20 Rent-A-Center Interview Questions and Answers

When you go in for a job interview, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your qualifications, experience, and goals. But what about questions specific to the company you’re interviewing with?

Rent-A-Center is a rent-to-own operator that provides ownership of durable products to customers. If you’re interviewing for a position with this company, you can expect to be asked questions about your customer service skills, your ability to handle money, and your knowledge of the rent-to-own process.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample Rent-A-Center interview questions and answers.

Rent-A-Center Interview Process

The interview process at Rent-A-Center is generally quick and easy. Most applicants will only have to go through one or two interviews before being offered a position. However, some positions may require a more extensive interview process.

For most positions, the first step in the interview process is a phone screen. This is followed by an in-person interview with a manager. For some positions, there may also be a reference check. The entire process usually takes less than two weeks.

Overall, the interview experience is positive. Applicants report feeling comfortable and confident during the interviews. The interviewer is typically friendly and helpful, and they do their best to make sure you have all the information you need to make a decision about the job.

1. Why do you want to work for Rent-A-Center?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in working for Rent-A-Center. It’s also an opportunity for you to show how much you know about the company and its values. When preparing for this question, make sure to research the organization thoroughly so that you can discuss what makes it unique.

Example: “I want to work for Rent-A-Center because I’m passionate about helping people achieve their dreams of owning durable products. I’ve always been interested in sales, and I think Rent-A-Center would be a great place to use my skills and help customers find the right product for them.”

2. How would you deal with an upset customer who was late on their payments?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your customer service skills. This is because you will likely interact with customers who are late on their payments or have other issues that need resolving. It’s important to show the interviewer that you can remain calm and solve problems effectively when interacting with upset customers.

Example: “I would first apologize for any inconvenience they experienced, then I would try to understand why they were late on their payment. If it was a valid reason, such as an illness or job loss, I would work with them to find a solution. For example, if they needed more time to pay, I could offer a longer repayment plan. If there wasn’t a good reason for being late, I would explain our policies clearly and give them a deadline to make up the missed payment.”

3. What is your experience with computer systems and software?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your computer skills and how you use them in a work environment. If you have experience with specific software, mention it along with the tasks you performed with that program.

Example: “I’ve used Microsoft Office for all of my professional documents since I graduated from college. In my last position, I also learned how to use Google Docs to collaborate on projects with other team members. I find both programs very useful when working on projects or collaborating with others.”

4. Describe a time when you had to think quickly in response to a difficult situation, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you respond to challenges and whether you have experience handling them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you had to think quickly and explain what actions you took to resolve the issue or problem.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at my previous job, we were having issues with our inventory system that made it difficult for us to track sales and purchases. This led to some discrepancies in our financial reports, so I worked with my team to create new spreadsheets to record all of our transactions. We then compared these new reports to our bank statements to ensure they matched.”

5. Describe the best boss that you have ever worked for.

This question is designed to give the interviewer insight into your work ethic and how you view authority. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific instance where your boss helped you learn something or achieve a goal.

Example: “The best boss I ever had was my manager at my previous job. He always encouraged us to ask questions when we didn’t understand something and would take time to explain things in detail. One day, he noticed that I was having trouble with a customer who kept returning items for refunds. He pulled me aside and explained why some customers do this and what I could do differently next time.”

6. Do you consider yourself to be a leader or a follower?

This question is designed to determine your leadership skills and how you interact with others. As a manager at Rent-A-Center, you will need to be able to lead a team of employees while also interacting with customers. Your answer should show that you are comfortable in both situations.

Example: “I consider myself to be a leader who can work well with others. I have always been the type of person who takes initiative when it comes to projects or tasks. In my last job, I was often tasked with leading small groups on projects. I enjoy being able to help others learn new things and develop their own leadership skills.”

7. Are you willing to relocate if necessary?

If you’re applying for a position at Rent-A-Center, it’s likely that the company will need to transfer you to another store. If this is the case, be honest about your willingness to relocate and discuss any past experience with relocating.

Example: “I’m willing to relocate if necessary. I’ve moved several times in my life, so I know what it takes to pack up and move. In fact, I find moving an exciting time because it means a new adventure. I also understand how important it is to get settled into a new home as quickly as possible.”

8. Tell me about a time where you had to manage multiple tasks at once.

This question can help an interviewer understand how you handle stress and prioritize your tasks. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a time when you had multiple projects or assignments due at the same time and how you managed them all.

Example: “In my last job as a customer service representative, I was responsible for handling inbound calls from customers while also helping other employees with their questions. This required me to multitask between different phone lines and assisting coworkers who needed assistance. I learned that by using a headset, I could answer one line of calls while talking to coworkers on another line.”

9. How have you dealt with a lack of resources to complete a project?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you approach challenges and complete tasks. Use examples from your experience to show that you’re a problem solver who’s willing to work hard to achieve goals.

Example: “In my last position, I was tasked with creating a new marketing campaign for our company. We had limited funds available for the project, so I worked with my team to create a plan that would use our resources efficiently. We decided to focus on social media advertising because it was more cost-effective than traditional forms of advertising. The campaign we created was highly successful, and we were able to reach our target audience without spending too much money.”

