How To Answer Stitch Fix Application Questions

We analyzed 507 interview reviews for Stitch Fix from various job sites, social network groups and forums.

Here are the most frequent job interview questions asked by HR managers during initial phone or onsite interviews. This list does not include technical or factual questions.

Tell me about a time when you've resolved a problem for a frustrated customer

Explain a time when you had to deliver tough feedback to a colleague

Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work. How did you handle it? What have you learned?

How would you handle a customer with difficult behavior?

Describe a time you went above and beyond for a customer

Tell me about a time when you went out of your way to satisfy a customer. What was the outcome?

How did you manage your time in your last job?

Describe a time when you had to overcome a significant obstacle on a job

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

What one skill do you possess that you think will be the most important to a hiring manager?

What is your ideal work environment?

What is your greatest weakness?

What are your long-term goals?

Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult or disruptive person. It may be a client, manager, or coworker. How did you handle the situation? What was the outcome?

Tell me about a time when someone criticized your work in front of others. What did you do?

According to our research, hiring managers at Stitch Fix ask soft skills interview questions 19% more than at other companies.

Stitch Fix interview question statistics

1 . Tell me about a time when you've resolved a problem for a frustrated customertop question

Customers are the lifeblood of any business. How you handle a disgruntled customer can make the difference between closing a sale and failing to do so. It takes good people skills to handle such situations, and this question is a good opportunity to demonstrate your people skills.

About Yourself

Think of a time when, as a customer, you had a problem with a company.
- How did you feel?
- How did you want to be treated?
- How would the situation ideally be resolved?
- If it were you on the serving side of the table, what would you do differently? Have you had such experiences in the past where you helped a frustrated customer?
- What was the critical factor in a successful resolution of the situation?
Try to define your principles or approach.

For example, I know that people tend to be frustrated when they feel neglected and unimportant.

Whenever possible, I try to meet in person and establish face-to-face contact with someone who feels disgruntled, so that I can fully focus on the situation. (And believe me, checking your phone while speaking with such a customer is definitely NOT a good idea).

Of course, this may not always be possible in your line of business or profession, but I guess you see what I mean - showing full attention greatly improves your chances of mitigating the situation.
About The Company

Every company relies on customers.

Research the company you are applying to and try to find out what their standards of customer relationship or service are, as well as try to find out some real cases where the customers complained about the company, and what the company did to mitigate the situations (a possible source might be Yelp! or another social media platform).

Based on your research, how does the company treat customers? How do they resolve customer issues?
About The Fit

How can you make things better and WOW the customer? Give an example that demonstrates that your approach to resolving customer frustrations is in line with the company policies.

A disgruntled customer generally just needs someone to listen to them.

The three A's of customer service can help diffuse the difficult situation:

Acknowledge - what the other person is feeling,
Apologize - for the way the other person is feeling,
Admit - that there was an issue that you are working on to get it resolved.

Add the extra "A" - Ask for the customer's contact information so you can update them on any progress on their issue.

This question is asked 3.2x more frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

Take a quick quiz and check if you're ready to answer this question at your next job interview:

Customers are often frustrated by what they perceive as poor service especially when they are on the phone. Which one of the following answers do you consider to be good customer service?

A Placing the customer on hold for too long

B Paying close attention to the customer's complaint in an attempt to solve their problem

C Asking the customer to repeat their complaint many times

D Failing to empathize with their problem

E Directing the customer to your website instead of resolving the issue yourself

2 . Tell me about yourself

This question may sound vague, but it actually requires a matter of fact, concise and relevant answer. Here's how you can approach it.

About Yourself

What is your current occupation? Define yourself professionally in one statement.

Pick 3 key skills that make you great at your work (your Key Selling Points). How have you applied these skills?

Try to give some numbers to support your statement.
About The Company

Research the company.

