Retail and hospitality
A first interview for a cashier should check three things. Will this person be careful with money? Can they stay pleasant when the line is long? Will they say no when a friend asks for a favor at the register? Ten minutes of realistic situations covers all three.
A short, scripted audio interview is enough for an entry-level role and easy for candidates to finish on a phone.
What to look for
The questions
Ask them in order. Listen for real details: what happened, what the candidate did, and how it ended.
Strong answer
Tells the supervisor straight away, recounts with them, and follows the store’s process, even if it means an awkward conversation.
Weak answer
Quietly makes up the difference from their own pocket, or says nothing and hopes no one notices.
Strong answer
Stays calm, checks the shelf price or calls someone to check, and follows the price policy, while keeping the line informed.
Weak answer
Argues with the customer, or changes the price without permission to make the problem go away.
Strong answer
Doesn’t accuse, explains what they remember, and asks a supervisor to count the drawer or check the camera, following store policy.
Weak answer
Gives the extra change to avoid a scene, or insists the customer is lying.
Strong answer
Tells customers what’s happening, offers other ways to pay, calls for help, and sends people to another register if one is open.
Weak answer
Keeps retrying silently while the line grows.
Strong answer
Says no clearly and calmly, scans everything, and would mention it to a supervisor if it happened again.
Weak answer
Hesitates, or says it depends on the item.
Strong answer
Names specific habits: counting change back, keeping large notes to one side until the sale is done, checking the screen before bagging.
Weak answer
“I’m just careful”, with no habits to point to.
Strong answer
Tells them quietly and without embarrassing them, suggests trying again or another way to pay, and gives them a moment.
Weak answer
Announces it loudly, or looks impatient while they sort it out.
Strong answer
Owns a real mistake, explains how they caught it, who they told and what they now do differently.
Weak answer
Can’t think of one, or describes something that was someone else’s fault.
Before the interview
Short form questions the candidate answers before the interview. You read the answers next to the interview. They aren’t scored.
Listen for
Avoid
Use this in LessRounds
Paste the questions into a scripted interview, where the AI reads each question word for word. Add the skills from the scorecard, then share one link. Every cashier candidate gets the same questions. You get a score for each skill, with the candidate’s own words that explain it.
Honesty. Speed comes with practice at the register. How someone handles a drawer that’s short of cash, or a friend asking for a favor, is much harder to change.
About 10 minutes. Five or six short situations are enough, and candidates applying from a phone are more likely to finish.
Start with 100 free credits, enough for about 20 interviews. No credit card or sales call needed.