I applied in-person. The process took 1 week. I interviewed at Office Depot (Redlands, CA)
Interview
I went into the store and asked for an application. They let me use a computer to fill it out in the store. Unlike most places the employees were happy to see another person applying. I got a call about a week later and they asked me to come back to the store for an interview.
The interviewer was the manager but he wasn't the one in-charge of hiring. The second interview is when you speak to the person in charge of hiring. He was pretty cool guy. We blew through the questions and chatted a little bit. He was honest with me and told me he was happy with everything but the hiring manager was unlikely to take me because I had zero experience in selling. Which I saw coming. After that we talked about sushi and I asked him for advice on some other things like interviewing do's and don'ts. He really opened my eyes to somethings. Didn't get the job but it was a positive experience.
The interview is straightforward and customer service focused. It includes questions about past retail experience, handling difficult customers, teamwork, sales goals, cash-register comfort, and schedule flexibility. The hiring manager asks scenario-based questions, explain daily expectations, and upselling of protection plans/services. The process is short.
Quick and easy process. Your standard interview questions. Nothing major or hard just your basic Human Resources questions. Glad that it was not a 37 step process like some interviews have turned into.
A phone call interview collected basic information, then an in-person interview took place at the actual store. I was asked several questions about my experience and given scenarios to respond to with solutions.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Given a type of pen sold at the store, how would you pitch it to a potential customer?