20 Pet Valu Interview Questions and Answers

When you go to a Pet Valu store, you’ll notice that it’s not your typical pet food retailer. Pet Valu specializes in premium pet food, and they offer a wide variety of brands and products to meet the needs of every pet owner.

If you’re applying for a job at Pet Valu, you can expect to be asked some company-specific interview questions. In this article, we’ll give you a few examples of Pet Valu interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Pet Valu Interview Process

The interview process at Pet Valu can vary depending on the position you are applying for. For Store Manager positions, there is a 3-person interview that lasts around 15 minutes. For Sales Associate positions, the interview is usually relaxed and takes place in the back storage room. The interviewer will ask questions off of a paper and be attentive to your answers. For Administrative Assistant positions, there will be a Zoom interview that lasts around 30-45 minutes. The interviewer will ask about your past experiences and why you are interested in the position. For Customer Service Representative positions, the interview will be quick and will mostly consist of questions about your background and what you would be comfortable doing in the position.

1. What do you know about Pet Valu?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to see how much you know about their company. It’s important that you do your research before going into an interview, and this is one of the best ways to show that you’re prepared. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention something specific about Pet Valu that you learned from your research.

Example: “I know that Pet Valu has been in business since 1999. I also know that they have over 100 locations across Canada. I’ve shopped at Pet Valu many times, so I’m familiar with some of the brands they carry.”

2. Describe some of your favorite brands that are sold at Pet Valu.

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and its products. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention brands that you have worked with in the past or ones that you are familiar with.

Example: “I really like Royal Canin brand dog food because I’ve seen how much it helps my friend’s dog who has allergies. Another favorite brand of mine is Purina Pro Plan because I love seeing all the different types of foods they offer for dogs and cats.”

3. How would you handle an irate customer who is unhappy with the products they purchased?

This question can help the interviewer assess your customer service skills and how you handle conflict. Use examples from previous experiences to highlight your problem-solving, communication and interpersonal skills.

Example: “I once had a customer who was unhappy with their purchase because they thought it would be more nutritious for their dog than what it actually was. I explained that we have many different types of food based on the age, breed and health condition of the pet. The customer understood my explanation and purchased another type of food that better suited their dog’s needs.”

4. Do you have any experience working in a retail environment?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your experience and how it relates to this role. Retail experience can be beneficial for a Pet Valu employee because it can show that you have customer service skills, problem-solving abilities and organizational skills.

Example: “I worked in retail for five years at a local pet store where I learned many valuable skills. For example, I became very familiar with different types of food and what animals need to eat. I also developed my communication and organization skills as well as my ability to solve problems. These skills helped me become an effective team member who could work independently.”

5. Tell us how you work as part of a team and what role you like to play on a team.

Pet Valu is a company that values teamwork and collaboration. Your answer should show the interviewer how you can contribute to a team environment.

Example: “I enjoy collaborating with others on projects, especially when I have an opportunity to work with someone who has more experience than me. In my last role, I worked alongside a senior manager who was very knowledgeable about our products. She taught me a lot about what it means to be a good leader and helped me develop my leadership skills. I like being able to help other team members learn new things.”

6. Are you comfortable handling live animals in store?

This question is a good way to assess your comfort level with handling animals and how you might interact with customers who are looking for help. If you have experience working with live animals, it can be helpful to share that information in your answer.

Example: “I’ve worked at several pet stores over the years, so I’m quite comfortable interacting with both pets and their owners. In my last position, I was responsible for helping customers find the right food for their pets, which often involved me holding the animal while they fed them treats or samples of different foods. I also helped customers select toys and other accessories for their pets.”

7. Have you ever had to deal with a difficult employee? If so, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle conflict and whether you have experience resolving it. Use examples from your past to show that you’re willing to address issues with coworkers and learn from them.

Example: “In my last position, I had an employee who was consistently late for work. This caused a lot of stress on our team because we were short-staffed. After talking to this employee about their lateness, they told me they were having some personal problems. We decided to give them a few weeks off to deal with these issues. When they returned, they were much more reliable and apologized to the rest of the team.”

8. Can you describe a time when you worked under pressure and gave exceptional service?

This question is a great way to show your ability to work under pressure and still deliver excellent results. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the situation in detail and explain how you overcame the challenge.

Example: “When I worked at my previous job, we had an event where we were expecting hundreds of people. The day before the event, our supplier delivered the wrong food for the event. We had to find another supplier quickly so that we could have enough food for the event. Luckily, I was able to contact another supplier who was able to get us the right food by the next morning. We ended up having plenty of food for the event.”

9. What kind of experiences have you had dealing with disgruntled customers?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and whether or not you have experience working with customers. Showcase your problem-solving skills, communication skills and ability to empathize with others in this answer.

Example: “In my previous role as a sales associate at a pet supply store, I had a customer who was upset because they couldn’t find their dog’s food on our shelves. They were looking for a specific flavor of the brand that we carried, but it wasn’t available in our store. Instead of getting frustrated, I helped them look through all of our other flavors until they found one that would work for their dog.”

