I must admit, I was very excited to make it past the first interview process. I've been in the food service industry for 15+ years and I am ready to get out of it. After I scheduled my 1:1 interview, I scoured the internet and this website looking for any and every interview question that could be asked, typed them out, and chose my best answers to them all. I felt ready for my interview, I felt confident. I updated my professional portfolio, my resume was top-notch, and I had all the bells and whistles to wow my interviewer. However, much to my dismay, the series of questions I was asked were not the questions I had researched and prepared for. Even worse, only one question was even relevant to the job I was applying for. I was asked a series of "tell me about a time" questions. My interviewer was not interested in my strengths or weaknesses, my resume was never asked for or looked at, and my portfolio (filled with dynamite report writing) was not looked at.
I did however get to mention how I have a degree in criminal justice, but no interest was given to the classes I took, how I graduated at the top of my class, or even how well written and detailed my reports were, how fluent I am on the computer. I interviewed with the HR person, and not the LP manager or anyone from the LP department. The line of questioning didn’t really lend me a chance to really sell myself.
Note to Von Maur HR… “Tell me about a time” questions are NOT a good way to get to know someone. I can handle stressful situations, I know how to deal with people… I know what I’m doing! Besides, I refuse to believe that a job as a loss prevention associate is SO complicated that I couldn’t possibly learn QUICKLY how to do it.
I know I may sound bitter, but this is the first job interview I’ve had in five years and I can’t tell you how many jobs I’ve applied for. I just expected a little more.