Job application for Area Manager for Fragrance... Eeeeek!!

[pinkchick06]

I applied for the position of a well known company. At the time I thought 'Yeh that'll be easy' now as they've gotten in contact with me I'm starting to cack my pants (lol!!)

The women asked me whether I had any 'management' experience and I explained I've been a personal trainer for the last 12 years and practically ran the gym and team etc I also said I has been in retail 12 months (slight white lie, been about 9!) I absolutely LOVED it and loved the daily challenges, I also said I love to travel and have no ties. A big bonus is that the last company I worked for I helped achieve 30k+ above their xmas target!!!

I asked my mate to change my CV round to make it look more 'managerial' like but I hope I get an interview and they consider me as I am so ambitious!!!

Any high positioned managers on here got any interview tips should I be luckly enough to get an interview, remember the position is 'Area Manager' for Fragrance...

Thanks xcx

[dotty.]

So your role would be to visit the company;s fragrance house in various department stores? if so you will need to be able to drive sales, work with your managers and host stores to meet company targets, you would need to know how seasonally driven the industry is, Valentines mothers day and christmas being your key tradin times., you would have the ability to motivate your teams to meet targest. Each fragrance house is in competition with the rest in the store and the cos dept have the high revenue hih rent spaces, you need to fight for every inch of space and every customer and so you would need to be visitin to check that all offers/POS and prices are correct. You would need a good relationship with the Host store as that is essential to keep in touch with local events. you al;so have to trust the host store to keep on top of your staff when you are not arround.,

[pinkchick06]

Thanks Dotty! Do you think there are any specific key points I need to make to make me 'stand out' from all the rest??? My main drive for this position is that I desperately need to get my own place asap xxx

[boxtops]

Big tip, don't brag. Look what happened to Baggs the Brand on the Apprentice - if you sound too high flying you will talk yourself out of the job. Area manager for Fragrance presumably means that you will be selling? - that's what it usually means in the pharma industry, and perhaps with some reps under you. Your c.v. will show up any fibs (e.g. how long you've been in retail) and interviewers go through everything with a fine-tooth comb these days. How big's the "Area" that you will be covering? The biggest tip I can give you is to demonstrate how much you know about the company, and where you need to develop - not just what you have done elsewhere, they will want to know what skills you bring and more importantly, how what you have already will fit into their culture and business plan. They will almost certainly ask you why you want to work for them, so be prepared, be very prepared!

[dotty.]

each visit you will have a check list of standards that you have to see evicence of from the staff presentation, their individual performances, the merchandising and stock control. it will take time to build a working knowledge of the product and the competition but your best bet is to book a facial in one of the houses in say HOF or debs and just listen to what goes on around you,

[boxtops]

PS - seeing your reply to dot, don't tell them you want the job for the money - you want the job because you relish the challenge, you want to progress, and you see opportunities to do so in a company like theirs. Ambition is not everything - you need to sell yourself to them in terms of what you can offer to them, not what they can offer for you.

[dotty.]

Tall heels pinkchick, power dress, immaculate turn out wearing their product, research their financial and trading history.

[dotty.]

If it is Lancome tell then you have a passport cos their annual meeting last year was in Monte Carlo

[pinkchick06]

Yeh powerdress is exactly what I had in mind. I am going to start researching right now about what I know etc, I'm not a bragger to be honest but I do realise I need to tone down in certain areas. Thats been a great help and if theres anything else you think I need to do then please tell me asap xx

[pinkchick06]

Its not Lancome Dotty, its for Coty UK (not sure If I'm allowed to disclose the name?) x

[boxtops]

Let us know if you get an interview! Depending how high up the job is, you might have to make a presentation. Good luck!

[dotty.]

Coty? they don't have houses in dept stores they sell direct to the store distribution, Boots probably do more than anywhere. Debs and HOF sell many of their celebrity lines in their fragrance dept., you probably will be dealing with the promotional side more than anything

[pinkchick06]

Thanks Boxtops, I will do! Sending her my CV tomorrow so I'll know if I get an interview or not we'll see. x