Based on what you know about the company and the job description, why are you interested in the position you are applying for?
About The Fit
- Based on your Key Selling Points and your knowledge about the company, why do you think you are a good fit for this position?
- Can you support your statement with relevant examples from your past experiences?
Try to be concise and stay within 1-2 minutes.

You can also end with a question like:

"Do you know what the current needs in the company/department are, where my skills and experience can help?"

That can help you learn more about the company and the job, turn the "interrogation" into a conversation and will allow you to relax some tension.

Read our blog post to learn more about how to answer this question.

This question is asked 40% less frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

Take a quick quiz and check if you're ready to answer this question at your next job interview:

Pick the best answer:

A My name is Andrew Franklin, I am 28 years old, and I am looking for a job that pays well.

B Hello, my name is Natalie Price. I have two children and I love playing billiards and travelling. I am 33 years old.

C Hi Mr. Simon, my name is Stanley Clark and I am a certified Project Management professional known for completing projects on time and on budget. I am passionate about building agile work culture and delivering results.

D Hi Mr. Simon, my name is Dorothy Hanson. I have previously worked as an accountant in retail, but currently I am trying to transition into the field of healthcare.

3 . Explain a time when you had to deliver tough feedback to a colleague

If you are interviewing for a managerial position or a position that involves working closely with others in a leadership capacity (a team leader, for instance), this question will help the interviewer to learn whether you can communicate effectively, address issues in the workplace and motivate others during difficult times.

Your answer will show the interviewer that you have such qualities as honesty, thoughtfulness, empathy and tact.

About Yourself

Remember a situation from a past job when you had to provide negative or challenging feedback to your subordinate or colleague.
- How did you feel about that?
- Did you consider it awkward?
- What measures did you take to prepare for your talk with the person?
- What techniques did you use to deliver the feedback constructively and positively?
- Did they understand the feedback?
- What was your follow-up approach to ensure the problem was fully addressed?
Focus on the personality traits and strategies that helped you to communicate difficult information effectively.
About The Company

Research the company and its culture.
- What do they value?
- Is there anything that you can find about how they communicate with one another?
- Does the company emphasize how its employees are treated?
- Is there anything regarding how they deal with delivering tough feedback?
About The Fit

Using what you found about the company, choose an example that fits best with their standards and share your story of how you used constructive criticism to tell your colleague negative things about his/her work.

Your STAR story should show how you handled a tough situation and how you turned a negative into a positive, using your prepared strategies before offering the negative feedback.

Try to conclude with your lessons learned and with your methodology for approaching such situations. This will show the interviewer that you will be able to apply this methodology if similar scenarios repeat in the future.

The keys to providing constructive criticism are listening, communication and emotional intelligence. Highlight these skills.

Tell the interviewer that when giving tough feedbacks you usually use "the sandwich method"- you always start off by mentioning a positive, then mention the negative, and then pivot back around to something positive.

This question is asked 74.3x more frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

Now that you have read some of our recommendations, you may wonder: "Ok, so what's next? I seem to understand these concepts quite well and they kind of make sense to me, but how do I make sure my answers are actually in accordance with these recommendations, and I will stand out as a strong candidate in my upcoming interview?"

Good question. Assuming you are indeed qualified and fit for the position you are interviewing for, the best thing you can do is make sure the interviewer sees this fit.

There are two ways how you can leverage Mr. Simon's expertise to help you shine your best:

Go ahead and practice with the Mr. Simon app - it is a completely free, fun and helpful experience!
Request a mock interview with a real human career mentor. During the session we will help you identify your Key Selling Points to emphasize in the interview, and to present them in a way that strongly communicates your value to the company. The 1-hour session costs USD 79.99 and is supplemented by 2 weeks of support via email, free of additional charge.

To request the session, shoot us an email to coaching@mrsimon.ai and attach your resume and job description to expedite the process.

Here's what our customers are saying.

