Hey guys thought I'd post about my experience since there were a few questions that I had early on and couldn't find answers for.
I live in Las Vegas, Nevada and applied for multiple Retail Sales Consultant positions in Chicago, Illinois around 11/08. I completed all the required steps on the website (assessment, questionnaire, ect.) On 12/13 I received an email asking me to confirm my interest in the position by replying to an email address. In return I received what appeared to be an automated email asking me to call the Staffing Manager to discuss the position further. I called and left a message for the staffing manager. She ended up calling me back the next day and she described the position and what the duties were and so on. I think that this call also serves as an initial interview of sorts, but when the fact that I live out of state came up I think it threw her off. She asked a couple times if I'd be able to meet for an interview with the Hiring Manager on Friday 12/16 (it was Wednesday.) She seemed a little skeptical, but arranged the interview anyway. I received an email with information about the interview (address, name of hiring manager ect.)
I arrived in Chicago the morning of 12/16 and kept busy preparing for the interview at 3pm. I met the with the Hiring Manager at the store that ended up being the location that I would be working at. The Hiring Manager went over the job duties and expectations and asked pretty standard corporate interview questions. If you're not familiar, they're multi-tierd questions that present some sort of problem or conflict, the steps you took to resolve the problem or conflict and what the results were. It was pretty clear that the Hiring Manager had asked these questions dozens of times because he basically recited the questions in a monotone voice from memory while rubbing his eyes. I thought the interview was going badly because I was boring him with my answers. At the end of the interview to my surprise he said he was scheduling an interview for me with the Store Manager who would be responsible for making the final decision. At that point I asked how many other people were being considered for the position and he told me I was one of two that were being moved on to the interview with the store manager. I was surprised to find out that the interview with the store manager was for that coming Monday 12/19.
I stayed in Chicago over the weekend and went back to the same retail store for my interview with the Store Manager. Once we were in his office he let me know that it wasn't going to be a standard sort of interview and that he really just wanted to have a conversation and see what I was really like. Truth be told it really felt like that. We chatted about my work background and personal life a bit. He asked a few questions that really made me feel like I had the job. It was really the best interview I'd ever been on, no pressure just a very easy conversation. At the end I asked when I could expect to hear about the decision and he said he'd let me know by 12/22.
I flew back to Vegas that evening and waited to hear back, but never got that call. I called the store and left messages the next few days and never heard a word. After Christmas and the new year passed I had basically given up. I still knew there was a chance because I hadn't received the rejection email that I read they send you if you end up not getting it. Then on 1/3 I got a call from the Store Manager telling me I got the job. The reason he hadn't told me sooner was because the Staffing Manager is the one who is supposed to tell you and she'd gone on Vacation for the entire holiday time. He told me to expect a call from them in a couple days. sure enough on 1/6 I got the call from the Staffing Manager who gave me the formal offer. I was sent an email for a background check almost immediately and got info on where to take my drug test on 1/9. I was happy I was able to take the drug test at a location where in Vegas. I was worried I'd have to fly to a specific location in Illinois. Finally I got an email on 1/12 saying I was cleared to start.
The whole process from first contact to being cleared to start took 30 days. I'll be starting training on 2/6 wish me luck!
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