How Old Do You Have to be to Work at Big Lots?
To get a job at Big Lots as a store associate/stocker, overnight stock associate, furniture sales lead, or lead support associate you must be at least 18 years old. The company also prefers that you have a high school diploma or GED.
Big Lots has big opportunities and lots of potential. The employees are what make Big Lots a great place to shop, and a great place to work. They are looking for individuals who are committed to customer service and who want a career filled with opportunities, challenges, and rewards.
There are approximately 1,400 locations nationwide, and they offer a wide variety of hourly and retail management positions for people who are passionate about serving customers.
Teen Jobs at Big Lots and Age Requirements
Store Associate/Stocker (Hourly)
As a store associate/stocker at Big Lots, you will perform general store operational duties, including cashiering, customer service, truck unloading, stocking, merchandise recovery, and light cleaning and maintenance.
Store associates greet and assist customers, operate the point-of-sale systems efficiently and accurately, drive customer loyalty program participation, and help with furniture department carry-outs and display assembly. They also participate in the freight flow process including truck unloading, stocking, merchandise presentation and recovery.
You must be at least 18 years old to work as a store associate/stocker at Big Lots.
Overnight Stock Associate (Hourly)
Overnight stock associates at Big Lots perform general store operational duties, including truck unloading, stocking, merchandise recovery, and light cleaning and maintenance. They also participate in furniture department operations, including display assembly.
They also perform other tasks as assigned by Store Leadership, such as cart retrieval, shrink control, and safety-related tasks.
To work as an overnight stock associate at Big Lots, you must be at least 18 years old.
Furniture Sales Lead (Hourly)
Being a furniture sales lead at Big Lots means you are responsible for the performance in the furniture department, including cashiering, service desk, shrink control, store paperwork, merchandising, freight processing, product assembly, and inventory control.
You will also perform general store operational duties, and you must have a strong focus on driving sales.
Part of the job includes assisting customers with product information, selection, and purchase. You also need to be able to offer solutions for out-of-stock items. Department managers take care of the pricehold process, maintain department inventory, and ensure the store’s appearance is maintained to standards.
To work as a furniture sales lead at Big Lots, you must be at least 18 years old, and the company prefers that you have one year of previous retail experience.
Lead Support Associate (Hourly)
A lead support associate at Big Lots performs general store operational duties including cashiering, customer service, truck unloading, stocking, merchandise recovery, and light cleaning and maintenance. They provide direction to store associates on the sales floor, and they work collaboratively with store leadership to drive overall store performance.
Lead support associates greet and assist customers as needed, maintain and operate point-of-sale systems, drive customer loyalty program participation, participate in the freight flow process, and they also help with furniture department operations.
This position also helps maintain the appearance of the store’s interior and exterior to company standards, performs daily front-end maintenance, and does other tasks as assigned by store leadership.
You must be at least 18 years old to be a lead support associate at Big Lots.
Can a 15 Year Old Work at Big Lots?
Because the minimum age to work at Big Lots is 18, 15-year-olds can’t work at Big Lots. But, we do have a page on our website specifically for 15-year-olds that you can view instead.
Can a 16 Year Old Work at Big Lots?
The minimum age to work at Big Lots is 18, so 16-year-olds can’t work there. However, we do have a page on our website specifically for 16-year-olds that you can view for more options.
How Much Does Big Lots Pay Part-Time Workers?
The hourly earnings for employees at Big Lots vary because of state and city minimum wage laws. However, we can give you a general idea of what the hourly pay is for each position.
Store Associate/Stocker (Hourly)
As a store associate/stocker at Big Lots, you will be making somewhere between minimum wage and $13 per hour. If you are coming in at entry-level without any prior experience, then you will most likely start at minimum wage.
The average hourly rate for a Big Lots store associate/stocker is $9.
Overnight Stock Associate (Hourly)
The rate of pay for overnight stock associates at Big Lots is between $8 and $11 an hour. If you do not have any work experience, you will mostly likely start at the lower end of the range.
The average hourly wage for overnight stock associates at Big Lots is $9.