Amanda, QA Manager:

I searched interview prep via Google and found Mr. Simon. I sent an e-mail requesting help. Natalie was prompt in response. The session was one of the best things to have happened during my job search and interview preparation.
Natalie helped me feel calm and confident. She helped me break down the job description and relate it to my experience. After working with Natalie, I received 2 job offers in the same day.

Anna, Director of Brand and Marketing Strategy:

I had you on the list to reach out since it was your advice that helped me prep differently for my interviews. Thank you for your support and friendship while I was transitioning. It had an impact! I appreciate it and mean it.

Claudia, Project Manager:

I used Mr. Simon to prepare for a job interview, and it helped me re-think my responses and gain confidence. Also, the questions were not very far from real life interview questions. In addition, having the opportunity to hear my own answers and read the recommendations on how to respond concisely was really helpful. I enjoyed using Mr. Simon and would use it again!

4 . Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work. How did you handle it? What have you learned?

Wherever you go, you will always have to work with people. This means that there is a greater chance for conflict to happen. This question helps the interviewer determine how well you would fit within the organization.

About Yourself

Think of the times you had to deal with conflict.
- What were the different ways you were able to address the situation?
- If you were the cause of the conflict, how did the other person talk you down from the conflict?
- What were the key lessons you learned through your experience?
About The Company

Research the company and its culture.
- What do they value?
- Is there anything that you can find about how they deal with conflict resolution?
Reading comments to their social media posts often prove helpful to see how they react to customers' complaints.
About The Fit
- What have you found out about the company's culture and job description?
- Are they looking for someone who can take charge and resolve conflict?
Tell a story of how you addressed conflict and how it turned a negative into a positive. Try to conclude with your lessons learned or methodology for approaching conflicts - this will show the interviewer that you would be able to apply your methodology to future situations.

Use the STAR method to frame your story.

A key to addressing conflict is listening, communication and emotional intelligence. Highlight these skills.

If you're able to, turn the question around and ask the interviewer if they have experienced the same thing. This will start a conversation, which is the goal of an interview.

This question is asked 3.6x more frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

5 . How would you handle a customer with difficult behavior?

People skills are highly valued in every company, and even so much more so in a company that deals with difficult customers occasionally. It is important to show how you can manage difficult personalities.

About Yourself

Look back on your experience. Have you worked with a difficult or disruptive person? Remember how you diffused the situation and how you turned things around.
- Do you have certain principles, or methodology, to deal with difficult people?
- Do you have strong people skills, are you good at conflict resolution?
- Are you high on emotional intelligence? Can you give an example?
About The Company
- What have you found about the company and its culture?
- What have you learned about how the employees value each other?
- How do they treat their customers?
- Knowing their line of business or industry, what can be some examples of difficult customers?
Do your research.
About The Fit

A question like this asked in an interview, may be an indication that difficult customers, or other difficult stakeholders, may indeed be something that you will probably encounter in this company, and it is important for the interviewer to know that you will be able to handle this challenge with good grace.

If you can give an example of how you handled a difficult person in the past in a situation similar to what this company may require from you, this will strongly increase your chances of showing yourself as a good fit.

One methodology for diffusing a difficult situation is called "the triple A" approach:

Acknowledge - what the other person is feeling,
Apologize - for the way the other person is feeling,
Admit - that there was an issue that you are working on to get it resolved.

If it is a customer, it would add that extra touch if you added another "A" to your approach by Asking for the customer's contact information so you can update them of any progress on their issue.

This question is asked 0% less frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

Take a quick quiz and check if you're ready to answer this question at your next job interview:

Pick the best answer:

A If the customer is rude and obnoxious, answer in kind and show him that he cannot push you around.

B Listen carefully to what the customer is saying to really understand their concerns then repeat back to them what you heard to be sure you have it right, before attempting to help them with the problem.

C Tell the customer that he should have known that the sale is final and there is nothing he can do to renegotiate the terms of the deal.

6 . Describe a time you went above and beyond for a customer

This question lets the interviewer know how well you think on your feet and how great your customer service skills are.

