While the interview itself was very easy, the process immediately leading up to the interview is why I listed it as very difficult (your opinion may differ) I applied online on Monday and got an interview late Saturday evening; the process was quite short. They did a phone screen 2 hours before the store closed and then gave me an hour to arrive at the store to fill out a paper application and do a 15 minute in-person interview. During the phone conversation, we discussed my business degree and that I had previously been a department manager at a large home improvement store. I was looking to get my foot in the door with HL and hoped to move into store management quickly. A thunderstorm was brewing and they did not want to keep me any longer than needed. I got to the store and it was chaotic. I had to wait for a few minutes to ask a cashier for a paper application. I fill it out including that my previous retail experience included management and that I had a business degree. I had to wait fifteen more minutes for the manager to be ready to interview me. I went through what he called "a stupid math test" which was basic math, but I was provided a calculator to double check my math. I got a perfect score. He asked me about my cash handling experience, my management experience, my business degree, and so on. I was asked if there was anything in the store that I would not undertake. I told him that I did not know how to frame pictures and was a little apprehensive, but knew I would be trained. He asked about my willingness to clean the restrooms. I told him that occasionally when I worked at smaller retailers that if I closed, I would generally have to give the restrooms a once over. And then he dropped the bomb on me. While they were technically hiring for a cashier, what he envisioned for me was the handyman/janitor role. I told him that I was only interested in the cashier role. He told me that the late hour was due to the fact that he had just found out that he was temporarily reassigned to another store and would not be back at this store until midweek. He promised me that I would hear within a week either way and then he congratulated me. I walked to the door as the store employees did their closing activities. Several weeks have passed and I appears that I have been ghosted.

The interview process was straightforward and relatively quick. It involved an initial application, followed by a brief in-person interview with a manager. Questions focused on availability, customer service experience, and how well I work in a team-oriented retail environment.