REI interview questions centre on helping customers get outside: sharing what you know, recommending the right gear, explaining membership and working as part of a team. REI's careers site sets out its hiring process in four steps, from exploring roles to a decision.
The process details below come from REI's own careers site at rei.jobs and from an REI job posting, linked as we go. Where REI doesn't say something, we say so. The interview questions are ones to prepare for; REI doesn't publish its questions.
The REI hiring process at a glance
| Step | What happens | What REI says about timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Explore | Find a role whose qualifications you meet, or set up a job alert. | Not applicable |
| 2. Apply | Apply online with a resume tailored to the role. Some roles add questions about your experience. | Not published |
| 3. Resume review | REI's team reviews your resume and contacts you if you fit, usually by email. | Not published |
| 4. Screening | A recorded video screening for some candidates; a phone or virtual recruiter call for some roles. | You complete the video screening at your convenience |
| 5. Hiring manager interview | Meet the person who would be your manager, in person or virtually. | Not published |
| 6. Team interview | Usually one or two more team members. Most headquarters roles add individual or group interviews. | Not published |
| 7. Decision | REI aims to update candidates as soon as possible. | Varies by role; can take longer when many apply |
What is the REI hiring process?
REI's How we hire guide describes four steps: explore, apply, interview and decision. The interview step contains a resume review, a screening, a hiring manager interview and usually a final meeting with team members.
REI hires for stores, distribution centres, a call centre, corporate roles and internships. Its stores page lists store hourly, store management, store operations, visual merchandising and merchandising roles.
Cohesyve
Get some practice in before you apply to REI
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.
How do you apply to REI?
Search jobs on rei.jobs and apply online. REI's tips for the application:
- Tailor your resume to the role so the qualifications it asks for stand out.
- Check your address and contact details, because REI uses them to contact you throughout the process.
- Answer any extra questions. Some roles ask about your past experience in advance.
- Your application is saved for the next role you apply to, and you can upload an updated resume at any time.
- Track your status by signing in to your candidate portal.
If there's no opening that fits, you can set up a job alert for a location or department. If you need an accommodation at any point, REI asks you to email jobs@rei.com.
What is the REI interview process?
After a resume review, you may be invited to a screening, then meet the hiring manager and, usually, one or two more team members.
Resume review
REI says a dedicated team reviews your resume. If you're the right fit and meet the qualifications, someone will contact you, usually by email.
Screening
You may be invited to a video screening with a few more questions about your background. REI says you can complete it at your convenience. It doesn't publish how many questions there are or how long you get to finish. For some roles there may also be a phone or virtual conversation with a recruiter.
If you haven't done a recorded interview before, our explainer on one-way video interviews shows how the format works.
Hiring manager interview
If you move forward, you'll meet the hiring manager, who would be your new manager. REI calls it a chance to ask about the day-to-day of the job. These interviews can be in person or virtual.
Team interview
As a final step, you'll usually meet one or two more members of the team. For most headquarters roles, you'll also meet more of the people the role would support, individually or in a group interview.
REI's advice for every interview: research its mission and values and its latest news, prepare notes on the experiences you want to highlight, and bring questions. REI says its dress is casual regardless of the position.
Does REI have an assessment?
REI's hiring guide doesn't describe a pre-hire test or online assessment. The video screening and any extra application questions are the screening steps it documents. If a role you apply for includes a test, the invitation should tell you what it involves.
What happens after the REI interview?
REI says it aims to tell all candidates about updates as soon as possible, but the time varies because each role is different. It can take longer when many candidates apply. Check your candidate portal for your status.
If you don't move forward, REI encourages you to apply again, since a new role may be a better match.
REI participates in E-Verify, the US government system that confirms work eligibility after you're hired.
How long does REI take to hire?
REI doesn't publish a timeline. It says the time varies by role and that the process can take longer than expected when there are many applicants.
Common REI interview questions and how to answer them
REI is a consumer co-operative that says it exists to inspire and equip everyone to get outside. Its careers site describes the culture as "Move Forward, Together": one team, accountable to each other, committed to belonging, built for collaboration and united by a love of the outdoors. It also says it's committed to becoming a fully inclusive, antiracist, multicultural organisation.
