Store Manager (Retail) interview questions and scorecard
India context, central rules as of 30 Oct 2026.
Use these 12 questions to interview a store manager (retail) the same way every time. Ask all candidates the same questions, score each answer from 1 to 4 against the notes below, and decide on the total, not on first impressions. Pick 8 to 10 questions per interview.
At a glance
- Match the questions to your store manager (retail) job description: one question per must-have.
- Score each criterion right after the interview, before you talk to other interviewers.
- Follow up with "What did you personally do?" to separate individual work from the team's.
Questions
| # | Question | A good answer shows | Red flags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What were your store's monthly sales and how did you track them? | Specific numbers and drivers | Vague |
| 2 | Sales are down 10 percent this month. What do you do? | Checks footfall, conversion, stock, staff | One fix |
| 3 | How do you plan staffing for a festival weekend? | Forecast, shifts, roles | Last-minute plan |
| 4 | How do you handle a team member who is often late? | Direct talk, record, policy | Ignores |
| 5 | How do you motivate a team during a slow month? | Specific actions, recognition | Pressure only |
| 6 | Describe a time you coached someone. | Specific outcome | No example |
| 7 | How do you control stock loss? | Counts, access, cameras, procedures | Blames staff |
| 8 | How do you close the day's cash? | Reconciles, two-person checks | Single person |
| 9 | A discrepancy appears in stock. What do you do? | Recounts, investigates, reports | Adjusts |
| 10 | A customer demands a refund outside policy. What do you do? | Listens, explains, escalates | Gives or refuses without discussion |
| 11 | How do you ensure the store follows licence, safety and labour rules? | Checklist and ownership | Unaware |
| 12 | How do you prepare staff for an audit or inspection? | Routine checks and records | Last-minute |
Scorecard (1 to 4)
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Weak: no relevant example, or a red flag |
| 2 | Partial: general or hypothetical answer, little evidence |
| 3 | Good: a real, specific example that meets the standard |
| 4 | Strong: specific, repeated evidence and clear reasoning |
| Criterion | Questions | What a 4 looks like | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales and operations | 1, 2, 3 | Plans, uses numbers, acts on gaps | |
| People leadership | 4, 5, 6 | Coaches and schedules fairly | |
| Stock and cash control | 7, 8, 9 | Systematic, honest, accurate | |
| Customer and compliance | 10, 11, 12 | Solves problems and follows rules | |
| Total | / 16 |
Suggested rule: shortlist candidates whose average is 3 or higher with no criterion at 1. Change the rule before the first interview, not after.
Run it as a video interview on LiveRec
Open the candidate and choose Schedule interview, then choose Video and pick LiveRec video, which needs no link. After the call, open the interview and choose Submit feedback to give star ratings for Technical skills, Communication skills and Culture fit, a Decision and your comments; paste your scorecard result into the comments. Recorded LiveRec video interviews are deleted 90 days after the interview as standard, so tell candidates before you record. See Schedule an interview, private notes and feedback and recordings.
Fair interviewing
Ask only job-related questions. Indian law bars gender discrimination in recruitment for the same work and requires equal opportunity for people with disabilities, so keep questions on marital status, family plans, religion, caste or health out of the interview. See illegal interview questions for the principles; US-specific examples there differ.
Next step
Copy the scorecard into your interview scorecard template, then schedule the first interviews. For the method, read the structured interview guide.
Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Employment: https://labour.gov.in
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities: https://disabilityaffairs.gov.in/
- US OPM, Structured Interviews (method reference): https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/assessment-and-selection/structured-interviews/
This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.