How To Get A Job At Costco

By Abby McCain - May. 17, 2021
Articles In Guide

Find a Job You Really Want In

In This Article   
Skip to section

Costco is a warehouse full of great deals, bulk packaging, and free samples. A great place to grocery shop if you’re trying to feed a family on a budget, it’s also a great place to find a job. Whether you’re retired and want a part-time job to keep you busy and give you some extra cash or you’re looking for a way to start your career, Costco has something for everyone.

In this article, you’ll find information about the types of jobs Costco offers, how to find openings, and tips for applying.

Why Work at Costco

Costco is based in Issaquah, Washington. It is one of the largest retailers in the world and operates in 12 different countries. While this in and of itself isn’t necessarily a compelling reason to find a job there, this does mean that you’ll likely have a lot of opportunities to move to different roles and even locales.

Costco even states that its goal is to fill as many of its management roles as much as possible by promoting within. In fact, many of the organization’s current managers and vice presidents started as entry-level employees.

In addition, even though it is a massive organization, it still consistently ranks on Forbes’ top five “America’s Best Employers” list, and its own employees’ reviews caused it to rank at the top of Camparably’s best culture awards lists for several years in a row.

In 2021, Costco won Best Places to Work in Seattle, and in 2020, it won Best Company Perks and Benefits and Best Company for Employee Happiness. The organization won 15 more awards in 2019 and almost as many in 2018 and 2017.

All in all, Costco’s employees are happy with their work environments.

Finding a Job at Costco

If you’re ready to apply for a position at a Costco warehouse, depot, or similar business, you can generally do so from the Jobs page of the Costco website. Occasionally there are openings at locations that aren’t listed online, so you should plan to apply in person at these locations.

New locations under construction won’t start hiring until about three months before they open, so if you know of a Costco opening soon and don’t see it listed, simply check back again later instead of applying in person.

If you’re looking for a corporate job, an I.T. position, or are a licensed professional such as an optometrist, hearing aid dispenser, or pharmacist; there are separate portals for your job applications that are listed on the Jobs page.

Costco also offers a variety of internships, so check into those as well.

Applying Online

When you visit Costco’s Jobs page, you’ll see a variety of instructions on how to apply for the different positions. For most of them, though, you’ll click the “Apply Now” button at the top of the page.

Once you do that, you’ll be directed to a third-party website where you can click the headers at the top of the page and browse for jobs by location or by category.

If you already know which position you want to apply for, you can click the two tabs below that header to select whether you want to “Apply to a Location Near You” or “Apply to a Specific Position.”

Once you start an application, it will be active for 90 days, so you have some time to finish it. You can access it again by logging back in with the username and password you create when you start your application.

After you submit your application, keep in mind that you may not receive an email updating you about your application status. So, if you have questions about this, you should call the location that you applied to.

Writing Your Resume and Cover Letter for a Costco Job

When you’re filling out your application and writing your resume and cover letter, it can be helpful to know what the company you’re applying to is looking for in its employees.

According to Costco’s Jobs page, the company is looking for “ambitions, energetic” people who enjoy “a fast-paced team environment filled with challenges and opportunities.” Further on in this page and in its job descriptions, Costco says it’s looking for these qualities in its employees:

  • Service-oriented

  • Full of integrity

  • Commitment to excellence

Costco also shares its organizational values:

  • Commitment to quality

  • Entrepreneurial spirit

  • Employee focus

Wherever you can, especially in your cover letter and resume, give examples of how you’ve demonstrated these qualities and furthered these values in the past, whether that was in school or at another job.

The Hiring Process at Costco

Typically, it takes two to three weeks to get to your final interview after you submit your application.

During this time, you’ll likely have your initial in-person interview with a few different managers. This meeting is an initial screening to see if they want to invite you to the second round of interviews.

Once you get to the second round, you may meet with some of the same managers you met previously to answer more in-depth questions.

Often, these first and second-round interviews are held with multiple interviewers and sometimes even multiple interviewees. Because of this, you should be prepared for panel or group interviews in addition to a few one-on-one meetings.

Even though there’s no guarantee that your application process will match this timeline exactly, having an idea of how Costco goes about hiring its employees may help you know what you’re getting into and allow you to put your best foot forward.

Requirements for Getting a Job at Costco

Each open position at Costco will have its own requirements, so make sure you pay attention to those before you apply.

As far as general requirements go, though, to get a job at a Costco warehouse, you have to be at least 18 years old, pass a drug test, and have any necessary certifications for your position.

5 Commonly Asked Interview Questions

As you prepare for your interview, it’s a good idea to practice answering some common interview questions. Here are a few that you’ll likely encounter when you’re interviewing with Costco:

  1. Why should we hire you?

    This is your chance to talk about what makes you shine as an applicant. Talk about the unique experience you have that makes you a great fit for the position, how your interests and values align with the organization’s, or how your skills will benefit the company.

    Your answer will look different according to your unique background and the position you’re applying for, but those categories are usually good ones to talk about.

    As you answer, be honest about your abilities instead of either downplaying or embellishing them. This will allow you to show what you’re really capable of without sounding full of yourself.

  2. Why do you want to work at Costco?

    Hiring managers often ask this question to see how invested you are in the organization. Employers want to hire employees who are enthusiastic about their work, so make sure you share what attracted you to the company and the position.

    Your answer can be as simple as,

    “I have a friend who works here, and after hearing about her experience, I decided I wanted to work here too.”

    Just make sure that whatever you say is truthful, as hiring managers will be able to tell if you’re just giving them lip service.

    Take some time before your interview to prepare an answer to this question. Look back at the company values and job description to see how you can get behind Costco’s mission, values, or culture.

  3. Tell me about a time you provided excellent customer service.

    This is an example of a behavioral or situational interview question. In other words, the interviewer wants you to tell a story that demonstrates how you’ve used the skills that you’ve listed on your resume in the real world.

    When you answer, use the STAR method to structure your story:

    1. Situation – Describe the circumstances of your story to provide some background to the listeners.

    2. Task – What was your job in this situation? Talk about what you needed to accomplish in response to the circumstances.

    3. Action – What did you do to accomplish the task? Explain the specific steps you took.

    4. Result – Did the action you took make a difference? If so, how? Give as many specifics as you can, down to the positive customer review you got after the interaction or the pat on the back from your manager.

    Just remember to truly answer the question and show that you know both what constitutes excellent customer service and how to provide it.

  4. Describe a time you encountered a difficult customer. How did you respond?

    Follow the same STAR method for this question as you did for the last one. As you answer, just make sure you focus on your response to the situation and the results of that response more than you do on the difficult customer. You don’t want to turn your interview into a rant.

  5. Tell me about a time you had to multitask.

    Again, since this is a situational interview question, tell a story using the STAR method. Your story doesn’t have to be about something that happened at work, though, especially if you don’t have any previous work experience.

    You can use examples of how you managed a full class load, how you had to juggle multiple things at once at a volunteer job, or even how you manage all of your kids’ needs and schedules at one time.

Common Jobs at Costco

Costco warehouses have a variety of positions that they often need to be filled. Like the licensed optician position, some require some specific training that you can’t get at Costco, but many are good entry-level opportunities.

Check out this list to see if any of these positions fit your skills and interests:

There are additional opportunities outside of Costco’s warehouses. Costco Depots are often looking for power equipment operators and truck drivers; for instance, their business and delivery centers need Class B licensed drivers and order pickers, and their call centers often need customer service representatives.

In addition, Costco’s corporate offices have more than a few job opportunities:

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Articles In Guide
Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Abby McCain

Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.

Related posts

Topics: Apply For Jobs, Get The Job