Interview tomorrow with Autozone

Been awhile, been home with the kids since roughly mid 2009 with a 9 month stint at the most poorly run dealership in the Charlotte area. I know its just an autozone but I'm actually a little nervous.

Good luck!

Thanks. the kids are doing a reduced amount of work for the summer, and I am going batty at home, need some automotive project funding. Appied for part time work, dont car if its mopping the floors or stacking diehards really.

Diehards are Sears brand. You done screwed up son.

Bobzilla wrote: Diehards are Sears brand. You done screwed up son.

DAMNIT

Die Hard batteries and the Duralast batteries were (and could possibly still be) all made by Johnson Controls, along with the ones that Advance sells. So you are not as wrong as you think.

I did my time slinging parts there. Good luck!

In reply to SilverFleet:

Ditto. Spent 3 years there. My best friend is still there as a manager but is looking to get out. Corporate has gotten 100X worse than when we were there together and it was bad then.

But you get the point, I dont care what they ask me to do I am more than happy whether its stacking BATTERIES, or mopping the floor. Some time out of the house and a pittance to get an auto project.

Make sure you mention how awesome you are at selling the single use grease packets they have at the counter. That's likely to be 90% of what management cares about.

I know two guys working at Autozone right now. One is probably in the best place for him, the other is massively over-qualified. Apparently upselling to the complete oil change kit is the measure of success.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

I'm having flashbacks to every visit I've had to a car parts store, and it's making more sense now. Mechanix Wear gloves are probably like Monster Cable at Circuit City, or a pack of socks and sealant at the shoe store.

Gotta get that extra cheese to make the big money.

Be the dumbest motherberkeleyer alive and you got the gig.

PubBurgers wrote: Make sure you mention how awesome you are at selling the single use grease packets they have at the counter. That's likely to be 90% of what management cares about.

I've never had a counter dude try to sell me any of the little packets at the register … at either the Advance or the O'Reilly's …

Any legitimate advice? Its been quite awhile since Ive been on an interview, I know it isnt rocket surgery or anything but I dont want to mess it up.

Stay calm and confident, remember, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.

and good luck

I worked for AutoPalace before they were taken over by Autozone. They care very much about image (a friend is a manager at the local here in VT and is the guy they send in to update poor stores) and keeping the store CLEAN. Did I mention they like the stores clean? They want to be the Macy's of car parts and trinkets and other crap you don't really need. Be yourself, be honest, be flexible about hours and commitments.

Enjoy the "psych" test. Be yourself? Don't do that. Even though the correct response is to choke the bastard with his own cargo shorts, corporate wants to hear you say, "Yes sir. A 7.3 diesel intake gasket for a 94 Miata? Right away sir."

I keed. I keed.

Good luck.

Years ago I managed an Autozone. I did a lot of interviewing. Their interviews are scripted, they are not supposed to deviate in order to be "fair" to all applicants and not get sued for discriminating. They ask a lot of softball customer service questions and some basic automotive questions. The questions they are allowed to ask don't help the interviewer much. They have to rely on you to fill in the blanks, answer the questions that they would ask if allowed to. I think there is a question like "Is there anything else you would like to tell me about yourself?" or similar. This is your opening to tell them why you would be a good employee and why they should hire you. Put yourself in the interviewer's shoes, and tell them what you would want to hear. Most large companies are like this now, and it makes it hard to conduct a decent interview. Also pay attention to the person giving the interview. If they like you, they often inadvertently lead you towards the resonses that they are looking for. Good luck.

wbjones wrote:

PubBurgers wrote: Make sure you mention how awesome you are at selling the single use grease packets they have at the counter. That's likely to be 90% of what management cares about.

I've never had a counter dude try to sell me any of the little packets at the register … at either the Advance or the O'Reilly's …

When I worked at advance they tracked how many you sold and had sales goals for them.

In all seriousness, they place a heavy emphasis on selling "the complete job". Be sure to play up how good you are at upselling.

Good luck. Answer honestly (it will make you more relaxed), big smile, have a good time. I know it sounds odd, but someone who is relaxed (without being arrogant), can speak well and exudes an air that they can be trusted and reliable puts you way ahead. Just think of it as being at a party where you don't know people. Engage and smile.

Oh, and have questions to ask them that show that you are interested. Ask about what a typical day is like, what you are expected to do, what the long term growth plans could be if things work out well, etc.

PubBurgers wrote: Make sure you mention how awesome you are at selling the single use grease packets they have at the counter. That's likely to be 90% of what management cares about.

Store management? No. Corporate? yes.... among other stupid bullE36 M3.

I have no experience with AZ but I would think to the manager I would want to portray less about being a extremely knowledgeable car guy and portray more about being dependable guy.
Come across as the guy who will not call off for his shift and the guy who will come in should someone else happen to call off.
I might play down the Mr. Mom roll so as not to seems like you are still tied to that role as you primary function. Maybe some clarification to what has changed that has freed up your schedule so as to be able to add AZ into your life.

Good luck

Mike wrote: In reply to Keith Tanner: I'm having flashbacks to every visit I've had to a car parts store, and it's making more sense now. Mechanix Wear gloves are probably like Monster Cable at Circuit City, or a pack of socks and sealant at the shoe store. Gotta get that extra cheese to make the big money.

I have to wonder - with all the little up-sell items in auto parts stores, why has nobody gone for the most obvious upsell with auto parts? You never see a parts store selling six packs of beer.