Furniture Sales Lead (Hourly)
The pay range for a furniture sales lead at Big Lots is between $10 and $14 an hour. They do prefer that you have previous retail experience, so do not be afraid to negotiate your wage.
The average hourly rate for a furniture sales lead at Big Lots is $11 an hour.
Lead Support Associate (Hourly)
The pay range for a lead support associate at Big Lots is between $10 and $15 an hour. This position usually requires previous retail experience, so your wage will be negotiable.
The average hourly rate for a lead support associate at Big Lots is $11 an hour.
How Much Experience Do You Need to Work at Big Lots?
Big Lots is an entry-level friendly company, so you can apply for a position without any experience and get hired as a store associate/stocker or overnight stock associate. However, if you do have some previous retail experience, you could land a position as a furniture sales lead or lead support associate.
What Should You Wear to a Job Interview at Big Lots?
Big Lots is a discount home store, so when you show up for your interview, you will want to be dressed in business casual attire. Consider something like a buttoned-down shirt with nice slacks and dress shoes. You do not want to show up too casual in a t-shirt and jeans. On the other hand, there is no need to dress too formal, so a suit is not necessary.
Big Lots Interview Questions
The possible questions in a job interview are endless, and it always depends on the interviewer. But, there are some common questions that they do often ask. At a Big Lots interview, your first meeting will most likely be with one or two managers. Here are some of the questions they often ask.
What do you know about Big Lots, and why do you want to work here?
Why are they asking?
Every business wants their employees to be familiar with company culture and values, and they also want employees to know the ins and outs of the company. Those things are usually learned when you become part of the company, but when you are applying and interviewing, there is an expectation that you know the basics about the company you want to work for.
What’s the ideal answer?
Do your research before your interview. Check out the company website and get familiar with the products they sell, basic pricing structure, and a little bit about the history and values of Big Lots. You aren’t expected to know everything about the company, but they want to know that you’ve put in some effort on researching Big Lots before your interview. Also, if you are a customer, definitely tell them. If there is a piece of furniture that you bought at the store that you love, share that experience.
As for why you want to work there, be honest. You can say something like, “I like the products,” or, “there are opportunities for advancement.” It doesn’t matter why you want to work there, just be honest with your answer.
What would you do if you caught an employee stealing?
Why are they asking?
If an interviewer asks you this question, be careful because it’s a trick question. People tend to answer by going on and on about taking charge of the situation by either confronting the employee or calling the police. But, that isn’t what the interviewer wants to hear.
What’s the ideal answer?
The best thing to say is that you would bring it to your supervisor’s attention or call an HR hotline to report it. Companies want a situation like this one to go through the proper channels. They also want to make sure that you would handle this by following company policy instead of taking the matter into your own hands.
Why should we hire you?
Why are they asking?
If a manager asks you this question, they are trying to get you to sell yourself. A big part of your job at Big Lots is to give excellent customer service and be able to drive sales with excellent communication and product knowledge.
They are wanting to find out how well you can communicate, while being positive and professional. If you can sell yourself, you can sell their merchandise.
What’s the ideal answer?
Know your strengths. If you get asked this question, tell them how you will benefit their business. They want to hear that you are creative, have above average verbal communication skills, have a friendly and upbeat demeanor, and can successfully sell merchandise.
Tell them that you are a reliable worker who will show up to work on time for every scheduled shift. And, if you have a passion for retail and want a career in the industry, definitely let them know because there are opportunities for advancement.
Benefits of Working at Big Lots
Everyone who works at Big Lots gets a twenty percent merchandise discount. However, the benefits they offer are for full-time workers only.
Benefits include:
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off, paid holidays, and paid sick days
- Performance Bonuses
- Vacation
- 401K and Retirement Plan
- Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
What it’s Like to Work at Big Lots
How to Apply at Big Lots
If you are interested in working at Big Lots, you can apply directly on the company website or fill out an application at sites like Indeed or Glassdoor. You can also go to the store you are interested in working at and fill out a paper application.
When you are applying in-person, remember to dress nice and look your best. To move the process along quickly, be prepared to fill out the application in the store instead of taking it home and bringing it back.
