Macy's doesn't publish its interview questions, so prepare for how you treat customers, how you work with a team and when you can work, the themes it stresses in its careers pages. Macy's publishes little about its hiring steps. What it does say comes from its careers page and its seasonal hiring announcements, linked as we go: you apply online or at a hiring event, Macy's applicants can submit a recorded interview, and offers can come on the spot at the first hiring event of the season.
Where Macy's doesn't say something, we say so rather than guess.
The Macy's hiring process at a glance
| Step | What Macy's says | What it doesn't publish |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Application | Apply online at any time at macysJOBS.com, or in person at a hiring event. Macy's calls its online application simplified. | How long the form takes |
| 2. Interview | Macy's applicants have the option to submit a recorded interview. The first 2026 hiring event included on-the-spot interviews. | Format, length, who interviews you |
| 3. Offer | The first 2026 hiring event included on-the-spot job offers. | A timeline outside hiring events |
| 4. Starting work | Hourly colleagues can build schedules around what works for them. | What onboarding involves |
What is the Macy's hiring process?
You apply online or in person, interview (in person or through a recorded interview), and receive an offer if you're selected. Macy's, Inc. hires for three brands, Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury, and its careers page says it hires people at every stage, "from students looking for their first job to seasonal candidates and experienced talent".
Applying
Macy's jobs are listed at macysJOBS.com, Bloomingdale's at bloomingdalesJOBS.com and Bluemercury at bluemercuryJOBS.com. In its September 2026 hiring announcement, Macy's said you can apply online at any time, or in person at its hiring events.
Macy's hiring events in 2026
Macy's announced three nationwide in-person hiring events for the 2026 holiday season, at all Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury stores and select supply chain locations. Times vary by location.
| Date | What Macy's said |
|---|---|
| Thursday 24 September 2026 | Included on-the-spot interviews and job offers |
| Thursday 22 October 2026 | In-person hiring event |
| Thursday 19 November 2026 | In-person hiring event |
Macy's ran the same pattern in 2025, with three events and on-the-spot interviews and offers at the first one.
Cohesyve
Get some practice in before you apply to Macy's
Try an AI job simulation of the everyday work in roles like these and see where you lost marks. 3 free practice assessments, no card.
What is the Macy's interview process like?
Macy's doesn't publish a set interview format or length. It does say that applicants for Macy's positions have the option to submit a recorded interview. A recorded interview is usually a one-way video, where you record answers to set questions for the hiring team to watch later; Macy's doesn't publish how its version is set up. At the first hiring event of the season, Macy's offered interviews on the spot.
If you choose the recorded interview
Our guide to one-way video interviews explains how the format works in general. In short:
- Find a quiet, well-lit spot and check your camera and microphone first.
- Keep each answer short and structured. Say what happened, what you did and how it turned out.
- Look at the camera, not at your own image.
If you interview in person
Bring your availability, a short answer to "Why Macy's?", and three or four stories about customers and teamwork. The questions below show how to build them.
Does Macy's have an assessment?
Macy's doesn't publish an assessment for store, supply chain or corporate roles. If you're asked to complete one, read the instructions carefully and answer as you actually work. Our guide to situational judgement tests explains how scenario-based tests work in general.
How long does the Macy's hiring process take?
Macy's doesn't publish a timeline. The one documented case is the first hiring event of each holiday season, where Macy's offered on-the-spot interviews and job offers in both 2025 and 2026. Outside those events, ask the person who contacts you when you can expect to hear back.
Can a seasonal job at Macy's become permanent?
Macy's doesn't publish a conversion rule. In its 2026 announcement it said that "a seasonal role can open the door to longer-term career opportunities", and it points to learning, skills training and leadership development. If staying on matters to you, say so in your interview and ask how it works at that store.
Macy's interview questions and how to answer them
Macy's doesn't publish its interview questions. These are the questions to prepare for, built from what Macy's says it wants from colleagues and the roles it hires for. For "tell me about a time" questions, use the STAR method: situation, task, action, result.
1. Why do you want to work at Macy's?
Give a specific reason. You might mention the brand you shop at, the colleague discount, the flexible scheduling Macy's describes for hourly colleagues, or a chance to work through the holiday season. Macy's describes its team as one that "takes pride in helping customers celebrate the moments that matter most", so connect your answer to customers.
