20 Ulta Beauty Interview Questions and Answers

Ulta Beauty is a beauty retailer that is known for its wide range of cosmetics and fragrances. If you are interviewing for a position at Ulta Beauty, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience with cosmetics and fragrances, as well as your customer service skills. To help you prepare for your interview, we have compiled a list of sample questions and answers that you may be asked during your interview.

Ulta Beauty Interview Process

The interview process at Ulta Beauty is generally pretty quick and easy. Most applicants report only having to go through one or two interviews before being offered the job. The questions asked during the interviews are usually fairly standard, focusing on things like work history, availability, and why the applicant wants to work at Ulta. However, some applicants have reported having to go through multiple rounds of interviews, including a phone screening, group interview, and technical interview.

1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be prepared with an answer. When answering this question, you should focus on your strengths rather than weaknesses.

Example: “I am extremely organized and detail-oriented, which helps me stay focused during my workday. I also have excellent communication skills, so I can clearly explain any issues or concerns to customers. My only weakness is that sometimes I get overwhelmed by the amount of work I have to do. However, I’ve learned how to manage my time more effectively to avoid feeling stressed.”

2. Have you ever taken on a project or position that was outside of your comfort zone? How did it go?

Ulta Beauty wants to know that you’re willing to take on new challenges and learn from them. This question can help the interviewer determine if you have a growth mindset, which is important for Ulta Beauty’s culture.

Example: “When I first started working in retail, I was very shy and quiet. However, after working at my previous job for two years, I decided to apply for a management position. Although I was nervous about interviewing for the role, I knew it would be good experience. After getting through the interview process, I got the job and learned how to become more confident in myself.”

3. What do you know about Ulta Beauty?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company and its products. When you answer, make sure you include information about Ulta Beauty’s history, locations and some of their most popular brands.

Example: “I know that Ulta Beauty was founded in Bolingbrook, Illinois by two brothers named Tom and Terry Hanson. The first store opened in Bolingbrook in 1990 and since then, they have grown to over 1,000 stores nationwide. I also know that Ulta Beauty carries many different brands including Urban Decay, Too Faced Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverly Hills and Tarte Cosmetics.”

4. Do you have any experience working with children?

Ulta Beauty is a family-friendly company that values the importance of work-life balance. If you have experience working with children, this can be an excellent opportunity to share your experiences and how they helped you develop as a professional.

Example: “I worked at a daycare for three years before I started my career in retail. Working with children was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life because it taught me patience and how to communicate effectively with others. The kids were always excited to see me when I arrived at work, which made me feel good about myself.”

5. Why do you want to work at Ulta Beauty?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in working at Ulta Beauty. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific aspects of Ulta Beauty that you are excited about and why they appeal to you.

Example: “I have always been passionate about makeup and beauty products, so I am thrilled to work at Ulta Beauty because it’s such an amazing place to find new brands and try out different looks. I also love how Ulta Beauty has a rewards program where customers can earn points toward discounts on future purchases.”

6. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an unhappy customer, how did you handle the situation?

When working in customer service, it’s likely that you’ll have to deal with unhappy customers. Interviewers ask this question to see how you handle conflict and if you’re able to diffuse the situation. In your answer, try to show that you can be empathetic and use problem-solving skills to find a solution for both parties.

Example: “I once had an upset customer who was looking for a specific product but couldn’t find it on our website. I asked her what she was looking for and then searched through our inventory to see if we had any of those products in stock. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any of the items she wanted, so I offered her a discount on another item similar to what she was looking for.”

7. Are you comfortable taking on leadership roles?

Ulta Beauty is a growing company that offers many opportunities for advancement. If you are interviewing for an assistant manager position, the interviewer may ask this question to see if you have any interest in becoming a leader at Ulta Beauty. Use your answer to show that you’re ready to take on more responsibility and develop your leadership skills.

Example: “I am definitely open to taking on a leadership role. I’ve been working as an assistant manager for two years now, and I feel like my team and I have developed some great strategies for running our store smoothly. I would love to continue developing those strategies and implementing new ones to help us reach our goals.”

8. Would you be comfortable answering phone calls?

Ulta Beauty is a retailer that offers customers the opportunity to speak with an associate over the phone. The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you have experience speaking on the phone and how comfortable you are doing so. In your answer, explain that you enjoy talking on the phone and feel confident answering customer questions about products or services.

Example: “I am very comfortable speaking on the phone because I worked in retail for five years. During my time at my previous job, I answered many calls from customers who had questions about our products. I always made sure to be friendly and helpful when speaking with them.”

9. We pride ourselves on being a diverse company. Do you think this is something important to have in a successful company?

Ulta Beauty is a company that prides itself on being diverse and inclusive. They want to hire people who can work well with others from different backgrounds, races and ethnicities. This question helps the interviewer determine if you are someone who values diversity in your workplace. Use this opportunity to show them how much you value diversity by explaining why it’s important to have a diverse team.

Example: “I think having a diverse workforce is extremely important for any successful company. Having employees of all ages, genders, races and ethnicities allows us to better understand our customers and provide them with products they need. I am excited to be part of a company that understands the importance of diversity.”

