Joined: 22 Jun 2008
Posts: 98
| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:06 am Post subject: Need advice on Department Manager interview | |
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Work at a new store and just applied for the department manager empt program. From what I understand, the next step is the interview. Any advice, tips, useful tidbits or information about this interview? What will they ask? What should I know? Thanks!
Last edited by LowesMillworks on Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:20 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 78
Location: Right here
| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:50 pm Post subject: | |
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I just went through the interview myself a couple weeks ago.
Be yourself, and be honest. These are questions that were asked during your first interview but are more in depth. Should take about 30-45 minutes to complete it. |
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Joined: 01 Feb 2008
Posts: 546
| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject: | |
| Be honest about your weakness during the interview. When they ask you what is one area you see as a weakness don't use the old tired excuse that you are a perfectionist. If you have problems with time management let them know about it and that you look forward to the challenge of being able to work on that area. | |
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Posts: 9
| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 12:06 am Post subject: | |
| There are certain words that they are looking to hear from your responses such as mentor, leadership, training, customer service, etc. Use terms such as WOW customer service and IMPACT. These are phrases that seem to change every couple years. Show them that you can lead the department, raise sales, make budget, and people accountable while also showing your team members how to improve themselves. Trust me, i have sat in on many interviews. | |
Joined: 22 Jun 2008
Posts: 98
| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:43 am Post subject: | |
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Wow...talk about some awesome advice! Most everyone is new to Lowes at my store including all the dept. managers. I asked around and not one of them has heard anything about mentors or the program. Same goes for the empt dept. manager interview since all of them started the store as dept. managers. I just heard about mentors a few days ago when I was doing my LLC training courses and noticed a few of my ecourses mentioned a mentor.
I kind of remember one question that really locked me up during my original interview. Had something to do with naming 5 or 7 things that makes a Lowes employee stand out. Anyone remember that question? Not sure that is the exact question but it was something like that. Any good answers to some of the common questions? Maybe one answer that someone gave that really stood out? Who does the interview? Is it just one person? Will I look really retarded if I walk in there and answer everything like I memorized the entire Lowes handbook word for word? Anything that I can say or mention that would stand out or dazzle them? Would mentioning Robert Niblock is my uncle help at all? Should I ask to end the interview with the Lowes chant? : - ) |
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Joined: 14 May 2007
Posts: 26
Location: Michigan
| Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 3:24 am Post subject: | |
| I could be wrong, but don't you have to be in a position for 6 months before you can take the training? | |
Joined: 22 Jun 2008
Posts: 98
| Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:57 pm Post subject: | |
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The manager mentioned the empt training to the team leaders because the training is about ready to start. I'm assuming the six months relates to the the actual change of position from team leader to a department manager.
A couple people have stated that I would be making a big mistake by going for department manager. Reason being the team leader spot in millwork is soooooo much easier, less headaches and you can make more money then a department manager because of SOS sales. Hmmmm....they may have a point. Any thoughts on that? |
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Joined: 22 Dec 2007
Posts: 461
| Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:47 am Post subject: | |
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a department manager can still make sos sales...as a zone manager it or above it gets cut off.
there's also a department manager bonus but you have to hit sales AND margin. This is why things like sidewalk sales can be a bad thing. This is why discounting things can be harder. A sale on sos could kill margin so you are at the mercy of the company. you might be more apt to do projects but that depends on how the district is |
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Joined: 22 Jun 2008
Posts: 98
| Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 4:06 am Post subject: | |
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Most the department managers at my store are to busy to be doing things like sos sales. I'm not saying it doesnt happen but seems few and far between. I know for a fact that a department manager would have a pretty hard time getting a sos sale in my millworks dept. with a specialist or team leader always around.
I just started to catch on about the whole margain thing. Its no wonder our store associates already have a "Go to manager." Is this common at most other stores? I'm guessing it is. |
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Joined: 19 Oct 2003
Posts: 2801
| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 10:37 pm Post subject: | |||
As an DMIS it really SUCKS, This carpet promotion just screws us. The install is sold at a negative margin and the mill kicks back money on SOS goods to Corporate. Really helps me!  Look....My pants are down around my ankles. I had a 16% increase last month and did not make margin dollars this month and just barely made budgeted sales and was WAY......off in margin. Gee thanks Lowe's More work selling and handling more jobs and you bring the money in the back end.....That's where we are getting it too.
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Joined: 22 Dec 2007
Posts: 461
| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject: | |
| reminds me how depressing "sidewalk" sales are to the seasonal departments... | |
Joined: 07 Jul 2003
Posts: 110
| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject: | |
| wondering how your interview went? | |