How To Get A Job At H&M, The Ultimate Guide

H&M has come a long way since 1947. Starting life as a boutique in Sweden, H&M now has stores worldwide. It offers superior benefits and promotes internally, making the company very attractive to applicants. This article discusses what you need to know about the company and the best practices so you can learn how to get a job at H&M easily.

What Positions Are Available at H&M?

H&M hires for a variety of positions. Just because you aren’t suitable for one role doesn’t mean there’s no place for you at H&M. The below posts are all available and detailed on the H&M website:

Retail Store Manager

Store managers curate the H&M experience. They are responsible for leading employees and ensuring a positive experience for customers. Managers oversee the store’s layout; every aspect of the shop is their responsibility.

Retail Sales Advisor

Sales advisors interact directly with consumers. They provide customer service and keep the day-to-day functions of the shop running smoothly.

Visual Merchandiser

Visual merchandisers create the image of the store. Visually creative candidates would thrive in this position. Visual merchandisers create displays and window scenes.

Retail Department Manager

The retail department manager is in charge of the sales floor. This employee manages the sales advisors and helps them ensure associates care for and attend to customers.

Area Controller

Area controllers oversee the running of stores in a defined geographic location. They observe and help manage all of the stores in their area, utilizing information on sales and trends to make business decisions.

Area Visual Manager

Area Visual Managers are similar to area controllers in that they oversee several stores in a specific area. However, the area visual manager establishes the aesthetics of the store. They communicate with individual stores’ visual merchandisers to ensure each shop meets H&M’s standards.

Customer Service Agent

Customer service agents are trouble-shooters. They speak directly to customers to assist them with any shopping needs or problems that may arise.

Stockroom Associate

A stockroom associate oversees and manages H&M’s inventory.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at H&M?

H&M hires 18-year-olds to work as sales advisors, stockroom associates, and department supervisors. The store prefers applicants who have a GED or High School Diploma and six months of retail experience.

How Do You Apply to H&M?

You can apply to H&M directly through their website. The search function allows you to explore jobs based on the following criteria:

H&M’s jobs fall into a variety of categories. These are:

• Communications & PR
• Controlling
• Customer Service
• E-commerce
• Facilities, Construction Development & Leasing
• Finance & Accounting
• Human Resources
• Interior Design
• Legal, Compliance & Audit
• Logistics
• Marketing
• Merchandising
• Sales & Operations
• Security
• Store
• Tech & Business Development

Additionally, you can filter by location. Each state can refine searches. H&M has stores located in cities throughout the United States. The website allows you to limit your job search to your chosen city.

H&M’s last search criteria are “type.” You can select what type of job you want based on the below categories:

• Contract
• Full-Time
• Intern
• Part-Time

Review the Job Description

The more you know about the job you are applying for, the better your chances of getting hired. H&M hires for a variety of positions. Please make sure the job you are applying for is the one you want, and once you are qualified, go ahead and send out an application.

Revise your Cover Letter and Resume

First impressions hit the hardest. Your resume and cover letter are your chance to introduce yourself and shape how potential employers view you. Revise both documents to reflect your interest in the specific job you’re applying for.

Cover Letter

Your cover letter is your chance to introduce yourself. You offer your very first impression through a cover letter, and you want it to be a positive one. Make sure you include all relevant experiences. As much as possible, tailor your cover letter to the position you are pursuing. Keep it relatively brief; one page should suffice.

Resume

Your resume is a comprehensive list of your skills and experience. Make it concise but exact. Employers refer to your resume to account for your skills and ability. Make sure it is current.

H&M responds to applicants in around two weeks.

Interviewing with H&M

Congratulations, you applied and it looks like you got an interview! Now it’s time to prepare for the interview so you have the best chance at getting the job.

Dress for Success

H&M interviews have no specifics dress code. While you don’t need to dress with the fastidiousness of a Wall Street interview, you should care about your appearance. Select an outfit that expresses your personality while respecting the interviewer and the job.

Prepare for the Interview Questions

Staying calm is easier in theory than execution. A lot is riding on an interview; it is natural to find that stressful. Try to maintain a calm, cool head. Remember, an interviewer is weighing your answers but also assessing your personality and how you will fit into a company. Show them who you are.

While there is no definitive guide to what questions an interviewer will ask, there are standards that frequently arise. Preparing answers to these questions give you an edge in an interview and will help you feel ready and confident.

Tell Me About Yourself

Consider this the cover letter portion of the interview. Tell the interviewer who you are, but relate it to the job as much as possible. Be concise; never say in 50 words what you can say in five.

What Do You Know About H&M?

Here’s where a little research can go a long way. Expressing knowledge of H&M serves two valuable purposes.

First, it shows that you care enough to know about the company and its policies. Employers appreciate applicants who put in the effort to see the business.

Second, an interviewee who already knows about the company will not need as much teaching as one coming in green.

Your Greatest Strength

Again, tie this directly back to the job. You researched the position, now use that knowledge! “What’s your greatest strength” tacitly means “correlated to this position.” Explain how that particular ability aids you in doing the job you are pursuing.

