Alterations & Tailor Shop - Sewer - Michigan Avenue
Posted Sep 22, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Tell me about your sewing and pressing experience. What kinds of garments have you worked on?
What they are checking: Whether their experience fits the preferred two to three years and the range of work in a busy shop.
Tell me about a time you helped a teammate finish their work on time.
What they are checking: Whether they work as a team to meet department productivity goals.
How do you balance working fast with doing quality work?
What they are checking: Whether they can meet productivity goals without letting quality slip on customer garments.
What would you do
You have more alterations due today than you can finish. What do you do?
What they are checking: Whether they prioritize and communicate early so customer promise dates are kept or reset honestly.
A customer picks up an alteration and says it's not right. How do you handle it?
What they are checking: Whether they stay calm, listen and fix the problem while protecting the customer relationship.
About the work
Walk me through how you would hem a pair of dress pants with a cuff.
What they are checking: Whether they have the hands-on sewing skill to do common alterations correctly and to standard.
How do you take in a suit jacket at the waist while keeping the shape?
What they are checking: Whether they can handle more complex tailoring jobs, not just basic hems.
How do you press delicate fabrics like silk or wool without damaging them?
What they are checking: Whether they know fabric care and pressing methods that protect expensive garments.
How do you keep track of many customer garments and their due dates?
What they are checking: Whether they stay organized and can use store technology to manage alteration needs.
How do you stay safe when using sewing and pressing machinery?
What they are checking: Whether they take safety seriously around industrial equipment used all day.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Nordstrom.