Filled out an application online, and I received a phone call a little less than a week later. We set up an appointment for the interview about 5 days later. Dressed professionally, arrived about 10 minutes early, and met with the store manager. We stood off to the side of the store while she interviewed me (odd location). Asked questions about my past retail experience, how I would handle meeting sales and credit card quotas, how to handle products I don't know much about (there is a GAP kids attached to the GAP), why the GAP, and how I work well with others.
I made sure I did some research on the company before I went to the interview. I typically shop at the big three (Old Navy, GAP, Banana Republic) so I knew quite a bit about the clothing line. She asked me if I had a GAP card, and I said no and explained that I didn't want any additional credit cards because that was my personal financial decision. She then asked how I would handle a customer who didn't want a GAP card. I was honest - I told her that I more than likely wouldn't push a customer to get a credit card. In this economy, people are wary of going more into debt, so I would be sensitive to that because not everyone would be willing to open a GAP card. I then mentioned that, in order to have someone sign up for a card, you have to focus on the positives - the fact that the card offers a discount. It's the company's way of saying 'thank you' for the customer's loyalty. She seemed pleased with that answer.
Was offered a position about three days later. The assistant manager called me and said that the manager must have "really liked you because we weren't going to hire any part-time or seasonal sales associates." I thought this was odd because they had posted a need for a part-time sales associate. He wanted to start training the next day, but I asked him what the position was, the salary, and my responsibilities. He said I would be a part-time sales associate, I would make $8/hr, and I would be in the front of house. I asked for three days to think about it, and then I called back to decline the job offer.