About Yourself

Think about the time you were a customer, how were you treated and how could your experience have been made the best?

Now think about the time you had to help a customer. What did you do to make that experience unforgettable for him?
About The Company

Think carefully about the company and what they are looking for. Read online reviews and any other available information.
- What are their standards for treating customers?
- What complaints have you seen that can give you a hint of some of the challenges associated with customer service?
About The Fit

Think of the company's ideals and connect those with your skills and qualifications. Now think of how these requirements are met by how you went above and beyond for a customer.

Frame your story in terms of your STAR method:

S - What was the Situation?
T - What was your Task?
A - What Action did you take?
R - Talk about the Results.

Showing you have compassion and empathy for customers is always an excellent way to answer the question. However, always remember to frame your answers in terms of how the company addresses these issues.

This question is asked 2.5x more frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

7 . Tell me about a time when you went out of your way to satisfy a customer. What was the outcome?

This question lets the interviewer know how well you think on your feet and how great your customer service skills are.

About Yourself

Think about the time you were a customer, how were you treated and how could your experience have been made the best?

Now think about the times you had to help a customer. What did you do to make that experience unforgettable for the customer? How did you exceed expectations?
About The Company

Think carefully about the company and what they are looking for. Have you found any reviews online that can help you identify what the company's greatest challenge is? What are their standards for treating customers?

Do your research.
About The Fit

Think of the company's standards and ideals and connect those with your skills and qualifications.

If you can remember more than one example, choose the one that fits best with the company industry and standards. Make sure you describe the positive outcome both for the customer and the company.

Use the STAR method to craft your story.

Showing you have compassion and empathy for customers is always the best way to answer the question. However, always remember to frame your answers in terms of how the company addresses these issues.

This question is asked 4.3x more frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

8 . How did you manage your time in your last job?

Managing your time means giving priorities to certain tasks, and leaving for later other, less important tasks.

That's why it is an important aspect of any professional role, regardless of the industry in which you work.

The ability to manage your time impacts your productivity and reflects how well you can manage your resources.

Managers ask this question to see the ways potential hires handle their workloads. A strong reply shows how the potential employee would fit in at the company.

About Yourself

To answer this question effectively, describe in detail how you establish priorities, set deadlines, and determine schedules.
- What helps you to manage your time at work?
- Do you always prioritize your tasks making a to-do list?
- Maybe you are using a digital calendar or other specific techniques that help you manage your time?
- How do you limit distractions?
- How do you manage deadlines?
- How do you balance work and personal life?
- How do you manage stress at work?
About The Company

Research the company, its culture and the job description.
- What do you expect to be doing in this job?
- How would your performance be measured?
- What will your responsibilities be?
- Who will decide the order of the tasks to fulfill?
About The Fit

Showing your ability to manage your time can make you a more appealing candidate for a job.

As you describe the importance of time management skills, incorporate some of the ways you have been able to improve your ability to handle tasks and avoid distractions.

Show your interviewer how valuable time management is to you and explain how you believe it benefits you in your career.

Mention techniques you have used to increase productivity. Instead of just listing tactics, your replies should be based on real situations in which responsibilities were effectively completed.

This example can fit any job you are applying to:

"I like to list all the things I have to do and divide them in more manageable bits. In this way, I feel a great deal less stressed and I manage to focus on what I am doing, instead of worrying about everything else and not getting anything done. Asking for help is key as well, and I don't mean getting somebody to actually help me with my workload. Having somebody I can talk with for a few minutes and remind me that I'll get through this and that I am capable of doing so successfully can really fuel me."

Stick to this plan if you want to be efficient at work:

Draw up a work plan
Plan 60% of your time to have extra time for unexpected important tasks
Determine the approximate duration of each task
Motivate yourself to work and give yourself small rewards and take regular breaks
Properly distribute the workload
Fight against the disruptors of your time like social media websites.

