Re: MAC Interviews & Hiring Process
Hi ladies,
I just got a
permanent position at the MAC nordstroms in beachwood, ohio!!! I am sooooo excited!!! i love the girls there and (obviously) i love the products--- so i just couldn't be happier!
Just thought i would share my experience- so i may help someone else.
Last summer i went to an open casting call for MAC. I interviewed and was asked to bring a model for a makeup demo the following day. It went well and a few weeks later i was told i would be hired for freelance work. I don't remember all the specifics, but i know it took forever to actually get contacted by the freelance coordinator. If i remember correctly, i had to pester one of the artists about it, until he finally called her and told her to contact me. (FYI- I'm not trying to denigrate the freelance coordinator at all. I love her, she's awesome!! But just know things take a long time with MAC so don't be afraid to stay in contact with the people you know there and just follow up. It's definitely the theme of this narrative)!!
Anyways, in like october i finally signed the freelance papers. I was called once to work and couldn't do it. I didn't hear from them for a few months after that. So in January I called the freelance coordinator and told her i was still super interested in freelancing and to please think of me if she had anything. I starting getting called for jobs after that. I worked maybe 5 or 10 days between Nordstroms and a free standing store (but mostly at Nordstroms). I told all the managers i wanted a permanent position and asked for advice. The Nordstrom manager eventually told me they were going to start looking for a part time permanent artist (this was like 3 months ago). I freelanced for her a few more times and felt like i was definitely holding my own and doing well. Each time i saw her i would bug her about the position and if i wasn't working i would go in every few weeks to ask about it. I basically annoyed her and the assistant manager so much that they promised to call when they started interviewing. So, two weeks ago the manager calls me to set up an interview. I interviewed on the 13th with the manager and assistant manager. I worked with them both so it was really comfortable-- basically, just talking about customer service, the dynamics of the team, selling, Nordstroms, and more customer service. At the end they asked me if i had time to sit down with the manager of the entire cosmetics floor (so i wouldn't have to come back and do it later). I talked to her (just about Nordstroms and customer service again) and then i left. I was told they were interviewing for another week and i would hear from them this weekend about the next stage in the interviewing process. ok, so this past week i got an unexpected call from the MAC retail manager who oversees all the MAC sales in like 4 states. We scheduled a phone interview for the next day (the 18th). She just asked me about why i wanted to work for MAC and about customer service and selling. It was a good interview and i asked what the next stage in the interview process was. she said i didn't have to do an artist interview bc everyone had seen me do makeup and i already did one to start freelancing. (i was really surprised by this bc everyone told me i would need to do a makeup interview again, but i didn't have to). She said they would call me the next day or the day after to tell me their decision. When she said that i was like 95% sure i had the job and was so excited! But, it's MAC, so they always make you sweat a little.
I didn't hear from anyone the next day or the day after that. (My assumption i got the job was certainly not as strong as it had been a few days earlier). Anyways, i finally heard from them this morning and they said i had the job. I was sooooo excited and am just completely thrilled. Quite frankly, i am also a little shocked how quick this process was (def. not in line with the rest of my experience in the company)! My first interview was the 13th and i was told i had the job on the 22nd, but i'm pretty sure the process was expedited bc they know me and my work pretty well.
Anyways, i hope this helps ppl. looking to work for the company! Just always follow up over and over and over again. Make sure they know you and show them how much of an asset you would be to the team!!!!!
Im so nervous! I'm so scared I didn't get it.
hhahaha
