Old Navy is a clothing brand based in the United States, and they are well known for their inexpensive clothing. Old Navy isn’t just the place for accessible clothing. It is also the place for accessible jobs. Anyone can apply for Old Navy careers, from the enthusiastic student to the aspiring fashion designer.
A job with Old Navy is a perfect way to start a career in the retail industry. If you are motivated, talented, and a team player, then you will fit in perfectly. Applications are taken year round. One of the best things about Old Navy careers is the sheer diversity.
You can apply for administrative positions, retail jobs, fashion & design careers, and more. However, before you apply, you should get more information about the company, employment requirements, salaries, and benefits. This will give you the best chance of being hired to work for this fashion-forward company.
About Old Navy
It is a useful interview skill to find out more about the company before you head out for an interview with them, and Old Navy is one of those brands that has been around for a couple of years, and there is a lot to learn about them. Old Navy was founded in 1994, and the company’s headquarters are located in San Francisco.
Gap Inc. is Old Navy’s parent company. It is an American clothing and accessory brand and was established in 1969. It is headquartered in San Francisco and operates in more than 3,000 locations. They generate billions of dollars in revenue each year and are a global brand with branches in all the major cities of the world.
In 1994, Gap Inc. decided to launch the Old Navy Brand. The Old Navy store locations initially served as warehouses for Gap Inc., but their inexpensive clothing lines and accessories made them popular among American consumers, and as a result, Old Navy was established as a stand-alone brand.
Old Navy is named after a bar in Paris, and the brand was repositioned in the early 2000s. This was done to give the consumers a more chic and fashionable impression of the brand. It worked, and sales did increase due to re-branding.
In 1994, there were only four Old Navy stores, and they were all located within the United States. Now, there are more than 300 Old Navy stores across the globe, and it sells clothes, handbags, and accessories for men, women, and children. It is well known for generous and frequent sales that offer customers fantastic deals. The revenue from Old Navy accounts for a significant portion of Gap Inc.’s income.
Old Navy is a family-oriented brand, and most of their advertisement campaigns feature people engaging in family activities. Their tagline is “for the whole family.” Even though the prices are very affordable, it does not mean that it has compromised its quality. In fact, it is well known for high-quality, chic, and fashionable clothes and accessories. Their products cater to various countries as well. Customers in the United States can buy shirts with the American flag on them, while Canadian customers are offered shirts with Canadian flags.
Old Navy also sells plus-sized clothing, but most of the clothes are exclusively available online. The decision to only sell plus-sized clothing online was made in 2007 and has proven to be popular since a lot of customers make their purchases on the World Wide Web. In fact, they are currently trying to increase their online sales and offer generous discounts on their online products. Most of the discounts are not available in the store, but customers can try the products in the store and then place the order online.
The company tried to launch a bath and body line, but it did not prove to be successful. As a result, it dropped the idea and decided to focus on its clothing and accessory lines. The bath and body products line was named Obsessively Natural or ONBody.
If you are looking for a rewarding career in the retail industry, then you should apply for a job with Old Navy. It is an exciting brand with a number of career development opportunities.
Overview of Old Navy Careers
Before you submit your application, you want to get a little background on the job requirements and hiring policies. This helps ensure that you make the best first impression and that you apply for the right position.
To work at Old Navy, you must be at least 18 years of age and legally allowed to work in the United States. If you are applying outside the United States, then you should check the age requirements for your country. Also note that some stores may hire those as young as 16, so do not hesitate to inquire at your local store.
Most Old Navy stores are open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. However, extended work hours may be introduced on public holidays or during the holiday season. Stores may also be shut down on some holidays.
Entry-level positions
You can usually find entry-level positions available in the retail stores. These positions usually pay minimum wage. There are a number of entry-level positions available, and they include the following:
- Sales associate
- Cashier
- Stock clerk
- Customer care representative
The most common entry-level position is a sales associate. This position is in the retail store. As a sales associate, you will guide and assist the customers, fold the clothes, and organize the accessories. If clothes and accessories are strewn around, then you would tidy up.
