Top 9 Glossier Interview Questions & Answers (2024)

Glossier is a renowned beauty and makeup direct-to-consumer company that has popped onto the scene in the past decade. The company touts a strong focus on skincare and makeup essentials that emphasize the naturalness of beauty and individualist style. This stands in stark contrast with other brands that preach a more conformist attitude towards makeup and skincare.

Over time, Glossier has become a favorite among the younger crowd and old-school skincare enthusiasts alike. The company's stated mission is to redefine beauty expectations by emphasizing authenticity and self-expression, regardless of skin color or features.

Job seekers that are interested in the beauty industry may find working at a Glossier store location to be an enriching experience. Whether you're a beauty professional or someone passionate about embracing genuine individuality through beauty products, numerous opportunities are available here across various roles.

If you're on the hunt for more insights and strategies to secure a role with this innovative beauty brand, explore our guides on how to land a job at Glossier, how to write the perfect resume, and how to write a great cover letter to enhance your application. As you continue to navigate your career path, you might also find our broader range of career advice and resources valuable; take a look at our extensive content library for more helpful tips.

Common Glossier Job Interview Questions

Let's delve into some of the most frequently-asked interview questions during a Glossier job interview.

Interview Questions About Your Background

1. Can you share how your previous work experience will be beneficial in our pursuit to redefine beauty norms at Glossier?
2. How does your personal philosophy align with Glossier's approach to individual beauty and self-expression?
3. Can you provide an instance where you had to educate or convince others about unconventional beauty standards?

Role-Specific Skills Interview Questions

1. Tell us about a time when you helped a customer explore skincare or makeup products that were well suited to their natural features rather than masking them.
2. How do you stay updated on the latest trends and products in the skincare and beauty industry, and how would you apply this knowledge in recommending Glossier products?
3. If a customer walks into the store knowing nothing about Glossier, how would you introduce our line of products to make them feel welcomed and interested?

Question: Can you share how your previous work experience will be beneficial in our pursuit to redefine beauty norms at Glossier?

Glossier is excited to generally employ people who can contribute positively towards the mission, as we noted at the start of the article. As a result, this question desires to understand how your past experiences and skills compare with Glossier's goals.

Take this as an opportunity to discuss how you have challenged or influenced beauty norms in your previous roles. This might even be a place to emphasize your own values and stances on beauty in relation to what’s out there on the market.

Example Answer 1: "In my previous role as a beauty consultant, I always promoted products that enhanced one's natural features rather than just covering up perceived flaws. This philosophy aligns seamlessly with Glossier’s mission, and I believe I can contribute positively using my experience."

Example Answer 2: "As a retail manager at a beauty store, I pushed for inclusivity by ensuring we stocked a diverse range of products catering to various skin types and tones. This experience has given me insights into consumer behavior and the importance of redefining conventional beauty norms."

The answers above highlight previous work experiences and a mindset geared towards challenging traditional beauty norms. At the same time, the answers try to clearly link these elements to Glossier's mission.

The first response showcases direct interaction with customers and the promotion of natural beauty, demonstrating alignment with Glossier's brand philosophy. The second one underscores management experience, a deep understanding of inclusivity and its importance, and more knowledge about customer behavior. These are all crucial aspects for a role at Glossier. By answering the question in this way, the interviewer can identify your potential contribution to their mission, making you a more compelling candidate.

Question: How does your personal philosophy align with Glossier's approach to individual beauty and self-expression?

This question probes your personal values and whether they are in line with Glossier's ethos. Here you can express your beliefs about beauty and how they mirror the company's focus on individuality and self-expression.

Example Answer 1: "I wholeheartedly believe in embracing one's unique features and that beauty products should enhance and not mask our authentic selves. This philosophy aligns directly with Glossier's approach to individual beauty and self-expression."

Example Answer 2: "To me, beauty is about feeling comfortable in your skin and expressing your true self. It's less about conformity and more about individuality, which I believe embodies Glossier's philosophy."

The responses above show personal philosophies that align closely with Glossier's values. The first answer emphasizes a belief in enhancing natural beauty - exactly what Glossier stands for. The second response talks about comfort and individuality, voicing Glossier's commitment to self-expression. When your personal beliefs match a company's core values, you likely fit well within its culture, making you a potentially valuable employee.

Question: Can you provide an instance where you had to educate or convince others about unconventional beauty standards?

This question assesses your communication skills, your ability to influence others, and your understanding of diverse beauty standards. It also tests your ability to stand by unconventional ideas in the face of opposition.

