaction with them before the interview.
Follow Up Afterward
After you thank the interviewer for their time, the follow-up phase has begun. Send a personal thank you note or email restating your interest and provide any additional information you may have forgotten to mention in the interview.
Dick’s Sporting Goods Interview Questions With Answers
As we mentioned above, preparing for the interview is half the battle. Below are some of the most common questions asked in an interview at Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Tell Us about Yourself
This question is always asked at interviews, not just at Dick’s Sporting Goods. You should speak to your education, previous work experience and hobbies. Keep this answer short and to the point; the interviewer will ask you follow-up questions if they want more information.
What Do You Know about Dick’s Sporting Goods?
This question allows you to show your interviewer the research you did to prepare for the interview. You can talk about the number of stores the company has (that number is around 500), their mission to be the number one sports and fitness specialty Omni-retailer for all athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, and even information you know about their rewards program. Any information you know about Dick’s Sporting Goods should be shared here.
Why Do You Want to Work at Dick’s Sporting Goods?
While everyone will have their own answer to this question, the most common answers are that the interviewee loves sports and working with people.
What Are Your Strengths?
This is another interview classic. You should speak to skills that will be part of your job at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Being a quick learner and having great people skills are always safe answers.
What Are Your Weaknesses?
If you get asked about your strengths, it is almost certain you will then be asked about your weaknesses. You can talk about how much time you put into work, how you much of a perfectionist you are, or even how you work so hard you forget to take breaks. Be mindful that you are not answering this question with your actual weaknesses like always being tardy or not getting along with others.
How Would You Deal with an Upset Customer
This question gives you the chance to explain how well you will work with customers of Dick’s Sporting Goods. The right answer to this question is that you would find out what the customer is mad about and try to offer a solution. An example would be if they have a defective item, you can offer to replace it and explain the generous return policy Dick’s Sporting Goods has.
Why Should I Hire You?
This is your chance to sell yourself. Before the interview, ask yourself why you should work at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Are you punctual? A quick learner? A hard worker? All are valid reasons Dick’s Sporting Goods would be lucky to have you as an employee.
Dick’s Sporting Goods Interview, Overview of the Process & What to Expect
The interview process at Dick’s Sporting Goods is straightforward and all candidates are required to meet with a recruiter, who will conduct an initial interview to determine the candidate’s qualifications. The recruiter will also ask about the candidate’s availability for training and their interest in the position. After this step, candidates who are qualified for the position will be invited for an interview with two managers.
What to Expect During Dick’s Sporting Goods Interview?
During this stage of the interview process, candidates will be asked questions about their work experience and what they are looking for in a new position. Candidates should also expect to answer questions from both managers about how they would handle specific situations on the job.
Conclusion
While there is always some luck involved when applying for jobs, there are things you can do to help tip the odds in your favor. Putting together a good resume and planning well for your interview can help you land the job you are after at Dick’s Sporting Goods.