Your Greatest Weakness

Of course, the evil twin of “what’s your greatest strength” is “what’s your greatest weakness.” This question is frustrating but can be advantageous if you prepare for it. Take ownership of your weakness, and address how you strive to improve. Showing awareness will prove you are diligent, aware, and prepared to do the work necessary to overcome your flaws.

Dealing With an Upset Customer

Remember, the first rule of any customer service position is that the customer is always right. In reality, the customer often isn’t, but you need to be prepared to de-escalate any situation and accommodate customers when and where you can.

Acquaint yourself thoroughly with H&M’s policies regarding customer service. Know their approach to returns and exchanges. Again, specificity is a considerable advantage. Show that you are prepared to handle angry customers in a compatible way with H&M’s standards.

Why Should H&M Hire You?

Be as specific as you can. Draw a direct correlation between the job you are interviewing for and your particular strengths.

Why Do You Want to Work at H&M?

Employers appreciate enthusiasm. Express what the job excites you, and explain how that zeal translates to a thriving working environment.

Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

Employers love to ask about your plans. They look for employees who intend to have a long future with the company. Prepare an answer that shows ambition but also loyalty.

Put that research to work again. Mention careers within H&M that you are interested in someday pursuing. Know what jobs are available and which you can hope to aspire to.

Explain What Superior Service Means to You

You want happy customers. Happy customers are returning customers! Generally speaking, good customer service prioritizes three things:

• Speed
• Accuracy
• Friendliness/Helpfulness

These principles apply to any customer service job. Find ways to make them specific to H&M for your interview.

What Motivates You?

Questions about your motivation provide good opportunities to show your values align with H&M’s. Don’t say money or discounts. H&M knows applicants are invested in compensation. Employers want to know that you are invested in working for them for reasons beyond pay.

Inversely, let your interviewer know you are urged on by:

• Deadlines
• Teaching Opportunities
• Learning Opportunities
• Problem Solving
• Creative approaches
• Teamwork

What Hours Are You Available?

This question seems relatively straightforward and mostly is. It is always beneficial to show you are adaptable with your time. Expressing a willingness to work nights, weekends, and holidays can give you an edge over other applicants.

Why Did You Leave Your Last Position?

This is a bit of a loaded question. Be honest, but know what to avoid in an answer. Do not:

• Bad-mouth, your previous employer
• Blame it on low pay
• Say the commute took too long

It is best to frame leaving as a desire to grow. Always express appreciation for your prior position. Make it clear that you don’t hold any ill will. Indicate that you didn’t necessarily want to stop working at your last job, so much as you want to work at H&M.

Your Questions for H&M

Every interviewer ends by asking the applicant if they have any questions. Asking questions shows a degree of genuine interest and investment. Please indicate that you’re giving as much consideration to the position as they are to hiring you. Here are a few suggestions:

What Is Your Favorite Thing About Working Here?

Besides expressing reflexive interest, this shows that you are already thinking about what the culture is like and how you would fit into it.

Who Is Your Ideal Candidate for This Role?

Interest in their perfect hire shows a willingness to adapt to the culture. It also shows that you care about meeting H&M’s expectations. Asking about their ideal candidate may also provide you with a measure of peace of mind; you will know if you are a good fit, with a better chance.

What Are the Most Challenging Aspects of the Job?

Expressing an interest in the most challenging part of the role shows that you are mentally preparing. It also shows that you do not have unrealistic expectations that the job will only be easy.

What Are the Best Ways for Me to Learn the Job?

Employers want to see enthusiastic applicants. Asking how to learn the tasks required of the position shows that you intend to be accountable for your success. It also suggests that you will be a strong self-starter.

What Opportunities Will There Be for Growth Within the Company?

Expressing a desire to learn and grow within the company establishes that you want to remain. An applicant hoping to stay for a long time will put in a great deal of work and effort.

Now you know how to get a job at H&M. But what about the benefits of working at the company?

What Are the Benefits of Working at H&M?

Pay is only one consideration when pursuing a job in fashion. Applicants should consider all the potential benefits of working for a company. H&M is an attractive employer precisely because it offers many perks to its employees. These include:

Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, and Paid Sick Days

Employees are also individuals. They get sick, take trips and celebrate holidays. Paid time away from work is a huge incentive to work at H&M.

Performance Bonuses

Having your work and effort acknowledged is a massive motivator for anyone. That acknowledgment coming in a monetary bonus is all the better.

401K and Retirement Plan

Savings and retirement plans are complicated. H&M helps employees establish accounts with minimal effort.

Insurance

Everyone needs insurance. Buying insurance without the assistance of an employer is complicated and expensive. H&M offers the following insurances:

• Health
• Dental
• Vision
• Life
• Disability
• Pet

Mental Health Care

Investing in employees’ mental health shows that H&M values their workers beyond their labor.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

H&M wants its employees to remain with them. They provide workers with time off, should they choose to grow their families.

Wellness Programs

H&M offers access to wellness programs for their employees.

How to Get a Job at H&M, Closing Thoughts

H&M is a desirable company to work for, for myriad reasons. Don’t let the inevitable glut of candidates scare you from applying. Do your homework, research, prepare and refine, and you’ll be working at H&M in no time.