Sales Associate applicants have rated the interview process at Payless ShoeSource with 2 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) and assessed their interview experience as 68% positive. To compare, the company-average is 63.5% positive. This is according to Glassdoor user ratings.
Candidates applying for Sales Associate roles take an average of 11 days to get hired, when considering 199 user submitted interviews for this role. To compare, the hiring process at Payless ShoeSource overall takes an average of 13 days.
Common stages of the interview process at Payless ShoeSource as a Sales Associate according to 199 Glassdoor interviews include:
One on one interview: 36%
Skills test: 12%
Drug test: 11%
Background check: 11%
Personality test: 8%
Presentation: 6%
Group panel interview: 5%
Phone interview: 4%
IQ intelligence test: 3%
Other: 2%
Here are the most commonly searched roles for interview reports -
I applied online. I interviewed at Payless ShoeSource in Jun 2009
Interview
I submitted my application online and heard back about interviewing a few weeks later. I interviewed along with 3 other people. The manager and assistant manager asked us behavioral questions as a group. Then they each took 2 of us and asked us a few more questions more specific to what we would be doing as sales associates. The other applicant and I each took a turn as a sales associate and tried to get the other person to buy something. I lucked out, and when the other applicant described what kind of shoes she was looking for, I happened to spot a pair matching that description on the shelf behind her. I I was offered the job within the next 48 hours.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What would you do if we didn't have an item the customer was looking for?
I passed and started quickly. The process was simple and not intimidating. Everything felt straightforward, and I would definitely recommend it to others looking for an easy experience. I enjoy working here.
I applied in-person. I interviewed at Payless ShoeSource (Anchorage, AK) in Aug 2025
Interview
Easy basic questions like job history, availability, and why you chose to interview.
Interview was less than 30 minutes and hired same day. They will almost always hire on the spot im a teenager and they still gave me a job.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Whats youe job history and do you have customer service experience?