Example Answer 1: "In my past job, we launched a line of beauty products suitable for all genders. Initially, there was resistance due to traditional gender norms, but I conducted workshops to educate customers about the fluid nature of beauty and managed to increase acceptance and sales."

Example Answer 2: "While working as a freelance makeup artist, I often had clients requesting heavy makeup looks. I would gently persuade them to try more natural looks that highlighted their unique features. Over time, many grew to appreciate this perspective."

Both answers illustrate the candidate's aptitude for promoting inclusive and unconventional beauty standards. The first one indicates the ability to drive change through education, while the second demonstrates the gentle persuasion required for one-on-one interactions. These instances not only show alignment with Glossier's mission but also indicate your capability to engage and influence customers in ways beneficial to the company's objectives.

Question: Tell us about a time when you helped a customer explore skincare or makeup products that were well suited to their natural features rather than masking them.

This question is intended to assess your ability to guide customers towards appreciating their natural beauty and making choices that enhance rather than mask it – a key part of Glossier's philosophy.

Example Answer 1: "In my previous role at a beauty retailer, a regular customer always opted for full-coverage makeup. I suggested she try a lighter foundation that complemented her skin tone along with some highlighting products. She was pleasantly surprised by how much she loved the natural look."

Example Answer 2: "A customer once came in with sensitive skin and was using heavy makeup to cover blemishes. I helped her select gentle skincare products to address the root cause and a lightweight concealer for coverage. This approach improved her skin condition and boosted her confidence."

These responses show the ability to educate and guide customers towards appreciating their natural beauty. As before, this could be an approach that connects with Glossier's mission. The first showcases the candidate's skill in suggesting products that enhance rather than mask natural features. The second demonstrates understanding of skincare issues and the ability to recommend appropriate solutions. These skills in particular, among others you could highlight as a part of the interview, are invaluable in any role at Glossier where you're helping customers make product choices.

Question: How do you stay updated on the latest trends and products in the skincare and beauty industry, and how would you apply this knowledge in recommending Glossier products?

This question measures your industry engagement and learning enthusiasm. Staying updated on latest trends is essential to recommend relevant products to customers.

Example Answer 1: "I follow top beauty bloggers and attend industry trade shows to stay abreast of trends. With this knowledge, I can link popular trends to Glossier's products, ensuring our customers are always in-the-know."

Example Answer 2: "I subscribe to several beauty publications and closely track trends on social media platforms. This helps me understand what consumers are interested in, enabling me to recommend Glossier products that meet these preferences."

Both responses highlight the candidate's proactive efforts to stay current with industry trends. In the first answer, the applicant demonstrates an ability to connect popular trends directly with Glossier's offerings, which is useful for customer interactions. The second response showcases an understanding of consumer interests from a broad perspective, indicating their potential to effectively recommend products and contribute to sales at Glossier.

Question: If a customer walks into the store knowing nothing about Glossier, how would you introduce our line of products to make them feel welcomed and interested?

Helping confused and/or tentative customers is a part of the job in sales and customer service at Glossier. To accommodate for this, this question allows the interviewer to gauge your communication skills, product knowledge, and ability to engage with customers who may be unfamiliar with the brand.

Example Answer 1: "I'd start by welcoming them warmly, then briefly explain Glossier's philosophy about enhancing natural beauty. I'd show them our best-sellers while discussing how these products could benefit their specific needs."

Example Answer 2: "Firstly, I’d strive to make them comfortable. Then, I'd give a quick overview of Glossier's mission of celebrating individuality. Depending on their interest, I'd guide them through our range, focusing on how each product promotes natural beauty."

The two answers demonstrate the candidate's ability to create a welcoming atmosphere for customers while also introducing the company's philosophy and products. Both responses emphasize starting with Glossier's mission before moving towards individual products, providing context for the brand's unique selling points and making it more likely to pique the customer's interest. This approach is effective in engaging customers and helping them resonate with Glossier's philosophy.

Additional Tips for Preparing for Glossier Interviews

In terms of other tips for an interview at Glossier, understanding the brand and brand image should be one of the first key steps that you take.

Researching more about the company online is an easy, low-effort first step. Check out the company’s mission and philosophy for their skincare and makeup in particular - being able to highlight this in an interview setting is helpful for making sure your candidacy stands out from the pack.

For sales-specific roles, understanding the company’s audience target is helpful too. Spending some time in the closest store near you can be a great step to take, and you might even be able to talk to actual employees (who might become your co-workers in the future as well!)

Beyond the interview questions themselves, becoming familiar with the company as a whole should be your highest priority. The impact of that work would be that your other answers—regardless of question being asked—would start to become more tailored to Glossier and what the company is looking for in potential employees.