IKEA usually hires co-workers through an online application, a screening call or short online questions, one or two interviews with a team leader or manager, and an offer with onboarding. Steps vary by role, location, country and team, and IKEA stores in different countries are run by different IKEA companies, so the careers site and process can differ where you live.
IKEA calls its employees co-workers. It hires for sales, customer service, logistics and food roles, and interviews tend to explore how you work with others as much as what you've done before.
Co-worker roles at IKEA
- Sales: helping customers plan rooms and choose furniture in areas like kitchens, bedrooms and storage.
- Customer service: returns, orders, pickups and questions, often when customers are tired or frustrated.
- Logistics: receiving deliveries, moving stock and filling shelves, often on early or overnight shifts.
- Food: serving and preparing food in the store's restaurant and food areas.
Our cashier interview questions help with checkout and front-line service questions.
IKEA hiring steps in order
- Apply on the IKEA careers site for your country, choosing the store and role.
- Complete a screening call or short online questions, if the role uses them.
- Interview with a team leader or manager, in person or by video.
- For some roles, a second interview with another leader.
- Receive an offer and complete onboarding.
Our big-box and grocery store interview guide compares IKEA's steps with other large retailers.
What each step looks for and how to prepare
| Step | What it looks for | How to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Role and schedule fit | Choose the area that matches your experience |
| Screening | Motivation and availability | Two sentences on why IKEA and this role |
| Team leader interview | Teamwork, customer care, safety | Three stories, each told in about a minute |
| Second interview | Fit with the team on the floor | Questions about how the team works day to day |
| Offer | Paperwork and start date | Work documents ready |
Questions to expect, with sample answers
Sales: “How would you help a customer planning a small kitchen?” “I'd ask about the space first: measurements, who cooks and what annoys them about the current kitchen. Then I'd show two layouts within their budget and point out storage ideas that make a small room feel bigger. Before they left, I'd make sure they knew their delivery and assembly options. The goal is a customer who goes home with a plan.”
Logistics: “Tell me about working safely under time pressure.” “At my last job unloading trucks, a late delivery left us two hours before opening. I checked each pallet was stable before moving it, used the pallet jack instead of carrying and kept the aisles clear for the team. We finished on time and nobody was hurt. Rushing is when accidents happen, so I keep the safety steps automatic.”
Food: “How do you stay friendly during a busy lunch?” “I treat each guest like the first one of the day, even when the line is long. I stock my station before the rush so I'm not running around, and I make eye contact and smile even for a quick hello. At my school cafeteria job, a calm, friendly line always moved faster than a stressed one.”
Customer service: “Why IKEA?” “I furnished my first apartment almost entirely from IKEA, so I know how it feels to arrive with a small budget and a long list. I'd like to help people in that position. Over time I'd also like to learn more than one area of the store, like sales and customer service.”
Your IKEA prep week
Days 1 and 2: Walk through an IKEA store as a customer and read the IKEA careers site for your country, including how it describes working there. Day 3: Write stories for teamwork, a customer you helped and a time you stayed safe or careful under pressure. Day 4: Practice them aloud, aiming for roughly a minute each. Day 5: Confirm your availability and prepare two questions about the team. Day 6: Run a full mock interview. Day 7: Rest.
How CoPilot Interview helps you prepare
If English is your second language, IKEA's conversational questions are worth rehearsing aloud, and our AI interview assistant makes that easy. Start an AI mock interview with the IKEA posting and your resume; the AI interviewer speaks each question, then rates your spoken answer out of 10 and shows what worked, what to improve and a model answer. That's free, along with 15 minutes of live help every day and no credit card. IKEA has stores in many countries, including India and the Philippines; in low- and middle-income countries like these, the pricing page shows a regional price: Standard is $14.99 a month there instead of the US price of $24.99.
In-person interviews are for preparing beforehand, not for using it in the room. For video interviews where live help is allowed, follow your employer's rules. Disclosure: CoPilot Interview is our product, so weigh what we say about it accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
How long does IKEA take to hire?
It varies by country, store and role. Some candidates move from application to offer quickly, while roles with a second interview take longer. Ask the recruiter or team leader at the end of your interview when they expect to decide, and check your email for updates.
What questions does IKEA ask in an interview?
Candidates commonly describe questions about teamwork, helping customers, handling a difficult situation, working safely, why IKEA and your availability. Sales roles may add a planning scenario, such as helping someone furnish a small space. Prepare short, true stories for each.
What should I wear to an IKEA interview?
Smart casual is a safe choice: clean trousers or jeans and a simple shirt or top, with comfortable shoes in case you walk the store floor. Formal business wear isn't necessary for most store roles. Look neat and relaxed.
Does IKEA hire people without experience?
Many co-worker roles in sales, food, customer service and logistics are open to people without direct experience. Interviewers look for teamwork, reliability and a willingness to learn. Use examples from school, volunteering, sports or other jobs, and read the posting's requirements.
Rehearse your IKEA interview
Practice your answers out loud in a free AI mock interview built from the posting.
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