"03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST" (03mach1)
01/20/2015 at 12:57 • Filed to: None

So I have an interview tomorrow, any one have good tips? This will be my first interview.

It'll be at Kroger, the lady on the phone said something about being in a group. So I guess this will be a group interview which could be good or bad.

And assuming I have enough money leftover after making my car payment, this is what I will be installing!

I'm kind of nervous, but feeling good about it. Thanks for any help!

DISCUSSION (29)

For Sweden > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 12:59

Tell them Kroger sells a good tri-tip sandwich.

Imirrelephant > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 13:01

Always over dress for the job you are applying for. Even if it's a very basic job.

Frank Grimes > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 13:03

Bring this and be all What the HECK?!!!

Kinja'd!!!

Also get lots of sleep night before.Practice answering all the lame questions you jsut know they gonna ask.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Imirrelephant
01/20/2015 at 13:03

i disagree. You certainly shouldn't dress like a fool. You should scout out what their typical atire is and match it so that they feel like they relate to you more.

OPPOsaurus WRX > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 13:04

make sure to have someone call you in the middle of the interview. Answer the phone. this will make them think that you are a very important person.

(turn the phone off!)

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > For Sweden
01/20/2015 at 13:04

I actually heard they might ask you what your favorite product is in their store. So that could work

OPPOsaurus WRX > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 13:05

bring a resume on nice paper. you can probably get it printed at a Staples or something if needed. what makes you good for the job? why do you want it

itschrome > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 13:07

Always be selling!

no seriously, sell your self! but don't over do it. Don't lie! It's good to admit your weakness but be sure to express your strengths. be knowledge full in the company and why you want to be part of their team. ask questions! provide more than one word responses to theirs. over dress, be early, make eye contact and stand to greet them!

Nibby > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 13:07

Group interview? Bring extra condoms.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Frank Grimes
01/20/2015 at 13:08

Haha, that's weird.

And that's what I've been doing. I just hope I can sleep well.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > OPPOsaurus WRX
01/20/2015 at 13:11

I don't need to bring a resume, just an ID. I've been practicing those questions and many more.

Cajun Ginger > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 13:14

in a group interview make sure to speak up but not dominate every question.

itschrome > OPPOsaurus WRX
01/20/2015 at 13:15

Yes this! go to staples or Kinko's and get it printed on heavy stock paper. pick a nice color, I like a subtle sea-foam. and bring 4 or 5 copies. to hand out.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > itschrome
01/20/2015 at 13:15

That's really good advice! Thanks!

f86sabre > itschrome
01/20/2015 at 13:19

I interview maybe 100 engineers a year and have been doing so for years. At least for me, I really don't care what kind of paper it is printed on.

f86sabre > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 13:25

For a job at Kroger I would show up clean and presentable. Look wholesome. I would stress activities you have taken part in that require you to be dependable and deal with the public. Speak clearly with lots of "yes mams/ no mams". Basically, show that you would fit in with the corporate culture and customer service attributes of the company. Don't be afraid to smile.

There are some online resources that may help specifically interview with Kroger...

http://www.job-applications.com/kroger-job-int…

http://www.glassdoor.com/Interview/Krog…

Imirrelephant > OPPOsaurus WRX
01/20/2015 at 13:26

Perhaps I should have been a little more specific. I generally scout their dress code and go one step above. If it's jeans and a t-shirt, go in khakis and a polo. Something similar to that, but don't go to far.

Rainbow > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 13:38

I used to work at Kroger! It was a super easy interview for me... All your standard questions and then they pretty much hired me on the spot because nobody else was applying for the same position.... So I can't really help you there, but hopefully you'll love it! As long as your manager is better than mine was, I don't see why you wouldn't.

Which position, by the way?

Rainbow > OPPOsaurus WRX
01/20/2015 at 13:39

And don't wear a blue polo! That's the uniform there, so that would be awkward and might give the impression that you misunderstood and thought you were hired already.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > f86sabre
01/20/2015 at 13:41

That's good advice and the links help, thanks!

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Rainbow
01/20/2015 at 13:43

Courtesy clerk - conditioner

I'm assuming they plan to ask me a lot of customer service oriented questions.

Mattbob > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 13:59

-brag about your genitals

-offer to buy the interviewer's children

-Make inappropriate solicitations

-Come prepared with urine and stool samples ready for testing just ot be sure.

-Wear a tuxedo

don't do any of that really. Just remember that the interviewer is just a normal person too, and just wants to hire someone and not have to do any more interviews. Be personable, nice, and honest. Everything will be fine.

Meatcoma > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 14:01

Should always bring 2 or 3 resume's, if someone decides to join them last minute for your interview you can pass them a resume. I've had to do this twice before so I always bring extras.

