Home Depot Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

The Home Depot is the store that many people love spending an afternoon roaming. The home improvement mecca has 2,200 locations across North America, and working within one can provide you with lucrative professional opportunities.

Many people have successfully gone through the hiring process with The Home Depot, and learning from their experience can improve your performance in an interview.

Key Takeaways:

• The Home Depot interview questions will test your knowledge and interest working at the company.

• The Home Depot seeks employees with great customer service skills who are eager to learn.

• Make sure to bring up specific examples in your interview answers that show how your skills were put into action.

• Remember to ask questions yourself at the interview. This will highlight your level of interest.

Example Answers To Common Interview Questions at The Home Depot

Having a general idea of the answers you’ll give to interview questions will help you perform better under pressure. To prepare, read through the following common questions The Home Depot asks potential hires during an interview.

1. Do you have experience in home maintenance or DIY projects?

   Since The Home Depot is a store centered around solving customer’s home improvement needs, a recruiter will probably ask you if you have experience in this realm. Home Depot also caters to a “Do It Yourself” crowd, so knowledge of these kinds of projects can be helpful for the role.

   How to answer: You should never exaggerate your knowledge or experience in areas. Not having an extensive background in home maintenance won’t necessarily exclude you from consideration, depending on the position. However, dishonesty will.

   If you do have prior experience in home improvement, explain what kinds of projects you’re familiar with briefly.

   Example answer:

   “While my experience in home maintenance is as a novice, I have done some projects. For example, last summer, I undertook painting my bedroom. It was a learning experience, but it turned out really well.”

2. Why do you want to work at Home Depot?

   Most companies will ask you about your motivations behind working for their corporation. It’s a strategic question because it shows them how well the applicant knows Home Depot, in addition to gathering more information about their interest.

   How to answer: Think about what drew you to apply for the position in the first place, and present it as an enticing answer. You don’t want to simply state that you need money. Demonstrate a clear interest in the role and the company itself.

   Example answer:

   “I admire the long-standing success of The Home Depot as a retail company, and I want to improve my retail skills while contributing to customer experience. The competitive benefits package your company offers its employees leads me to believe that The Home Depot genuinely cares about its team. I want to work for a corporation like that.”

3. Tell me about your prior work experience.

   A large part of any interview is describing the past experience that you’ve listed on your resume.

   How to answer: This is one of the answers that you need to remember to keep short during an interview.

   Since it’s a broad question, many applicants give lengthy answers to cover all aspects of their history. Have a succinct synopsis in mind of your most recent and relevant roles.

   Example answer:

   “In my last position, I worked as a restaurant manager for two years. I was promoted to a manager after my first year of working as a waitress. It gave me experience in managing a team and handling customer service needs.”

4. How would you handle a customer being upset because their card was declined?

   Situational questions are a common tactic in a Home Depot interview. It shows the interviewer how you might deal with typical situations you’d encounter on the job. In particular, this question addresses the candidate’s ability to deal with an unhappy customer and an uncomfortable situation.

   How to answer: For this situational question, be very specific and careful in your answer. You want to show the interviewer that you’re equipped to handle a difficult scenario appropriately.

   Example answer:

   “In the event that a customer’s card was declined, I’d let them know without bringing unwanted attention and offer them the option to rerun the card. Hopefully, this would fix the problem, but if the card was still declined and the customer was getting frustrated, I’d make sure to display a professional demeanor and act as a solution-based helper to the customer’s difficult situation. I would continue to give options, like using an alternate card, until we reached a successful conclusion.”

5. What is your availability?

   A lot of applicants wrongfully assume that this question means they’ve killed the interview and secured the position. In reality, an interviewer uses it to figure out whether your schedule availability will meet their needs.

   How to answer: Before you go into the interview, consider your availability. This includes how many hours, days, and what shifts you can work. Think about if you’ll be willing to work on holidays, weekends or overtime as well.

   Example answer:

   “I am available for a full-time schedule. I would ideally like to work Monday-Friday in the evenings, but I have some flexibility. I would be open to working overtime and one day over the weekend if needed.”

6. What is your greatest strength?

   Many employers will ask applicants their greatest strength to gauge their self-awareness and understand where their skills will fit best at Home Depot.