Another common position is a customer service associate, which is a combination of a sales associate and cashier. Often referred to as a CEA, this position puts you in direct contact with customers. Responsibilities include assisting shoppers with their purchases, handling product returns, credit card operations, ringing out purchases, organizing the store’s display, making product suggestions, and returning items from the fitting room to their appropriate racks.
Flexible work hours are available, and interested applicants can specify if they are interested in a full-time or a part-time position.
Other positions
There are additional positions within the company that require some previous experience. Here is a look at a couple of them.
Brand logistics expert
A brand logistics expert’s major responsibilities include handling merchandise for multiple store locations, maintaining a meticulously organized storeroom, and conducting maintenance checks. A logistic expert must follow strict working procedures. Other job duties include communicating staffing requirements to other members of the team, minimizing risks of accidents at work, and performing service-based selling tasks. The average pay for this position starts above minimum wage but can increase with experience and tenure.
Brand visual merchandise expert
As the name suggests, the brand visual merchandise expert’s mission is to assist and motivate buyers. They regularly work in only one department (kids, women or men) to learn all the details of various products. They are also responsible for placing merchandise correctly in their specific department and overseeing the receipt for product shipments. If you want to work in this position, you should possess previous experience and a college degree. Salaries start above minimum wage.
Management
Old Navy is always on the lookout for talented individuals to fill management positions. All full-time staff has career growth opportunities, which mean you can advance into a management position. Many managers are staff members who started at entry-level positions and then progressed to the managerial level.
Managers are team players with a strong sense of leadership who lead from within. They lead and motivate their staff to encourage them to grow together with the company.
Managers have competitive pay rates and an attractive pay package. The pay package includes health and life insurance and retirement benefits. Managerial staff may also be sent on fully-paid training that are sponsored by the company and are conducted to assist the staff in their professional growth.
One of the most coveted manager positions is a human resources manager. In this position, you are responsible for implementing people strategies, finding innovative solutions, and integrating ideas for faster development. Essential duties include providing strategic advice, organizing tasks, taking care of all aspects related to recruiting, onboarding, compensation strategies, employee relations, and coaching. The responsibilities don’t stop here! An HR manager must also provide counsel to employees of the company, resolve conflicts, use employee insights to guide the business in a right direction, assist department heads with advice, partner with cross-functional partners, and assess workers.
To be an HR manager, you need to be comfortable around higher management and have business acumen, a drive for results, decision-making skills, integrity, and interpersonal skills. You also need three to five years of HR experience, knowledge of HR practices, organizational and leadership skills, diagnostic skills, ability to implement creative solutions, presentation skills, and knowledge of MS Word, PPT, Excel, and Outlook. You also must have a PHR certificate or college degree.
Benefits
The corporate culture at Old Navy is nurturing and employee-centric. The management cares deeply for its employees and maintains open channels of communication around the clock. Employees are encouraged to voice their concerns and are encouraged to grow together with the company.
Staff members are also provided with a number of career development opportunities and are encouraged to make full use of them. These career development opportunities may include paid, on-the-job training, and company-sponsored professional development courses. Selected candidates who demonstrate talent and potential may also be promoted.
Employees enjoy attractive pay packages that include competitive pay rates and a number of benefits, such as health and life insurance, retirement benefits, and employee discounts. Most of these benefits are exclusively available to full-time employees, but some, such as employee discounts, may be available to part-time employees as well. The benefits are a good incentive for part-time staff to consider full-time employment. Paid leaves may also be available, and staff members are encouraged to take a few well-deserved leaves per year.
Benefits list:
- Life insurance
- Long-term and short-term disability coverage
- Private counseling for full-time workers
- 401 (k) retirement plans
- Merchandise discounts for full and part-time employees
- Paid time off and sick leave – half the time for part-timers
- Tuition reimbursement
- Discounts for other Gap brands
- Dental, medical and vision plans
Submit Your Application
You can easily apply for any position with the company via Gap’s website. They do advertise via third-party agents as well, but the best and preferred way is to apply on their website. Old Navy does accept applications in person as well, so you can visit your local store to apply. However, applying online gives you some options. You can apply for multiple Old Navy careers at the same time and check their status from your dashboard.