A Store Sales Specialist posting we checked describes the job as sharing knowledge, giving recommendations, selling memberships and delivering REI's 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. It lists the qualities REI wants, which the answers below draw on. Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) for "tell me about a time" questions.
1. Tell me about yourself.
Keep it under a minute: your recent work or study, what you do outdoors, and why this role at REI. You don't need to be an expert; REI's mission is about getting everyone outside.
2. Why do you want to work at REI?
Link your answer to the co-op's mission of inspiring and equipping everyone to get outside. Mention something specific you've researched, such as a recent REI news story or what being a member-owned co-op means to you.
3. How would you help a customer who's new to an activity choose gear?
Ask questions first: where they're going, how often, their experience and their budget. Then recommend what fits and explain why. The posting asks for someone who makes solid recommendations by combining information from various sources.
4. How would you explain an REI membership to a customer?
Selling memberships is part of the Store Sales Specialist role. Keep it short, link the membership to what the customer is buying or planning, and accept a "no" without pressure. Learn the current membership benefits on rei.com before your interview.
5. Tell me about a time you turned around an unhappy customer.
REI's posting mentions its 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. Describe how you listened, what you did to fix the problem and how the customer left.
6. Tell me about a time you received feedback and what you did with it.
The posting asks for someone open to feedback and other viewpoints. Pick a real piece of feedback, show what you changed and what happened next.
7. What would you do if you didn't know the answer to a customer's question?
Say you'd be honest, find the answer from a colleague or a reliable source, and follow up. A confident guess about safety gear can go badly wrong.
8. Describe a time you worked with a team to reach a goal.
REI calls itself one team, built for collaboration. Show what you contributed and how you helped others, which matches the posting's ask to engage and influence others.
9. How do you prioritise when the store is busy?
The posting asks for someone who sets goals, establishes priorities and keeps others in the loop. Give an example of juggling customers, stock and store pick-up orders, and how you decided what came first.
10. How would you make someone who's new to the outdoors feel welcome?
REI says the outdoors is for all. Talk about avoiding jargon, not assuming experience, and recommending a starting point that fits their budget.
11. What is your availability?
The posting asks for the ability to work a flexible schedule based on business needs. Give your real availability and make sure it matches your application.
12. Do you have any questions for us?
REI suggests preparing questions about what you researched or the specific role. Ask about training for new starters, how the team shares product knowledge, or what the day-to-day looks like.
For more practice, see our lists of behavioural interview questions and situational interview question examples.
How to prepare for the REI interview
- Tailor your resume to the role's qualifications before you apply.
- Research REI's mission, values and latest news, as REI itself recommends.
- Prepare four or five STAR stories on helping a customer, an unhappy customer, teamwork and feedback.
- Know one or two activities well enough to give real gear recommendations, and be honest about the rest.
- For a video screening, find a quiet spot and practise answering a few questions on camera first.
- Practise out loud, ideally in a mock interview with someone who gives honest feedback.
- Dress casually. REI says its interview dress is casual for every position.
- Bring two or three questions for the hiring manager.
Practising realistic work tasks
Interviews reward prepared stories, and recommending the right product improves with practice on realistic situations. Cohesyve, which publishes this guide, runs practice job simulations for your role, with a scored report on where you lost marks. It isn't affiliated with REI and doesn't use REI's interview questions.
FAQs
What should I wear to an REI interview?
Casual clothes. REI says its dress is casual regardless of the position, for in-person and virtual interviews.
Does REI do video interviews?
Some candidates are invited to a recorded video screening, which REI says you can complete at your convenience. Hiring manager interviews can also be virtual.
How many interviews does REI have?
Some candidates do a screening; most then have a hiring manager interview and a final meeting with one or two team members. Most headquarters roles add individual or group interviews with more of the people the role supports.
How do I check my REI application status?
Sign in to your candidate portal on REI's careers site.
Can I reapply to REI if I'm not selected?
Yes. REI encourages candidates who don't move forward to apply again for roles that may be a better match.
Sources
REI's own pages, checked 27 October 2026:
- rei.jobs: Inside REI: How we hire
- rei.jobs: Careers home
- rei.jobs: People and culture
- rei.jobs: Stores
- rei.jobs: Store Sales Specialist posting, Memphis, Tennessee
- rei.com: About REI