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%
Background check: 11%
Drug test: 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. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Payless ShoeSource in Aug 2010
Interview
Applied online and received a phone call from the store manager asking me to come in for an interview. She took me to the back room of the store and we talked for about half an hour. She was very pleasant and warm, explained upfront what the job would be like. At one point she chose a few shoes off the floor and asked me to sell them to her on the spot. At the end of the interview, she told me it would be between me and one other applicant and that I'd hear back early on in the next week--sure enough, I did! She offered me the job and I started a few days later. The whole process took about a week and a half.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Basic questions you'd expect in an interview for a retail job.
- What would you say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
- Where do you see yourself in [however many years]?
- Why are you interested in working for Payless?
- What fashion trends, especially relating to shoes, have you noticed lately?
- Tell me about a struggle you've overcome
...and so on.
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?