10. Give us an example of a project or task you started from beginning to end. What was the outcome?

This question is a great way to show your ability to work independently and complete tasks from start to finish. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about the project or task you’re describing so that the hiring manager can get an idea of what you did.

Example: “At my previous job, I was tasked with creating a new marketing campaign for our brand. I started by researching other brands in our industry who were doing well with their campaigns. Then, I met with our marketing team to discuss ideas we could implement. After coming up with some solid concepts, I presented them to senior management and got approval on one concept. I then worked with our creative team to develop the campaign.”

11. How do you think you would fit into our company culture?

Pet Valu is a company that values its employees and their opinions. They want to know how you would fit into the team, so they can make sure you’re someone who will be happy working there. Show them your interest in the company by asking about what makes Pet Valu unique.

Example: “I think I would fit right in at Pet Valu because of my love for animals. I’ve always wanted to work with pets, and I’m excited to learn more about the different types of food available. I also understand that Pet Valu has a strong sense of community, which is something I value highly. I’d like to get to know all of our customers and help them find the best products for their pets.”

12. Why should we hire you over another candidate?

This question is a great opportunity to show your confidence and enthusiasm for the role. It’s also an excellent chance to highlight any skills or experiences that make you a good fit for this position.

Example: “I am passionate about animals, which makes me excited to work in a pet store. I have experience working with customers who are looking for high-quality products at affordable prices. My customer service skills will help me provide excellent care to all of Pet Valu’s valued customers.”

13. How would you go about selling additional items to a customer?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach selling and customer service. Showcase your communication skills, sales experience and ability to connect with customers by providing an example of a time when you sold additional items to a customer.

Example: “I once had a customer who came in looking for dog food but was unsure about what brand they should buy. I asked them questions about their dog’s age, breed and lifestyle to find out which type of food would be best suited for them. After finding out more information about their dog, I recommended a specific brand that fit their needs and helped them purchase it along with other pet supplies.”

14. Do you have any experience managing inventory?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience with a similar inventory management system to Pet Valu’s. If you do, share your previous experiences and how they helped you develop skills that will be beneficial in this role.

Example: “In my last position as an assistant manager at a pet supply store, I was responsible for managing our inventory of dog toys. We used a software program that allowed me to track sales by type of toy, color and size. This information helped me make decisions about which toys we should order more of and which ones we needed to discontinue.”

15. Would you be willing to work nights and weekends?

Pet Valu is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, so the interviewer wants to know if you’re willing to work these hours. If you have experience working nights and weekends, let them know that you are comfortable with this schedule. If not, explain that you can learn to do it.

Example: “I am happy to work any shift as long as I get my eight hours of sleep at night. However, I would prefer to work during the day because I enjoy interacting with customers and seeing their pets.”

16. If a customer came up to you looking for something specific but you were unable to find it where would you look next?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work independently. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the steps you would take to find what they’re looking for.

Example: “If I was unable to find something specific, I would ask my manager where we keep our inventory of that item. If they didn’t know either, I would look in all of our storage areas and check with other employees if they had any idea where it could be.”

17. Describe a situation where you had to use your communication skills to get a point across to someone else.

This question is a great way to show your potential employer that you have strong communication skills and can use them in the workplace. When answering this question, it’s important to provide specific details about what you said and how it helped solve the problem or get your point across.

Example: “When I was working as a sales associate at a pet store, one of my customers came into the store looking for a certain type of dog food but didn’t know the brand name. I used my communication skills to ask her questions about the ingredients she wanted in the food and then searched through our inventory to find the right product for her.”

18. In your opinion, what makes a great pet owner?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of pet care and how you can help others be better owners. When answering, it’s important to focus on the positive aspects of being a good owner.

Example: “A great pet owner is someone who cares for their pet as if they were part of their family. A great owner makes sure their pet has everything they need, including proper nutrition, exercise and veterinary care. They also make sure their pet is safe at all times and that they are well-behaved in public.”

19. How would you determine if a product was expired or damaged?

This question can help the interviewer understand your ability to use common sense and apply critical thinking skills. Use examples from past experiences where you used logic or intuition to determine if a product was expired or damaged, and how you handled it.

Example: “I once worked at a pet store that sold dog treats. One day, I noticed one of our shelves had several bags of treats with torn packaging. When I inspected them further, I realized they were still good because the inside of the bag looked fine. However, I decided to throw out all the bags just in case. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

20. What type of things would you say to encourage a new customer to come back to Pet Valu again?

This question is a great way to see how you can use your interpersonal skills and customer service abilities. When answering this question, it’s important to remember that Pet Valu is a specialty retailer of pet food, so the answer should focus on why customers would want to come back for more products.

Example: “I think one of the best ways to encourage new customers to return is by making sure they have an excellent experience when shopping with us. I always make sure to greet them as soon as they walk in, ask if they need any help finding anything and offer samples or coupons to get them excited about our products.”