Approximately 25 retailers attended CBA's workshop Recruiting a Successful Team yesterday. Retail consultant Kurt Reinhart led the 90-minute session, focusing on proper interviewing strategies, the application/hiring process and how to lawfully question prospective employees.

Reinhart, who owns Denver-based consulting firm Planet Management, said that “experience means nothing” on a job application; some employees with experience might be very bad, while some without any experience could be the best employees a retailer has. What matters, Reinhart said, is if a person is “willing and outgoing.” Retailers should “recruit for attitude and train for skill,” he said.

Reinhart also discussed interview questions that employers can legally ask and encouraged retailers to ask open-ended questions in the interview process.

Reinhart also urged retailers to focus on the applicant first and the store's mission second in an interview. Retailers should ask applicants questions about their goals to ascertain if they're right for the store and ask them what they want to be when they grow up, he said. “Sell your store second,” Reinhart urged.

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