This question is asked 13.0x more frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

9 . Describe a time when you had to overcome a significant obstacle on a job

This is a tough question because you're forced to talk about a difficult time with a complete stranger. Fortunately, it's also a great opportunity to turn a big challenge into a great accomplishment.

This question is designed to help the interviewer discover what type of problem-solver you are.

Why do employers ask this question?

It's because they want to know that they're hiring someone who can think on their feet and who is resilient when facing challenges.

About Yourself

It's your chance to show that in tough times you turn to your inner strength and possess skills to find the right solutions.

You probably had to solve many problems daily at work. It's high time to remember them.

If you do not prepare examples in advance, this question will get you off guard and you will find it difficult to remember all the details on the move.

Start with recalling a few examples of real obstacles you coped with. For each of them, think about:
- What was the project or task you were trying to accomplish?
- What was the obstacle? This can be a specific problem related to your job or a higher-order issue across the organization.
- What steps did you take to address the issue?
- What decisions did you have to make?
- How did the company benefit from your decisions?
- How would you describe your approach, or what lessons have you learned?
Be careful how you respond to this question. Make sure that you select a difficult work situation where you were not the cause.
About The Company

When you research the company, try and find out what kind of challenges they are facing. Try to find out what they need in terms of problem resolution.

Search for online reviews, complaints and any other useful resources. What problems and obstacles can the employees face with this position?
About The Fit

This is your opportunity to showcase your problem-solving skills, resilience, and strength of character. Talk through your problem-solving process and show how you can think on your feet.

Pick an example relevant to the position you are aiming for.

Let's say, you are applying for a blog writing job. The job description mentions that a successful candidate must have experience working "in a dynamic environment."

You could mention a situation in which you had to write an article on short notice because your coworker failed at the last moment to complete the assignment. You were short of time but worked extra hours to prepare the article successfully and on time.

This answer would show your experience in blog writing, your sense of responsibility, ability to achieve results under stress, your willingness to go the extra mile, your problem-solving skills.

This question is not about your past, it's how you deal with things that will happen in the future, so try to keep your answer short and focused.

After all, the interviewer is really looking for what you took away from the situation and doesn't need to know the full backstory of what happened.

Use the STAR method to prepare your story and practice it so that you can stay within 1-2 minutes.

Make sure to show that you remained positive when overcoming a hurdle at work. Positive attitudes lead to positive outcomes.

This question is asked 2.7x more frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

10 . Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This question belongs to a family of behavioral, or even more precisely, reflective questions.

The interviewer wants to see whether you are reflective about yourself, whether you are ambitious and strive to grow as a professional, whether you like to learn and develop your skills.

They are also looking for your ambitions to fit the career path opportunities related to the position you are applying for.

About Yourself

Presumably, you are interested to grow professionally.

Think about the possibilities that may lie ahead for you: take a personality test (I recommend 16Personalities which is based on Myers-Briggs test), research the internet on what career paths are possible with your skills and current job.

What challenges do you like overcoming?

For example, if you are applying for a software tester position, you may find it fascinating to master automated testing in full and eventually become a software engineer, or you may be a natural trainer and love coaching other people which may lead you to become a QA team or department lead, or you may be more interested in understanding business aspects of requirements which may logically lead you into a Business Analyst position.

However, if you are happy just where you are and want to further your current skills, that is also fine as long as there is a growth path for you that can be imagined and described.
About The Company

Research the company to learn what career opportunities may be available in the department you are applying to, and what the trends are in the company in general.
- Is the business expanding, are they opening new locations, or starting new projects?
- Or are they heavily automating and cutting staff?
Let's say you are applying for a UX designer position for a brand-new product.

In the future, if the product becomes a success - which is what the company hopes for - the company will hire more designers and you may become a lead designer, or you may become a product manager.

On a side note: If you train your mind to be open to opportunities you will be amazed at how much this world has to offer to you!
About The Fit

And, of course, try to see where the perfect fit lies between your own potential and aspirations, and the company's trends and hopes.

