Category Assistant

As a Category Assistant at Giant Tiger, your main responsibilities involve coordinating product development and assortment activities, executing purchase strategies, supporting effective communication among teams, and aiding in strategic marketing efforts. You’ll ensure that all activities align with our category strategies and meet safety, quality, and regulatory standards, while also aiming to drive traffic and sales.

To apply for the Category Assistant position at Giant Tiger, you should have a degree in Business, Management, or a related field, along with at least 2 years of experience in a similar role. Familiarity with grocery retail is considered an asset. Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in Microsoft Office are also essential, while bilingualism in English and French can be beneficial.

While it's not strictly mandatory, having at least 2 years of related Category Assistant experience is essential for the role at Giant Tiger. Familiarity within the grocery retail sector is particularly advantageous, as it equips you with relevant insights and understanding that can enhance your performance in the position.

At Giant Tiger, the Category Assistant position follows a hybrid work model allowing you to work onsite at the Laval office on Wednesdays and Thursdays, while working remotely the rest of the week. This arrangement provides you flexibility, enabling a balanced work-life structure while still contributing to team collaboration.

As a Category Assistant at Giant Tiger, you’ll enjoy various significant benefits, including participation in an annual profit-sharing program, comprehensive health/dental/vision benefits starting on day one, store discounts, and access to LinkedIn Learning. Additional perks such as parental top-up programs and employee tuition reimbursements are also available, alongside accessibility to onsite facilities like a gym and cafeteria.

When answering this question, focus on specific examples from your past roles. Discuss your involvement in coordinating product launches or your experience supporting assortment planning. Emphasize how your contributions have aligned with strategic goals, demonstrating your understanding of how product development impacts overall sales and customer satisfaction.

In your response, stress the importance of communication and problem-solving skills. Explain that you would contact the supplier to identify the issue and explore potential solutions or alternatives. Highlight your proactive approach in keeping all stakeholders informed to minimize disruptions and maintain business continuity.

Be prepared to mention specific tools like Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel for data analysis, and any category management software you've used. It's essential to explain how you effectively utilize these tools to manage information, analyze performance, or assist with inventory management.

Answer by describing a specific situation where you applied retail mathematics to evaluate sales figures, profitability, and inventory levels. Detail how you arrived at your purchasing recommendations based on data analysis, and how your decisions positively impacted sales or reduced costs.

Discuss the strategies you employ to facilitate open communication. Mention regular check-ins, utilizing tools or channels for information sharing, and how you address misunderstandings promptly. Highlight the positive results this approach has yielded in past roles, such as improved teamwork and collaboration.

Emphasize your organizational skills by discussing how you assess the urgency and impact of tasks at hand. Explain any prioritization frameworks you use, like the Eisenhower Matrix, to ensure that you're focusing on tasks that drive the most value, especially under tight deadlines.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to frame your answer. Describe a specific instance where a change occurred, your role, the actions you took to adapt, and the eventual positive outcome. This showcases not only your adaptability but also your proactive problem-solving skills.

Express how you would collaborate with marketing and product teams to understand the objectives and target audience. Discuss your role in gathering product insights and data that can inform marketing strategies, along with how you would ensure clear communication of product features to align marketing efforts with company objectives.

When conveying your response, focus on a real challenge you faced, such as managing competing priorities or tight deadlines. Explain the strategies you employed to overcome these challenges, highlighting skills like time management, adaptability, and seeking support from colleagues or mentors when necessary.

Craft a response that shows your enthusiasm for the company’s mission and values. Discuss how your personal goals align with Giant Tiger’s commitment to community and customer service, and highlight specific aspects of the position and company culture that excite you. This shows the interviewer your genuine interest in being part of their team.