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 -
The process took 2 days. I interviewed at Payless ShoeSource (Colorado Springs, CO) in Feb 2011
Interview
Went in on a Tuesday for my interview. The Store Manager was very nice. Asked me standard questions.. the obvious questions that you basically know how to answer (IE: When starting work do you wait until someone tells you or do you start working on your own?) She talked a lot about what she was looking for and also about what she didn't want based on what she had experienced. The interview was long, probably about an hour but it was mostly her talking. She said she liked me but company policy was to have a second interview. I was pretty sure I had the job.
I went to the second interview a day later. The second interview was very standard and basic. Wasn't much of her talking in detail about the position. It was the stand questions like "What's a positive and negative thing about yourself?" You know the basic interview questions that you google how to answer. At the end of the interview she said she would call the other store manager back. I really wasn't sure if I got it. because I'm not good at interviews, but not even 10 minutes after the interview I got the phone call.
I worked at Payless before, I should mention. The first time I got hired, I had my first interview with the store manager and the second with the District Manager which was a group interview. Leave a good impression with the store managers. Dress professionally. Clean and Ironed clothes. NO JEANS and Tennis Shoes. The store manager even told me she was impressed with how I dressed and to do the same at the second interview. be enthusiastic.. act like this is the best job ever. Smile and be friendly and outgoing. Stress customer service and that you are a go-getter and can work independently. Say that you prefer that you get the difficult tasks out of the way first but you never let your work ethic interfere with customer service.
Interview questions [2]
Question 1
What's a negative and positive thing about yourself?
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?