American Apparel Application & Careers

Update: The company is no longer in operation. This page is only for archival purposes.

American Apparel is a Los Angeles based clothing retailer known for its bold, block colors and its relaxed but cool style that is always on trend.  To find out how to apply for American Apparel online, follow the link at the bottom of the page to submit your American Apparel application today.

Even though the company likes to epitomize the LA style, it was originally founded in Montreal by Canadian Dov Charney in 1989.  Charney was a big fan of the American style and built up his company until he was able to relocate operations to California in 1997.  Now the company brings its style to around 300 locations in 18 different countries.

The company prides itself on its vertical integration philosophy.  This means that everything from the design, manufacturing, retail and modeling is owned and managed by the company itself, with no outsourcing whatsoever.  By doing this, the company has full control over every aspect of delivering the products and can ensure employee wellbeing and cut out sweatshops.

American Apparel has been involved in a number of high profile activist campaigns.  The company was particularly involved in the ‘Legalize LA’ campaign that supports immigration reform.  It was also an advocate for the ‘Legalize Gay’ campaign and subsequently has been named as one of the top 8 pro-gay companies.

American Apparel Careers

There are constantly job opportunities in their retail outlets in the positions of Sales Associate, Back Stock Associate and Coordinator, Merchandiser, Key Holder and Assistant and Store Manager.  The most important qualification for entry-level jobs is a sense of style and a can-do attitude.  Leadership experience is necessary for managerial roles.

American Apparel careers also include openings at their headquarters in departments such as Accounting/Finance, Design, IT, HR and Sales and Marketing.  They are hiring at their Distribution Centers in all aspects of Production and also in their Warehouses.  You can also submit applications and photos to be considered for modeling jobs.

How old do you have to be to work at American Apparel?  You must be at least 16 or over to be considered for American Apparel jobs.

The stores are usually open from 10am to 9pm Monday to Saturday with reduced hours on Sundays.

For all fashion enthusiasts you’ll be pleased to know that one of the benefits to beginning your career in one of their retail locations is free clothes to start you off.  Afterwards you’ll be entitled to a generous discount to ensure you have enough clothes to wear while working.  Many employees will also be entitled to a health insurance package and paid time off.

American Apparel Job Descriptions

Sales Associate – The responsibilities of a Sales Associate are mainly customer-focused.  You will need to have good communication skills to be able to serve customers and to help them with their purchases.  It is also important to have a good sense of personal style that fits in with the overall image of the brand.  The average hourly pay is $10 per hour.

Back Stock Associate – The best Back Stock Associates have great organizational skills and are able to work independently.  You will be expected to organize stock and inventory and make sure the products on the floor are adequately stocked.  Duties also include dealing with daily shipments both by checking quality and processing on the computer system.  This role is usually paid at $10/hour.

In Store Merchandiser – The job description for this position requires you to handle every aspect of the merchandise in the store from its presentation to its sales.  In doing this you will analyze sales data and track the trends.  Merchandisers prepare reports on the performance of products and manage sales goals.  The salary for this position can be up to $30k/year.

Store Manager – For employment as a Store Manager you need to have good leadership skills while overseeing all aspects of the store.  You will be responsible for recruitment and training of new staff as well as managing the existing staff with their schedules and timecards.  Store Managers are the link between the stores and the corporate side of the industry.  The average salary is $38,000/year.

American Apparel Interview Questions

Prepare for your interview after you submit your American Apparel application by practicing the answers to common interview questions.

Why do you want to work here?  If you apply for jobs at American Apparel it’s probably safe to assume you have an interest in fashion, but when you answer this question try to be more specific and relate to the company.  It helps to do some research beforehand.

Can you describe the brand?  You will need to be familiar with the style and atmosphere that the store likes to promote, so make sure you’ve read up on their values and objectives.  Be complimentary about the brand and add why it personally appeals to you.

What do you think are the best-selling products?  This question will probably require more general knowledge of the fashion industry and what types of products are selling well.  Read up in some fashion magazines about what products are flying off the shelves right now.

What would you do if there were no customers in the store?  They’re looking for employees who can manage their time well so think about other duties that will need to be carried out on a daily basis.  You can also spend your time usefully by coming up with new ideas for the store.

Why should we hire you above someone with more experience?  Don’t be thrown by this question, it’s a challenge that you need to rise to, not a rejection.  Talk about what skills you have that make you ideal for American Apparel jobs.

Advice For Application Process

Search American Apparel jobs online to browse through the different careers available.  To apply online read through the job specifications and then fill in their online application form.  To make a direct application as a model then you can submit photos and your details to the email addresses provided on their website.

It’s best to submit your American Apparel job application online as they don’t always accept applications in store.  However there are some stores that do allow this so you can always try and take your resume down to your local store to make a free application in person.  You can’t download a printable application for American Apparel.

One of the most important parts of your interview will be selecting your outfit.  Remember that this is a very style conscious brand and your own personal sense of style will be a big factor in the decision to hire you.  Look up the kinds of outfits that employees and models wear and base your outfit on that, although don’t be afraid to add your own twist.

In your interview you need to get across your personality and show that you are a quick learner and want to grow within the company.  A few basic points to remember are: smile, maintain eye contact, answer questions in full sentences and keep a positive attitude throughout.  Sometimes you might need to follow up after your interview to check the status of your application.
Also See:
Original Penguin: See our resource page for more information on Original Penguin careers.
Ralph Lauren: Visit the Ralph Lauren application.
Kate Spade: For employment at Kate Spade visit the application page.
Nautica: See our guide for careers at Nautica.
Dressbarn: Use the Dressbarn job application to apply here.

Company Links

Update: The company is no longer in operation. This page is only for archival purposes.