I received an offer to interview for Altar’d State to be an Assistant of Operations Leader. For context, I have nearly seven years of store management experience with a proven track record of success. I applied for the assistant role because it pays $60,000 annually with full benefits.
Before you’re able to interview, you have to take a 45 minute personality questionnaire. I apparently passed and received an offer to interview exactly one week from the day. I happily accepted and started preparing for the interview. I know that my aesthetic does not exactly match their Stepford Wives expectations and so I invest a bit of money into a professional but cute outfit that looks similar to something they would sell.
I arrive early the day of the interview and I notice the entire Altar’d State store is completely under construction. I am massively confused and so I ring the store twice and get no answer. I email the store manager to let her know that I am here and she eventually replies that the interview will take place at a temporary location inside the mall. Okay, that would have been nice to know.
I get to the interview and the first question I am asked is about my hobbies. I tell her that I enjoy cooking, baking, gardening, and taking my little ones to the park. She asks if I have children and I replied yes and she makes a note. (??) The store manager asks two more questions (not really related to the job) and then says that the role that I am applying for is “up in the air” but she would like to offer me a part time position that pays nearly a third of the salary. After I politely decline because I need a full time job and I would like more responsibility, she ends the interview but not before informing me that she makes $80,000 a year and was promoted to the store manager position within six months.
So, I invested money into a new outfit, card stock, and child care just to be told that the position that I really wanted is…up in the air? I received a message a day later informing me that while I had amazing experiences that they have chosen another candidate.
I have heard terrible things about the company before but I don’t know, the money would have really helped our family and I (puts on clown nose) thought I could make a positive difference. I just wanted to warn others of my experience because the job interview cost me a whole lot more than it was worth.