   How to answer: While you should avoid sounding conceited, this is an excellent time to put forth confidence in your abilities. The Home Depot hires candidates who are secure in their skills.

   Example answer:

   “My greatest strength is my interpersonal skills. I love working with and being around people. This has given me a lot of valuable insight into how to interact with them effectively.”

7. What are some of The Home Depot’s values?

   An interviewer will favor candidates who know about the company they’re interviewing with over those who don’t. Doing some background research into things like company culture and values will help you answer questions like this one.

   How to answer: The Home Depot states that they have eight core values, any of which you could refer to when asked this question.

   Examples of The Home Depot values include:

   • Customer service

   • Taking care of employees

   • Giving back

   • Behaving ethically

   • Having an entrepreneurial attitude

   • Building relationships

8. What are your salary expectations?

   A lot of people get tripped up when asked by an interviewer what salary they’re expecting. Asking for too much money will likely count you out of the running for the position, and asking for too little may land you with a subpar salary.

   How to answer: Do some research into the market average salary for the specific position within Home Depot you’re applying for. Keeping that number in mind, form a salary range with the bottom number being the least amount you’d be willing to accept.

   Example answer:

   “My expected salary range for the cashier position would be $25,000-$35,000 annually.”

9. Tell me about a time you went out of your way for a customer.

   Since a great deal of Home Depot’s brand is built around exceptional customer service, the ability for their employees to provide this is important. An interviewer will ask you to recall a time you displayed great service for a customer to understand your experience level.

   How to answer: Think back to a time that you had a particularly strong interaction with a customer. Try to find an example that exemplifies your skills and demonstrates you as a capable customer service representative.

   Example answer:

   “In my former position, I worked as a sales associate for a retail clothing store. There was a teenage girl who came into the store for back to school shopping alone.

   Since it was a slow day, I decided to help her find an ideal style for her first day of school. It wasn’t part of my job responsibilities to help her with style choices, or anything beyond purchasing, but I thought it would make her experience better.”

10. Why are you the best person for this position with Home Depot?

    This question is difficult because it requires candidates to form a convincing elevator pitch about themselves and their abilities. It’s usually asked as a closing question at the end of an interview.

    How to answer: This is your last chance to paint yourself in a flattering professional light. Focus on bridging the connection between the requirements they listed for the role and how your skills match them.

    Example answer:

    “I think I’m the best candidate for the sales associate role with Home Depot because I share many of the corporation’s values, such as giving back to the community, and have the necessary skills to succeed in the position. I have five years of previous experience working in a retail sales associate position and strong communication and time-management skills. All qualities that The Home Depot values in its employees.”

Interview Process at The Home Depot

Nobody is offered a position with The Home Depot and an orange apron without getting past the interview process. Employers use interviews to understand what kind of employee you’ll be when hired.

Familiarizing yourself with Home Depot’s interview process will make you a more well-prepared candidate:

1. Submit an application. Start by submitting an application to Home Depot and waiting for a response over the following weeks. You can do this by either searching for open positions in your city on Home Depot Careers and completing an application online.

   Alternatively, you can go to a store in-person and ask to fill out a hardcopy application. With COVID-19 afoot, the latter is less recommended.

2. The first interview. Home Depot will contact most applicants within 1-3 weeks of submitting their application. If your qualifications fit the position needs, they’ll call you for an in-person interview.

   It will involve a sit-down with an established employee who can assess your potential. Sometimes, this will be the only interview you attend. Others will attend a second interview.

3. The second interview. Many applicants will be called in for a second interview before being hired. This can occur for several reasons and differ between locations.

   The second interview will probably be with an employee who holds more seniority on The Home Depot team to validate that you’re a good choice for the job.

4. Onboarding. Once The Home Depot location you’ve applied at has decided that you’re the best candidate for the job, a series of onboarding tasks begin.

   Before officially being brought on, the specific requirements may differ between locations, but the process can involve things like conducting a background check and drug test.

The First Interview at The Home Depot

While many applicants are brought in for a second interview, the first one is where your focus should be. Your performance in both interviews can affect your chances of landing the job, but the first interview is more crucial because it’s the initial assessment of your skills.