10. How would you motivate a team member who was not pulling their weight?

This question can help interviewers understand how you would handle a challenging situation at work. In your answer, try to show that you are willing to hold team members accountable for their actions and provide constructive feedback when necessary.

Example: “I have had this experience in the past where I worked with a team member who was not performing well. At first, I tried to give them positive feedback on what they were doing right but after several weeks of seeing no improvement, I sat down with them one-on-one to discuss my concerns. They understood my feedback and promised to improve. After another week or so, I noticed an improvement in their performance and gave them more positive feedback.”

11. How well do you work under pressure?

Working in retail can be a fast-paced environment. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable working under pressure and have the ability to multitask. When answering, try to highlight your organizational skills and time management abilities.

Example: “I work best when I have a plan of action. In my previous role as a sales associate at a clothing store, we would get very busy during the holidays. To help myself stay organized, I created a checklist for each day that helped me remember everything I needed to do. This allowed me to focus on helping customers rather than worrying about forgetting something.”

12. Can you tell us about a time that you had conflicting priorities, how did you manage them?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you prioritize your time and manage competing responsibilities. Use examples from previous work experiences to highlight your ability to balance multiple tasks, meet deadlines and maintain quality results under pressure.

Example: “In my last position as a retail manager, I had two priorities that were in conflict with each other. One priority was ensuring all of our sales associates were well-trained on our products so they could provide excellent customer service. The second priority was meeting company revenue goals for the month. To balance these conflicting priorities, I scheduled training sessions during slow periods when there weren’t many customers in the store.”

13. When was the last time you made a mistake, how did you respond to it?

Interviewers ask this question to see how you respond to mistakes and learn from them. They want to know that you can take responsibility for your actions, apologize when necessary and move forward with a positive attitude.

Example: “When I was working as a sales associate at a clothing store, I accidentally gave the wrong size of pants to a customer who had just purchased them. She was very upset about it, but I apologized and offered her a discount on another pair of pants in the correct size. She accepted my apology and left the store.”

14. If there were two employees having an argument, what would you do?

This question is a behavioral one that helps employers understand how you would handle conflict in the workplace. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation and what steps you took to resolve it.

Example: “In my last position as a manager at a retail store, two employees were having an argument about who was supposed to work on a particular day. I asked them both to step into my office so we could discuss the issue privately. Once they were in my office, I explained why their behavior was unprofessional and told them if there were any further issues, they should come directly to me.”

15. How do you feel about working weekends and holidays?

Ulta Beauty is open seven days a week, and the company needs employees who are willing to work weekends and holidays. When answering this question, it’s important to show that you’re flexible and can adapt to different schedules.

Example: “I’m happy to work any day of the week as long as I get to do what I love for a living. However, I understand that working weekends and holidays comes with the job, so I am prepared to make sacrifices if needed.”

16. How would you approach someone who asked for advice on beauty products?

Ulta Beauty is a retailer that offers beauty advice to customers. The interviewer may ask you this question to see how you would interact with customers and provide them with the information they need. Use your answer to show that you enjoy helping others and are willing to assist anyone who asks for help.

Example: “I love being able to share my knowledge of beauty products with other people. I find it rewarding to be able to help someone find the right product for their needs. When someone asked me for advice, I would first listen to what they were looking for in a product. Then, I would recommend different brands or types of products based on their preferences.”

17. Which area of beauty products are you most passionate about?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the beauty industry and how you can apply it to Ulta Beauty. When answering this question, try to highlight an area that you have experience in or are currently studying.

Example: “I am passionate about makeup application because I believe it’s important for women to feel confident when they leave their house. I’ve been practicing my makeup techniques since high school, and I’m currently taking a course on advanced makeup application at the local community college.”

18. Describe your experience with inventory management.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your organizational skills and how you handle multiple projects at once. Use examples from past experiences where you organized large amounts of data or inventory records, such as customer orders or product inventories.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for managing the company’s entire stock of products. This included ordering new items when we ran out of a certain item, organizing our warehouse by department and ensuring that all employees had access to the information they needed to complete their daily tasks. I also used an inventory management software program to track sales and monitor which products were selling well.”

19. How would you prioritize tasks if you had too many things going on at once?

Ulta Beauty is a fast-paced environment, and employees are often tasked with multiple projects at once. The interviewer wants to know how you would manage your time in this situation. Use examples from previous experiences where you had to multitask or prioritize tasks.

Example: “In my last role as an assistant manager, I was responsible for managing the sales floor while also assisting the store manager with inventory management and customer service issues. In this position, I learned that it’s important to focus on one task at a time so I can give each job the attention it deserves. For example, when I’m working on inventory, I don’t answer any questions from customers until I’ve completed the entire process.”

20. What is your availability?

Employers ask this question to make sure you are available for the job. They want someone who can work full-time hours and be on time. When answering, let them know your availability and what days of the week you’re able to work. If you have a flexible schedule, mention that as well.

Example: “I am currently looking for a full-time position. I’m available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. My schedule is flexible, so if there’s an emergency or need for me to work overtime, I would be happy to do so.”