Lakme Salon Catalog Analyst Interview: Rounds, Questions and Preparation

What the job involves

A Catalog Analyst in e-commerce, retail, or D2C manages product data that powers online listings, search, and recommendations. Day to day, they write and clean product titles, descriptions, and attributes, map categories and taxonomies, spot data gaps, and coordinate with merchandising, marketing, and tech teams. At a fast-growing beauty or salon brand, they also keep service menus and SKU details accurate across website, app, and marketplace channels.

Role and e-commerce catalog basics

1. 1

   What does a Catalog Analyst do in an e-commerce or D2C beauty company?

   Explain that you manage product data for online listings, ensure accuracy, and help customers find products through clean categories and attributes. Mention coordination with merchandising and marketing.

2. 2

   What is a product taxonomy and why does it matter for a brand like a salon or beauty retailer?

   Define taxonomy as a structured classification of products and services. Explain how it powers site navigation, search filters, and reporting, and why wrong categories hurt discovery and sales.

3. 3

   What are the key attributes you would capture for a beauty product or a salon service?

   List relevant attributes such as brand, shade, skin type, finish, volume, ingredients, duration, and price. Show that you understand both physical products and services.

4. 4

   How do product titles and descriptions affect search and conversion on an e-commerce site?

   Cover keyword placement, clarity, and consistency. Explain that good titles help internal search and Google, while clear descriptions reduce returns and build trust.

Technical and data skills

1. 5

   How would you use Excel or Google Sheets to clean a list of 500 product names with inconsistent formatting?

   Mention functions like TRIM, PROPER, FIND, and SUBSTITUTE, plus filters and conditional formatting. Show a step-by-step approach to standardise and validate.

2. 6

   What is a SKU and how is it different from a product ID or a variant ID?

   Explain that a SKU is a unique internal code for a sellable item, while a product ID groups variants. Give an example like a lipstick shade and size.

3. 7

   How would you handle missing or duplicate product data in a catalog?

   Describe a process: flag issues, check with source teams, apply rules for defaults, and remove duplicates using unique keys. Emphasise accuracy and documentation.

4. 8

   What basic SQL queries would you use to check product counts by category?

   Mention SELECT, WHERE, GROUP BY, and COUNT. Explain that you would filter by category and look for missing or zero counts.

Practical scenarios and problem solving

1. 9

   A new range of salon services is launching. How would you prepare the catalog for the website and app?

   Outline steps: gather service details, define attributes like duration and price, write descriptions, set categories, and test the listing. Mention coordination with operations and marketing.

2. 10

   You notice that a popular product is not appearing in site search results. What do you check first?

   Check title keywords, category mapping, attributes, and stock status. Suggest testing search terms and reviewing filters that might hide the product.

3. 11

   How would you prioritise fixing catalog errors when you have limited time and many issues?

   Prioritise by business impact: high-traffic products, revenue loss, and customer complaints first. Mention logging issues and setting a quick triage rule.

4. 12

   A marketplace partner asks for your product data in a different format. How do you handle it?

   Explain that you would map fields to their template, validate required attributes, and use a bulk upload or CSV. Mention checking for errors after upload.

Behavioural and HR questions for freshers

1. 13

   Tell me about a time you spotted a small error that others missed.

   Use a college project, internship, or part-time work example. Focus on how you checked details and what impact the fix had.

2. 14

   How do you handle repetitive data entry work while staying accurate?

   Show that you use checklists, double-check key fields, and take short breaks. Mention any tools or habits that help you stay focused.

3. 15

   Describe a situation where you had to explain a data issue to someone who was not technical.

   Pick a group project or volunteer role. Explain how you simplified the problem and suggested a clear next step.

4. 16

   Why do you want to work in catalog or product data for a beauty or retail brand?

   Connect your interest in e-commerce, attention to detail, and the brand's sector. Mention that you enjoy organising information to help customers.