However, beware of the risk of showing too much excitement for future opportunities compared to your attitude towards the current position.

If you aren't really excited about the position you are applying for and you demonstrate this lack of enthusiasm, the interviewer may conclude that you are not a good fit for the current position.

Try to find a source of excitement in the current position as well, otherwise, you may be doing yourself a disservice by applying to a position you will find boring in 2-3 months.

This question gives you a good opportunity to showcase your Key Selling Points (e.g. "As I am very good at delegating tasks, I can easily see myself leading a team of software testers in the future…"), and end your statement by asking about current initiatives and goals at the company.

It is generally NOT a good idea to say something like:

"Oh, I cannot imagine what happens to me tomorrow, let alone in 5 years".

This will show you as a person who is unimaginative and not forward-thinking enough to grow with and be a good fit for the company.

This question is asked 67% less frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

11 . What one skill do you possess that you think will be the most important to a hiring manager?

Employers place a lot of emphasis on finding candidates with the right skills and competencies for their organizations.

Depending on the career sector and profession you choose to work in, there are very specific skills, abilities and knowledge needed to do the job well.

The interviewer asks this question to make sure you will be a good fit with your skills and experience and will be a great addition to their team.

About Yourself

If you're not sure which skill would be best to share, consider your previous work experiences.
- Where did you excel?
- What would your peers say you're especially proficient at?
- Have you ever received recognition for meeting a particular objective or excelling in a specific area?If so, your skills likely assisted you in reaching this achievement.
- What personal talents or attributes helped you meet that milestone?
Ask former coworkers or managers to help you to determine your strengths that made you unique. Imagine yourself as a manager who needs an employee to fill the position you are currently applying for.

What would you as the manager expect from a candidate for this job?
About The Company

Start by reviewing the job description and making note of any required skills or abilities that match your own.

The job posting is a great guide for what employers want to see in candidates. In addition to job requirements, consider the depiction of the company and its culture in the job description.

Be sure to research the company by reviewing its website for additional information to get to know what skill you should mention.
About The Fit

It's important to highlight your best hard and soft skills (your Key Selling Points) to position yourself as a well-rounded candidate.

Though you may have several different areas of strength, include only those that are relevant to the job. Adaptability, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and effective communication – it is the list of most common soft skills that can be helpful in any job, so you can choose the one to share with the hiring manager that best describes you.

But to make your answer stronger, the skill should be specific to the job you are applying for. Be certain to give examples of how this skill helped you in your last job.

It is important to be able to distinguish your skills from personal qualities. The first are acquired in the process of work and training, and the second characterize you as a person.

This question is asked 4.8x more frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

12 . What is your ideal work environment?

Happy and motivated employees are great at work when compared to employees who are uncomfortable with the organization's work culture. This means that work culture plays an important role in the performance of the employees.

Interviewers ask this question to understand your potential in the workplace and your personality; they want to uncover whether you're the sort of individual who can excel in the type of environment they offer.

About Yourself

To describe your ideal work environment, you need to make the answer fit both your professional and personal preferences.
- What inspires and motivates you?
- What kind of work environment helps you to be at your best?
- What talents can you reveal when you are comfortable?
- What aspects of your character can increase your professional opportunities?
- Are you flexible enough to adjust to different environments without any issues if needed?
About The Company

Your answer should reflect the working environment of the business you're interviewing with, so it's important that you research the company thoroughly.

Head over to their website and read their mission statement and other hints at their culture.

Look on LinkedIn for any contacts you may have that know about the company (or even better, that actually work or worked there) and reach out to them for insights. Read feedbacks on websites like Glassdoor.
- What goals does the company have?
- Does it have formal or informal structures?
- What does it value in its employees?
About The Fit

Work environment not only means the culture of the company but also refers to the physical place where you will be working.

