| 2/18/05 |
| Received call from AA saying that they had a position for me. She asked my birth date, and then asked if I could attend orientation on Saturday from 8-1:30. |
| 2/16/05 |
| 3:15 Interview at Price Chopper with BB. Prior to my interview, I bought some new clothes at Wal-Mart. Several people had commented that my current wardrobe wasn't entirely appropriate. I checked in at the Customer Service desk, and while waiting, two other high school-aged women also checked in for an interview. (It was a little awkward waiting with them). I was led into the back training room, and started my interview by saying that I really didn't have any experience in retail, and that most of my experience was in office work. BB suggested that perhaps I did customer service-type things in my current job, to which I responded that I did--I answered questions and helped students. The only real question I was asked was to talk about what I thought customer service is. I responded that it was to listen to what people were asking for, to help them as best I could or else direct them to someone who could, and to be friendly and show that I cared about their concern. I was then told that Price Chopper's Customer Service was friendly, fast and efficient. Most of the rest of the interview was about how Price Chopper is a good place to work, that they are flexible, after one year you get paid vacation and birthday, and after six months I could qualify for benefits. I also learned that about 300 people work in this store, about 150 of them in the front end (including cashiers, baggers, carts, and customer service desk.) BB indicated that there would be something for me, and that AA would call me in a day or two. The interview lasted about 15 minutes. Both AA and BB were very friendly. |
| 2/10/05 |
| received a call from AA at Price Chopper. She asked me what kind of job I was looking for, and I replied "anything," and she informed me that there were only entry-level cashier jobs and asked if I would be interested. She also reviewed my availability, and then set up an interview with BB. |
2/07/05 In preparation for applications, I have made a new resume. Although I didn't actually hand this to anyone, it helps me to list things correctly on applications. I re-applied to Walmart, but I am not sure if I did much better with the questionnaire. I then went to Home Depot, and applied online in the store using the computer terminal there. This was much more friendly: there were brochures about employment at Home Depot, and a sign stating how long it would take to apply (40-60 minutes, which was accurate). Home Depot also had an extensive questionnaire, but it asked more about what you would do in certain situations (particularly about customer service), and several problem-solving questions: you would read a paragraph and then answer questions about what it said; some math questions, another with a chart of supplies ordered related to installations, with a set of questions about how well you could use the chart, and several questions on filing, alphabetizing, and putting things in order. It seemed so much more friendly than Wal-Mart's-- Home Depot's questions seemed much more directed at gauging your abilities, as well as some on personality, rather than the sort of severe Wal-Mart questions which were generally about things you could do wrong. By the time I finished, I really wanted to work at Home Depot. I then dropped off my application to Michael's. This was a paper application, and I simply handed it to a woman at the Customer Service desk. A sign said they were hiring for instructors. On the way home, I stopped at Price Chopper to buy groceries and saw a sign that they were hiring, so when I returned home, I applied online. Price Chopper's application only had about three questions to it, beyond work history and availability, and they were yes/no questions about drug use, and I think one on customer service. It was definitely the fastest of the online applications. |
1/10/05 I picked up an application for Michael's Arts and Crafts store. Since I haven't heard from Walmart, it's time to apply at other places. |
11/26/04 I applied for a job at the East Syracuse Wal-Mart today. The application is done on a computer station near the layaway counter. Once submitted, it stays on file for 60 days, and then you have to re-apply. Beyond the normal kinds of questions—2 references, job experience, jobs you are interested in, there is a long questionnaire with a scale—Totally Agree, Strongly Agree, Mostly Agree, Slightly Agree, and the same for disagreeing. I felt I disagreed a lot. The questions were statements, like “In the past I have been late for work, but that it behind me now.” There were A LOT about drug use: “ John is a good worker. One day, he smoked a marijuana cigarette with a friend and then came to work. He should be fired.” Several questions about theft: “Most workers steal things from work.” Also things about getting ahead “People in supervisor positions deserve special treatment because they have worked hard to get where they are.” And “Most people get ahead because of the people they know.” Some others were about criticizing the company: “Company policies should be followed at all times.” “It is okay to criticize the company if you feel they are doing something wrong.” Some were about safety. Most areas had several questions, some absolute, others included specific circumstances. I am worried that I did not answer these questions right. I answered them in between my own feelings and what I thought they would want to hear. I should’ve read them more critically and answered them the way I think they would want. I did show a zero tolerance towards drug use and theft, but I think I slightly agreed that it is okay to criticize the company, but perhaps not in public. I also answered that I didn’t really want to supervise others. There was, prior to this, a series of 9 questions about welfare to work, foodstamps, etc. –whether you or anyone in your family had been in one of these programs within the last year. At the beginning of the application, there were many screens of policies about drug use and testing, equal opportunity employment, providing truthful information. Luckily, I like to drink rather than smoke pot, so I am not worried about a urine test. |