2. Tell me about yourself.
Keep it to about a minute. Lead with any customer-facing experience, add one strength, and finish with which brand you're applying to (Macy's, Bloomingdale's or Bluemercury) and why you want to work this season.
3. How would you make every customer feel welcome?
Macy's says it wants a shopping experience where all customers are "welcomed, accepted and respected". Describe what you'd actually do: greet people as they arrive, offer help without hovering, and treat every customer with the same care.
4. Tell me about a time you made a connection with a customer.
Macy's described its 2025 seasonal hires as "creating meaningful connections with customers". Pick an example where you listened, found what someone needed and they left happier than they arrived.
5. How would you deal with an upset customer?
Macy's says it wants every customer to feel "welcomed, accepted and respected", and that includes an upset one. Show that you'd stay calm, listen to the whole complaint, acknowledge how they feel, fix what you can within policy and bring in a manager if you can't.
6. How do you handle a busy holiday shift?
Seasonal roles exist for the holiday rush. Talk about staying friendly when it's busy, keeping your area tidy and stocked, and helping colleagues when the queue builds.
7. Tell me about a time you worked well with a team.
Macy's says its success "will be built on amazing individuals working together". Give an example where you shared work, covered for someone or helped a team hit a goal.
8. What makes you different?
Macy's careers page says every colleague "has a unique point of view and their own authentic experiences". Answer honestly with something you bring that others might not, such as a language, a hobby that helps you advise shoppers, or experience in a different kind of job.
9. What is your availability?
Be exact and honest. For seasonal roles, say clearly whether you can work evenings, weekends and holiday shifts, and make sure it matches your application.
10. How do you stay accurate when you're working fast?
For distribution and fulfilment centre roles. Talk about checking your work, following the process and safety rules, and asking when you're unsure.
11. Would you like to stay on after the holidays?
Answer honestly. If you would, say so and explain what you'd like to learn, since Macy's says a seasonal role can lead to longer-term opportunities.
12. Do you have any questions for us?
Always say yes. Ask about training for new colleagues, how schedules are set, or what the best people in the role do well.
For more practice, our list of behavioural interview questions gives you a wider bank to rehearse.
How to prepare for a Macy's interview
- Choose your brand and role. Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury list jobs on separate sites.
- Decide between a recorded interview and an in-person one, if you're applying for a Macy's position, and practise for the format you choose.
- Prepare four stories: a customer you helped, a busy shift, a team effort and a mistake you put right.
- Know your availability for evenings, weekends and holidays before you apply.
- Visit a store so you can talk about it as a shopper.
- Rehearse out loud, ideally in a mock interview with someone who will give you honest feedback.
- Bring two or three questions about training, shifts and staying on after the season.
Practising realistic work tasks
Interviews reward prepared stories. The job itself rewards judgement with customers, and that improves with practice on realistic tasks. Cohesyve, which publishes this guide, runs practice job simulations for roles such as customer service, with a scored report on where you lost marks. Cohesyve isn't affiliated with Macy's and doesn't use Macy's questions.
FAQs
How do I apply for a job at Macy's?
Apply online at macysJOBS.com at any time, or in person at one of Macy's hiring events. Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury have their own job sites.
Does Macy's hire on the spot?
At the first of its 2025 and 2026 seasonal hiring events, Macy's offered on-the-spot interviews and job offers. Macy's doesn't publish whether that applies at other times.
Does Macy's do video interviews?
Macy's says applicants for Macy's positions can choose to submit a recorded interview. It doesn't publish how the recorded interview is set up or how many questions it has.
When are Macy's hiring events?
For the 2026 holiday season, Macy's held in-person events on 24 September and 22 October; the last one is on 19 November, at all Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury stores and select supply chain locations. Times vary by location.
Does Macy's have an assessment test?
Macy's doesn't publish one for store or supply chain roles.
Sources
Checked 27 October 2026:
- macysinc.com: Careers, People
- Macy's, Inc. newsroom: Macy's, Inc. Hiring Nationwide to Create a Season of Celebration (24 September 2026)
- Macy's, Inc. newsroom: Macy's, Inc. Recruiting Nationwide to Bring Magic of the Holiday Season to Life (24 September 2025)