The second interview is about confirming these skills and attributes with a higher-ranking supervisor.

How Do I Prepare for a Home Depot Interview?

To prepare for a Home Depot interview, follow the advice found on their career page:

• Be eager to learn. Hiring managers at The Home Depot don’t expect every candidate to be an expert on home improvement or have oodles of retail experience. They’d rather hear an honest assessment of your current skill level and familiarity with the different departments.

  But most of all, they want to hear that you’re excited to learn more about DIY projects and helping customers enjoy their shopping and home improvement experiences.

• Exhibit excellent customer service skills. Jobs in retail are all about making one person happy: the customer. It’s particularly important at The Home Depot because many customers will arrive with no idea about what they need to accomplish their project goals.

  Beyond being a knowledgeable candidate, Home Depot hiring managers are looking for someone who can make people comfortable and well-attended. If you have any customer service experience whatsoever, be sure to prepare plenty of stories of your successful interactions and stand-out moments.

• Tell us what’s unique about you. Every company encourages this in a vague way, but to distill it down into interview advice: give some indication of what department you’d be most comfortable in.

  If you display a passion for the outdoors, they know you’ll be more excited to work in the garden area, where a person who spends their time tinkering with old gadgets could be the perfect person for the hardware department.

• Show a willingness to give back. The Home Depot states that they’re eager to hire candidates who “share [their] values” of giving back to the community. If you have any volunteer experience, be sure to bring it up at least once during your interview.

• Be adaptable. Home Depots are massive locations with departments the size of normal stores. While you might serve one department primarily, there’s plenty of moving around.

  To prepare for your Home Depot interview, think of examples from work or school where you had to think on your feet and jump into a new role with little warning or training.

Other Common Home Depot Interview Questions

1. How would you handle a product recommendation?

2. What’s your definition of exceptional customer service?

3. When can you start?

4. Are you familiar with construction materials and tools?

5. How well do you work under pressure?

6. Tell me about one of your weaknesses.

7. What would you do if you were working on an important task when a customer asked for your help?

8. What would you do if you didn’t know the answer to a question a customer asked?

9. Are you safety conscious?

10. Do you have any questions for me?

Tips for Interviewing at The Home Depot

1. Highlight soft skills. Since many of the roles at Home Depot are customer service-based, you should use your interview time to demonstrate your interpersonal and soft skills. The opportunity to interview already shows you that they’re impressed with your resume and interested in hiring you, so show some personality.

   An interview is a great place to display your communication and people skills, as opposed to just saying you have strong interpersonal abilities on your resume.

2. Ask questions at the end of the interview. At the end of most interviews, the hiring manager will ask you if you have any questions for them.

   Make sure that you pose a good question or a few. Beyond making a positive impression on the hiring manager, it will inform your decision to take the job if offered.

   Examples of good end of interview questions include:

   • What does a normal day working at Home Depot look like?

   • What qualities do you look for in Home Depot employees?

   • What is your favorite thing about working at Home Depot?

   • Are there any challenges that Home Depot is facing at the moment?

   • What are your expectations of my work in this role over the first three months?

3. Read about the interview experiences of other candidates. A major benefit of working with a large retail corporation like Home Depot is that many people have already gone through the interview process.

   Candidates who have interviewed with Home Depot, either successfully or not, can provide helpful information for future applicants about how the process will work, what questions will be asked, and how they can adequately prepare.

Key Statistics About Home Depot

It can be very helpful to know about as much as possible about The Home Depot before your interview. The following statistics can help give you a better sense of the type of company you are trying to be hired by:

• The Home Depot was founded in 1978.

• The Home Depot has 500,000 employees. The average employee at The Home Depot makes $30,209 per year.

• 40% of The Home Depot employees are women, while 60% are men. The most common ethnicity at The Home Depot is White (59%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (19%) and Black or African American (12%).

• The Home Depot’s revenue growth from 2016 to 2020 was 39.66%.

This knowledge and more will make you more informed at the interview process which will show your interviewer that you are serious about the position, thereby increasing your chances for an offer. So make sure to study up!

Author

Sky Ariella

Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.