In addition to considering the type of company you will be working for, you should also think about things such as the size of the office, the size of your future team, and what you see around you, when you are in for the interview.

Make sure that your vision aligns with the company's existing cultural and physical environment.

Regardless of the size of the company, you should be able to tell the interviewer why that company fits what you are looking for.

If you are applying to a larger company, you might want to emphasize that job security is important to you.

If your prospective job is with a smaller company - state that knowing everyone's name allows you to feel connected.

To convince them that you're the ideal candidate you should focus on your aspirations for future and professional growth.

Also, mention your teamwork skills. Say that it should be the place where you can work with different people to produce the best results possible.

Ensure the interviewer that you are someone who knows exactly what you want.

If you want to leave a lasting impression of yourself, don't build your answer just with the company, its website information and its manner of operations.

Try to be unique and stay away from clichés.

This question is asked 6.5x more frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

13 . What is your greatest weakness?

This question ranks as the most challenging for many people. Fortunately, Mr. Simon is here to help!

Interviewers ask this question to gauge your level of self-awareness, your honesty and openness, and your capability for self-improvement.

About Yourself

No one is perfect and your interviewer doesn't expect you to be perfect either.

While it is good to be honest and open, it will not help you to put yourself down.

What's important is to find a weakness that you have overcome or something that is not related to the position for which you are applying.

For example, one of our clients admitted that he is not very good at public speaking and that he has recently become a member of Toastmasters International to improve. What a respectful answer and approach, in my view!
About The Company

Research the company (website, social media, etc) to learn about the company culture.

What personal and professional qualities do they value?
About The Fit

It is important that the weakness you decide to talk about is not one that will prevent you from performing the job for which you're applying.

For example, if you're applying for a front-end developer position, do not talk about how you are struggling to understand HTML code.

Use this question to sell yourself!

It's important to show how well you've overcome a weakness by motivating yourself and learning a new skill to grow professionally.

This question is asked 60% less frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

Take a quick quiz and check if you're ready to answer this question at your next job interview:

Which of the following would be the best answer:

A Sometimes I just work too hard

B I have trouble saying "no" when a colleague asks for help and I have my own work to finish

C I am a perfectionist

D I cannot think of a single thing

14 . What are your long-term goals?

Even in this age of the so-called Gig Economy, employers are always looking for people who can become their strong and loyal "soldiers," a part of their "army" to help them conquer their market share against their competitors.

So, even if at this moment this job may be a temporary contract, you never know what opportunities may present themselves to you in this company.

Trust me, your hiring manager doesn't know either!

So, be open to opportunities and use this question to emphasize how your personal goals correspond with those of the company.

About Yourself

Start with honestly assessing yourself. (At this moment, you are not sharing these thoughts with anyone, so be as open as you can).

Imagine that you have all the resources in the world and that all roads are open for you.
- How would you use them?
- Which road(s) would you choose?
- What do you see on the horizon in that direction?
Be audacious and don't limit yourself. There is no longer a perspective than "long-term," so be as futuristic as you possibly can.

List a few "road" options that you would be enthusiastic about going down.

For example, this list may be as broad as the following:

• writer
• choir director
• software engineer and architect
• CEO of a unicorn startup company,
• entrepreneur.

As William Shakespeare once said, "We know what we are, but we know not what we may be."
About The Company

Now, look at the company.
- What is the industry they operate in?
- What is the position you are applying for, and what are potential career growth possibilities within the department, company, and industry?
About The Fit

Which of your "road" options correspond best with the opportunities presented by this company?

Highlight this option and focus on it. Imagine, in as much detail as you can, going down this road.

What would be the major milestones for you, in order to move towards your goal?

Describe the chosen option by focusing on the first 1-2 milestones, and by presenting it in light of company goals and current initiatives.

For example, if you are applying for a project manager position in a corporation engaged in the education industry, and your "road" option is "CEO," your next career step may be a program manager, or an innovations and research manager.