10. Explain what you know about our rent-to-own program.

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company and its products. Rent-A-Center offers rent-to-own options for electronics, furniture, appliances and computers. You should be prepared to discuss what you know about each product category.

Example: “I’ve been renting from Rent-A-Center for five years now. I started with an appliance rental because my old one broke down. After that, I rented a computer and then a couch. Now, I own all three items. I really like how easy it is to upgrade to new products when I’m ready.”

11. Have you ever been involved in the hiring process before? If so, what role did you play?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential new colleague’s experience with the hiring process. If they have been involved in the hiring process before, you can ask them what their favorite part of it was and how they feel about the company’s current hiring practices.

Example: “I’ve never been directly involved in the hiring process at any previous job, but I did help my friend find a new job when she was looking for one last year. She had just graduated from college and wasn’t sure where to start her search. We talked about what she wanted out of a job and then looked through some online listings together. After that, she applied to several positions and got an interview with Rent-A-Center.”

12. What is your experience working in sales?

This question is a great way to learn about your potential new colleague’s experience and how it relates to the position. If you have no sales experience, consider talking about customer service or management roles that relate to selling products.

Example: “I’ve worked in retail for five years now, but I haven’t had any experience working in sales. However, I do have plenty of experience interacting with customers and helping them find what they need. In my last role as a cashier at a grocery store, I learned how to interact with all kinds of people and help them find exactly what they were looking for.”

13. Give an example of a time when you had to meet strict deadlines.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your time management skills. When answering, it can be helpful to provide an example of a specific deadline you met and the steps you took to ensure you completed the task on time.

Example: “At my previous job, I had to meet strict deadlines for submitting reports to upper management. To help me complete these tasks on time, I set aside a few hours each week to work on the report. This allowed me to focus solely on the report during those times and ensured that I could submit the information in a timely manner.”

14. Provide an example of a time when you worked well under pressure.

When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of a time when you were able to complete a task or project in a timely manner despite the pressure. This can show your ability to work under stress and how you might handle similar situations at Rent-A-Center.

Example: “In my previous position as a customer service representative, I was responsible for helping customers with their questions about our products. One day, I had three customers waiting on me at once, all asking different questions about our products. I knew that if I didn’t answer each one quickly, they would likely become frustrated and leave without making a purchase. I took a deep breath and focused on each individual question, trying to give them detailed answers so they could make informed decisions.”

15. How would you describe your communication style?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you interact with customers and coworkers. Describe your communication style in a way that highlights your ability to communicate clearly, be empathetic and solve problems.

Example: “I believe my communication style is very effective because I am always willing to listen to others’ opinions and ideas. When speaking with customers or coworkers, I make sure to use language they can understand and avoid jargon. I also try to empathize with their situation so I can provide them with solutions that meet their needs.”

16. Tell us about a time when you didn’t agree with a decision made by management. How did you handle it?

This question can help an interviewer learn more about your ability to work with others and how you handle conflict. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific example of when you disagreed with management but still followed their instructions or implemented their decision.

Example: “When I first started working at Rent-A-Center, I was very excited to start my career in the retail industry. However, after a few weeks on the job, I noticed that our inventory wasn’t being rotated often enough. This meant that some products were out of stock for longer than they should have been. I approached my manager about this issue, and she explained that we had recently hired two new employees who hadn’t yet learned all of the company’s policies. She assured me that once they got up to speed, the inventory would rotate as needed.”

17. When have you had to make a split second decision without all of the information? How did you proceed?

This question is designed to assess your decision-making skills and how you handle pressure. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of a time when you had to make a quick decision without all the information and what steps you took to ensure that your choice was the best one possible.

Example: “When I worked as a cashier at my local grocery store, there were times when customers would come through with coupons for items we didn’t have in stock. In these situations, I always tried to find a similar product or offer a discount on another item. For instance, if someone came through with a coupon for a specific brand of cereal but we only had generic brands in stock, I would try to give them a discount on a different type of cereal.”

18. What do you think makes someone successful in this company?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and how you can contribute to its success. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight what Rent-A-Center does well and why that makes them successful.

Example: “I think someone who is successful in this company has excellent customer service skills. I believe that providing quality customer service is essential for any business, but especially one where customers are renting products. It’s important to me that my customers have an enjoyable experience when they come into our store and feel like they’re being treated fairly.”

19. What are some of the challenges facing the retail industry that you see today?

The retail industry is changing rapidly, and the interviewer may want to know how you would adapt to these changes. You can answer this question by discussing some of the challenges that you’ve seen in your previous roles or from media reports.

Example: “I think one of the biggest challenges facing the retail industry today is online shopping. Customers are increasingly turning to their computers and mobile devices to purchase products rather than going into brick-and-mortar stores. I believe that retailers need to find ways to integrate e-commerce with their physical locations so they can provide customers with a seamless experience.”

20. Would you say you are more analytical or creative?

This question is designed to determine your strengths and how they can be applied in a work environment. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the skills you have that are relevant to the position.

Example: “I would say I’m more analytical than creative. However, I think my analytical skills allow me to come up with solutions to problems quickly. For example, when working at my previous job, we had a customer who was having trouble paying for their product. I analyzed the situation and found out that the issue was due to an increase in rent. I suggested a payment plan that allowed them to pay off the product over time.”