Meatcoma > Imirrelephant
01/20/2015 at 14:02

I agree, always dress to impress, even if the job doesn't call for it. If it's business casual, wear a suit. If it's jeans, wear business casual. If it's business attire, wear a tux... nah jk. If it's a professional job, dress like a professional regardless of what others wear.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 14:04

Everyone is going to have their own opinions about what to wear, so I'll throw in my 2 cents. Figure out what their dress code is and try to beat it by one "level". When I worked at Home Depot we had to wear polo shirts and jeans, under the orange apron of course, so when I went for an interview I wore a button up shirt and khaki slacks. Likewise, I work at an engineering firm now and we wear button ups and khakis, so I wore a suit to the interview.

Then there is all the stuff that goes with out saying, like be a few minutes early, act professional, introduce yourself, turn your phone off. Make sure you are polite, yes ma'am/sir, etc. Bring something to write with and take a few notes if you need to. I don't think you'd get dinged for not taking them but it at least makes you look prepared, like you thought ahead. Generally the goal is to be the best version of yourself, and it's a tough balancing act. You want your good qualities to shine through, without acting like you have a stick in your ass. If you're quiet and shy, that's fine, but make sure you speak up so people can hear and understand you. Try to reign in any nervous habits you have (tapping, fidgeting, etc.). If you're the loud, outgoing type, make sure you reign it in a bit so you don't come across as arrogant or boisterous. Also, I generally suggest avoiding jokes. If there is something that's funny and you're 1000% sure its completely harmless and inoffensive, go for it, people do want to see that you're human. But if you're not completely sure, don't tell jokes, so best just to avoid them.

Also, you should get a feel early on what the style of the interview is. Some people like to ask a lot of questions and look for short answers. Some ask few questions, and want you to give them a narrative with lots of details. Try to figure out what the style is and work with it. And don't do a lot of bullshitting, especially if they ask you something along the lines of "what is your greatest weakness." People love to try and spin a positive and say something like "I care too much" or some dumb shit. And everyone will know you're full of it. The trick here is two parts - be honest with a real flaw, and then follow up with how you mitigate that flaw. For example, the one I commonly use is that I'm not very good with time management. I tell them that, and then explain that I know it's a shortcoming and here are some techniques I use to better manage my time, such as making lists of tasks, trying to estimate time to complete them based on similar tasks I've done, using a timer/alarm to keep me aware of how much time I'm spending, etc. What they are looking for with that question is that A) you don't think your perspective boss is a flying idiot who will buy your bullshit and B) you realize you are a human, you have shortcomings, and you're willing to grow and deal with them.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Snuze: Needs another Swede
01/20/2015 at 14:29

There was a lot of great information in there, I appreciate it!

Regarding the "your greatest weakness" question, I was thinking something along the lines of "I have a great attention to detail and I can spend to much time on one assignment, often that wastes time but to mitigate that I better manage my time such as making a list of tasks"

Would something like that be ok? Of course that's rough and I need to add some more in there but I'm just trying to give you an idea of what I might say.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 15:54

Your welcome, I hope it helps you out. I know this is for your first interview for a job at a grocery store, but you'd be surprised what it can do for you. So take it seriously and try to learn as much as you can. There are a lot of people today who just want to skate by in life and suckle at the parental teat as long as possible, so good on you for having some initiative and getting a job.

I'll lead this by saying I've never been an interviewer, only an interviewee, so take my following advice for what it's worth. If I was interviewing and someone told me that I would be pretty "meh." It's definitely not the worst answer you can give, but I feel like you're still trying to sugarcoat it a bit with the "attention to detail" part. Not that you can't work that in there, but if I was interviewing people for a job, I would be looking for a straight, brutal answer to this question. Just come right out and tell me your flaw. Me personally, I would maybe spin it around and say something along the lines of "I'm not very good at estimating the amount of time it takes me to complete a task, so I don't always get things done in a timely manner. I tend to be a very detail oriented person so I lose track of time when I'm working on a project by worrying about minute things. However, I've found that I can deal with this by creating a time budget when I have multiple tasks to complete, so I know how much time I have allotted for each one. I also find it helpful to consult others about the level of detail I should be working towards."

Also, I think it's interesting you say that because that is probably an issue you will face. When I worked at Home Depot I was in the "freight team", or basically a stock boy. My job was to get inventory unloaded off trucks and out onto the shelves. And there was always a balance between getting it out as fast as possible and also having it look neat and presentable on the shelves.

So please, take it for what it's worth, and definitely shop it around and see what other people think about a response like that. And play the interview - as I said you should get a feel early on what the interviewers style is so work with it. Just like there's no single trick to win an argument, there's no single method to crushing an interview because it's a very dynamic thing between two human beings. So just go with the flow.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Snuze: Needs another Swede
01/20/2015 at 16:40

Thanks again, you definitely helped. Your revised answer sounds a lot better then mine, so I will keep that in mind.

Rainbow > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/20/2015 at 18:08

Ahh, yeah. I was a fuel clerk, so I'm not sure what you'll get. Probably a lot of customer service things, for sure.