Explain why you are enthusiastic about reaching these goals, and what makes you think you have the necessary traits and skills to reach them.

How can the company benefit from these traits and skills of yours already today, in the current role you are applying for?

Framing your answer in the same terms used by the company will help ensure the interviewer can easily understand your language and help both of you to be "on the same page."

The easier you make it for the interviewer, the better are your chances they will "vote" for you over other candidates.

This question is asked 40% more frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

15 . Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult or disruptive person. It may be a client, manager, or coworker. How did you handle the situation? What was the outcome?

People skills are highly valued in a company. It is important to show how you can manage difficult personalities, especially if you are applying for a job that involves teamwork, or a lot of interactions with clients.

About Yourself

Look back on your experience. Have you worked with a difficult or disruptive person? Remember a few such situations and how you diffused them and turned things around. What are your approaches to resolving conflicting situations at work?
About The Company
- What have you found about the company and its culture?
- What have you learned about how the employees value each other?
- How do they treat their customers?
- Do they have any specific standards and policies?
About The Fit

Using what you found about the company, choose one of your examples that fits best with the company standards and share your story.

If it's a customer, how did you turn things around and made a customer happy?
If it's a coworker, how did you diffuse a tense or difficult situation?

Use the triple A of diffusing a difficult situation:

Acknowledge - what the other person is feeling,
Apologize - for the way the other person is feeling,
Admit - that there was an issue that you are working on to get it resolved.

If it is a customer, it would add that extra touch if you "Ask" for the customer's contact information so you can update them of any progress on their issue.

This question is asked 66% more frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

16 . Tell me about a time when someone criticized your work in front of others. What did you do?

Everyone has been criticized at one point or another in life and at work.

The ability to handle criticism and respond to it appropriately is half the battle in any job situation.

This question is another way of asking about recognizing your weaknesses and doing something about them.

Asking this question, interviewers want to determine if you are a team player, to gauge how you respond to stressful situations and whether you can take criticism, suggestions and corrections with the right attitude.

About Yourself

Remember a situation from a previous job when someone criticized your work in front of other co-workers.
- When you had such an unpleasant experience, how did you handle it?
- How did you feel at that moment?
- Did critiquing of your work make you defensive, angry or undervalued?
- Or did you own up to the criticism and develop a way to improve your work going forward?
About The Company

Research the company. Read the job description carefully and the list of responsibilities required.

What challenges and kinds of situations may you face in your new role?
About The Fit

To be a good employee, you've always got to be open to criticism.

If you're not open to criticism, then you're not coachable. If you're not coachable, then you're less valuable than you could be.

If you can't think of an example from work, offer an example of a school project, internship, etc. But don't say you have never been criticized.

Using the STAR method, explain a situation where a real person gave you a critique in front of others. Provide relevant details and data as this will help provide an accurate picture of the scene.

Here is an example of an answer:

"In my previous work as a blog writer, I accidentally missed an important sentence from the text that was very critical for the context of the whole article. When we had an organizational meeting where all the staff was present, the supervisor told me about it. I was embarrassed but took the criticism in a positive way because it was really a constructive one and, after all, the error was completely my fault. However, I did not let it shake my self-confidence; instead, I used it to help me improve the quality of my work. I respected his criticism, kept working more efficiently and at the end of the month I completed 2 more articles without a single mistake."

Dealing with criticism doesn't have to be as hard as it seems. Criticism may initially hurt our ego, but in the end, it helps improve our work product.

This question is asked 18.9x more frequently at Stitch Fix than at other companies.

You don't have to be alone in your job search!

Mr. Simon invites you to join the Work Search Buddy Network that supports both individuals seeking their next job role and working professionals. Members of our network come together to learn and practice new skills and network with others through our regular interactive events where they establish meaningful connections and have a chance to promote their personal brand and stand out in the marketplace.

Join our Work Search Buddy Network Meetup Group to become part of our growing and supportive community!

This page has been updated on November 15, 2020 .