We all strive to reach the interview stage when we write a resume or a cover letter for an inventory associate job.
But when the interview time arrives, we are never too comfortable with the idea of sitting in front of a panel of people whom we have never met! But that has got to be done.
If obtaining your dream job is your main concern, you have to go through this.
Brace yourself! And go through the following set of interview questions and answers for an inventory associate position:
Inventory Associate Interview Questions and Answers
1. What made you decide that you wanted to work as an inventory associate?
There are some inherent traits that I possess that made it natural for me to work in a role that requires good organization and meticulousness. I believe that whatever comes naturally to you, should be your career calling, which is why I decided to work as an inventory associate.
2. As an inventory associate, what have you discovered to be the main constraint in this work?
Inventory management is complex work. There are many constraints that we have to overcome. One such constraint is supply management. Even the best and most reliable suppliers are sometimes difficult to follow up on because of limitations on their end. All this is part of the deal.
3. How do you make sure that your own deadlines are not affected in case there is a delay in supply?
I always have a backup plan. If I foresee a delay, I have another (a little more expensive) vendor onboard whom I contact for the items that I need.
4. What have been your main responsibilities as an inventory associate in a previous role?
As an inventory associate, I have been involved in handling cycle counts, monitoring the usage of stock, creating inventory reports, managing vendor relations, receiving shipments, and handling inventory discrepancies.
5. Tell us of an incident where your good organizational skills saved the day.
Some months ago, the team that I was part of was asked to locate an item that our supervisor was sure was in stock, even though it wasn’t showing up in the inventory. I seemed to remember seeing the item in the storage area that I had mentally marked “G” some days ago. I went straight to the shelf and picked it out from behind a larger box, receiving a great amount of appreciation from my supervisor.
6. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Within the next five years, I hope to be able to learn enough and gain sufficient experience in inventory management to be able to handle the entire system on my own, while supervising my own team of inventory associates.