Once you go to the careers webpage for Old Navy, you can find the position that interests you and begin the application. While you can apply for multiple jobs at once, it is suggested that you apply for a maximum of three jobs at one time.
Make sure that you read the job description and make sure that you meet the minimum criteria before continuing. Filling out the application takes between 15 and 40 minutes, depending on the job that you are applying for and whether or not you have a resume prepared. The website also offers various resources that will make it easier for you to apply.
Below is a list of things that you need to do before applying to make the process as fast and easy as possible:
- Keep age restrictions in mind
- Make sure you have proof or legal authorization to work in the United States
- Be ready to provide your social security number, email address, and address
- Have information handy about your education, background, and experience, including dates, location, names, and contact information
Also, you will create a user name and password to log into the system. Make sure to write them down so you can access the page again to check your application.
Application Tips
While there are many things that you can do to increase your chances of landing a job with the company, here are some additional tips to keep in mind to help you make the most out of your application.
IT skills are highly valued in today’s work environment, and you’ll be expected to have some knowledge of technology even for entry-level positions. You should have a working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, especially for managerial-level positions, and be able to use Microsoft Word for day-to-day work needs.
If you are applying for managerial-level positions, you should provide the company with a professional-looking resume. It should not have spelling or grammar errors. A well-crafted resume can increase your chances of qualifying for an interview. A cover letter may also be required for certain positions and should be addressed to the hiring manager.
The hiring team will contact you if you qualify for an interview, but it is good practice to drop them an email a week or two after you have submitted your application. It usually takes around five days to receive a reply from hiring managers. If you are still waiting for a response, you should consider contacting the company or store that you applied for This way you are telling the company that you are eager to begin a career with them. One phone call should be enough, though, and avoid calling during lunch or rush hours.
Even if you aren’t selected for a job this time, you can continue applying for other Old Navy Careers. Think about what your application was lacking and try to polish it for your next try.
Interviews & Hiring Process
Old Navy careers are extremely popular and coveted. The good news is that the company is always eager to hire enthusiastic job-seekers. For this purpose, it conducts regular interviews for corporate and store positions. Once you move past the Old Navy online application process, you will be asked for an interview. Interviews are done one-on-one or in groups. Group interviews are the company’s way of testing the teamwork abilities of candidates.
A group interview starts with brief introductions and then moves to ice-breaking games or team-building games. Job-seekers who pass the group interview receive a phone-call and are asked back for a one-on-one interview. This screening process goes more in-depth and is designed to evaluate the candidate’s main strengths and potential. One-on-one interviews usually take 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Depending on the type of job that you are applying for, you may be in there for one hour.
Old Navy careers are all about customer satisfaction. Interpersonal skills will be tested during the interview. Even if you have the jitters, you should not forget to smile and answer politely to every question.
To make the best impression during your interview, you should wear a business-casual or business outfit. This will make you seem professional. You should try to arrive a few minutes early. Beware of your body language throughout the interview. Also, offer a firm handshake, and thank the hiring manager for the opportunity. Make sure to follow up with a phone call three to five days after the interview.
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
There are countless of reviews from former Old Navy employees online. If you are looking for interview answers, you should check out forums and job-specific websites. Do keep in mind that answers to interview questions should reflect your personality and work ethic. Pretending to be something you’re not will not help you, but knowing what to expect can ease your nerves a bit, so here are some common interview questions to prepare for:
- What can you tell me about current fashion trends?
- What kinds of trends did you see at Old Navy?
- Do you like Old Navy clothes? Why?
- How well do you work in a team?
- Are you attracted to the fashion industry?
- Why are you attracted to fashion?
- What would you do to satisfy a difficult customer?
- What would you do if you caught one of your colleagues skipping work or stealing from the store?
- What would you do to make a customer return to the store?
- How is Old Navy different from other stores?
- Would you offer a discount to a difficult client?
- Why should we hire you?
Old Navy Careers Wrap Up
This concludes our guide for Old Navy careers. If you have further questions, we suggest you visit the official career website, which provides with invaluable information about store policies and job requirements.
Old Navy employment can be an excellent thing for your career. If you are interested in a position with this company, you can surely secure one. All you have to do is show dedication and be perseverant in your approach.
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