Shopify’s Life Story interview technique is a far more relaxed approach to hiring compared to other, more traditional interviews. However, knowing this information often leaves candidates struggling to prepare correctly.

As a mentorship platform, MentorCruise can help you take your next step towards quickly reaching your career goals. Keep reading and learn what to expect during the Shopify hiring process to ensure you are successful in landing the role!

Shopify Hiring Process Overview

The length of the Shopify interview process varies depending on what position you’ve applied for however, they all follow the same format. Below, we will explore the following five stages:

1. Apply online

2. Initial call

3. The Life Story

4. Meet the Team

5. Decision

Here’s What the Interviewees Say

Shopify’s hiring process adopts a conversational approach and focuses more on the personality and experiences of a candidate than their skills and expertise.

‘It’s just a very casual chat,’ reports one Reddit user, saying that candidates should expect to talk about personal interests and hobbies. Interviews focus more on personality as compared to technical skills.

How Long is the Shopify Interview Process?

It can vary depending on the position that you are applying for. The timeline for example, for a customer service role might take a couple weeks, while a more specialized position such as the CFO or Director of Operations can take months before reaching a decision.

Shopify Interview Process Timeline

Step #1: Apply Online

On the Shopify careers page, applicants are able to select and apply for more than one role. This is to ensure that you are able to find the perfect role that fits your skills and experiences.

Step #2: Initial Call

Most applicants can expect a short phone call or video conversation with a Shopify recruiter.

Shopify is committed to finding the right role for each candidate so be prepared to talk about your skills, as well as what you're looking for in a role.

Initial interviews allow hiring managers to learn more about your relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences. This gives them a better sense of whether you are a good fit.

Step #3: The Life Story

This is Shopify’s interview technique that allows the hiring team to learn more about who the candidate actually is.

Shopify bases their life story interview questions on five attributes, these are:

• Impact

• Readiness

• Trust

• Engagement, and

• Self-awareness

Shopify is looking for candidates with a growth mindset so, be sure to focus on stories that showcase your problem-solving skills and resourcefulness.

Step #4: Meet the team

You will meet with 3-5 future co-workers for up to an hour each and, depending on the role, you may be required to complete a task and report back to the team.

These interviews allow an insight into how potential candidates work with others and provide the opportunity to assess their skills.

Step #5: Decision

By taking into account feedback from members of varying levels of seniority, the hiring team only makes offers when they are confident they are making the best decision for everyone involved.

How to Nail the Interview Process

Use STAR to Adapt Your Resume and Cover Letter to What They Want

One way to enhance your resume and make it stand out is to use the STAR technique. STAR stands for situation, task, action, and result.

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Practice Answering Behavioral And Technical Questions

The STAR method is a great way to prepare for behavioral interviews. This method of answering questions is great in helping you answer questions focused on previous work-related challenges and how you overcame them.

The STAR method stands for:

• Situation - Describe a specific problem you had to deal with in your previous work place.

• Task - Explain the tasks you were assigned in order to deal with it

• Action - Describe how you carried out your task

• Result - Explain the positive results of your actions.

Shopify Interview Questions

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of questions and answers. Remember to use the STAR method to nail your answers.

Q. How do you manage conflict in the workplace?

A. In a past role, two members of my team were disagreeing on a marketing strategy and it was clear they wouldn't compromise. I stepped in as a manager by listening and asking questions rather than choosing sides.

There are always going be people who want things done their way regardless if others agree. That is why it is important to listen to both sides. The end result? I was able to find a middle ground that everyone could get behind.

Q. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond what was expected?

A. In a previous role, I was responsible for following up sales leads on the phone. I once had a customer who couldn't find a time to talk during business hours and so, knowing the importance of conversions that month, I arranged the phone call for 7pm.

After a long conversation that evening, I converted the lead into a sale. That morning my manager thanked me for being so committed and that my efforts would help towards reaching our monthly target.

How we can help

Here at MentorCruise, we coach hundreds of professionals around the world to reach the next level of their career.

Figuring out how to prepare for interviews can be exhausting. That is why MentorCruise's vetted mentors are here to help, to provide the knowledge you need to succeed. Book an introductory call now.

Conclusion

With the right preparation, you can make sure that you feel confident and ready for your Shopify interview. Practice behavioral type questions and learn about each stage of the process.

Why not maximize your potential with a professional mentor through MentorCruise? The service will help you find questions to ask and give advice about how best to prepare.