PetSmart Interview Questions

Getting ready for a PetSmart interview? Reviewing common PetSmart interview questions can help you feel more confident and prepared. PetSmart hires for roles like store associate, cashier, groomer, and pet care specialist, and interviews often focus on customer service, teamwork, and comfort working with animals.

This page covers common PetSmart interview questions, interview difficulty, dress code tips, and what the hiring process is usually like. If you’re applying for a job at PetSmart, this guide will help you understand what to expect before your interview.

Top Questions Asked in PetSmart Interviews

Can you tell us about yourself?

Here’s the deal!

• If you want to stand out from the competition, you need to demonstrate to the interviewer that you have relevant work experience.
• For example, if you are in a cashier interview, talk about any cash handling or customer service experience you have.
• If you don’t have any experience, it’s okay, as PetSmart hires many first-time employees. Talk about any volunteer experience, or say you have been focusing on school and want to prove yourself in the workforce.

What can you tell us about PetSmart?

About PetSmart

• PetSmart, Inc., is a large specialty pet retailer that provides services and solutions for pets’ lifetime needs.
• PetSmart operates over 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
• The company opened its first two stores in Arizona under the PetFood Warehouse brand in 1987.
• In 1989, the name and logo changed from PetFood Warehouse to PetsMart.
• In 2005, the company changed its name again from PetsMart to PetSmart, signifying that it sold more than pet food.
• The company is publicly traded and listed on the NASDAQ exchange.
• In addition to selling pet food, PetSmart offers a range of pet products, dog training services, doggie daycare, pet hotels, and grooming services.
• In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017.

Why do you want to work for PetSmart?

Now!

You will want to wow the interviewer with your response.

Here are some great answers:

• Say you read that PetSmart formed PetSmart Charities Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding homes for homeless pets. PetSmart has organized over 7 million adoptions. Mention that you would be proud to work for a company that started such a fantastic charity.
• Say you would like to grow your career in retail and feel you could learn a lot at PetSmart. State that you read how PetSmart has evolved from being more than just a pet supply store to a solution-oriented company (remember, PetSmart offers more than just pet food; they provide a range of services, from dog training to pet grooming to pet adoption).

Why should I hire you?

What you want to do here is reread the job description, identify the critical skills they are looking for, and reassure the interviewer that you possess those skills.

For example, suppose you are on a PetSmart Cashier Interview.  The job description states

Cashiers are an integral part of creating sincere connections with Pet Parents. Cashiers provide excellent customer service by greeting our Pet Parents upon arrival and ensuring they had an outstanding shopping experience upon check-out. Being a cashier is more than just ringing up merchandising and taking payments.  We look to our cashiers as the ambassadors of the entire store. Our cashiers have extensive knowledge of our products and services and provide energetic customer service.

Here, we can see that you need good communication skills, as you will be working with customers.  They have to be knowledgeable about products that require quick learning. You must be energetic, as the work can become very busy, so you need to work well under pressure.

So in this example, when asked why PetSmart should hire you as their cashier, say

• Mention that you possess excellent communication skills, which will enable you to work effectively with customers.
• Say you are a quick learner, which will enable you to be knowledgeable about all PetSmart products and answer any questions customers may have.
• Finally, state that you are energetic, which will allow you to work well under pressure when times get busy.

How would you define excellent customer service?

• The staff can answer customer questions about the products or pets.
• The store is clean both inside and out.
• The customer never has to wait too long for service.

What hours can you work?

• The more flexible you are with your hours, the better chance you have of landing the job. This is especially true if you are on a PetSmart Early Morning Stocker Interview.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Remember, you need an answer to this question, as it demonstrates that you have goals and ambition.

• If you don’t know what you want to do in five years, search for jobs on popular job sites and find a position you can do in five years. Perhaps you can search for jobs in retail management, marketing, veterinary medicine, or veterinary technology and see if those fields interest you.
• Tip! Look at other PetSmart Jobs at the management level (this will make you sound like you’re not a job hopper).

Why do you apply for this position?

• If you are going on a cashier interview, be sure to convey that you are upbeat and outgoing, which will enable you to work well with customers.
• People in a job interview should say they enjoy working with Pets, even if they are difficult to work with, you will enjoy the challenge.
• If you are in a stocker interview, mention that you are very organized and believe you would be a good fit for this role.

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Have you ever worked with Pets?

• If you don’t have any professional experience, talk about any personal experience you have with your pets.

Is there any pet you are afraid to work with?

• Tell the interviewer if you have a fear of a particular pet.  Follow up by saying that if you had the proper training, you would feel more comfortable.

Can you describe a time you provided excellent customer service?

• Try to come up with a specific example from previous work experience.

How would you deal with an upset customer?

Interviewers ask this to see if you can stay calm under pressure and handle real customer service situations without making things worse. They want to know if you can listen, show respect, and solve problems while keeping a positive attitude.

How do you deal with stress?

• Remind yourself that it is essential to stay calm.
• First, you prioritize your issues, and if they are not critical, you deal with the ones you can finish the fastest.
• Say you are not afraid to ask for help when available.

Why did you leave your last job?

If you had a conflict with your former employee, it is best not to mention it!

Here are potential responses:

• Although I enjoyed my previous job, I felt that I had learned all I could in my role, and now I am seeking new challenges.
• I wanted to focus on school.
• My commute was too far.

Who are PetSmart’s Competitors?

• PetSmart’s competitors include Chewy, Petco, Walmart, Target, and Amazon.

PetSmart Second Interview

• The second interview will be with the store manager.  If you study the questions above, you will do fine!

PetSmart Interview Attire

• If you are interviewing for an entry-level position, such as a pet care interview associate or a bather, dress business casual.
• If you are interviewing for a management position, then dress formally.

PetSmart Drug Test

• PetSmart wants to maintain a workplace that is free of drug and alcohol abuse.  All applicants for employment are subject to drug testing.

PetSmart Interview Tips

• Learn as much as you can about PetSmart. Be sure to learn about all the products PetSmart offers, and don’t be afraid to read its annual reports.
• Arrive 10 minutes early, but please do not arrive too early.
• Don’t speak too fast, as you will sound nervous, or too slow, as you will sound dull.
• Make good eye contact throughout the interview and sit up straight.
• If the interviewer says you can ask questions any time, take the hint and don’t wait until the end.

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• Share Your Interview Experience – Help Others Prepare