OH HELL YES!~!

[bean]

I landed an interview with a place I've been pretty much drooling to work at for a long time - I just never got around to applying. When I did apply, it took a couple of weeks before I heard back, but they called me today and we talked for a bit.

It's a Fortune 500 company. Fortune magazine also has a "Best companies to work for" list - they placed #15 out of 100 this year. The company pays for all benefits and even covers up to $300/year on copays for you (they issue a debit card). They encourage people to have fun at work and have a nearly nonexistant dress code (which means my shoulder length hair can stay, along with my piercings).

It's retail, but not Starbucks (who also has some badass benefits).

Okay fine, I'll tell you. It's Whole Foods Market.

The manager I talked to said they need a lot of people, but specifically he's looking at me for their packaged foods department, doing pizzas (I assume the "take and bake" variety). He went over the benefits with me (no, I didn't ask about them, I know that's taboo before thinking you've got the job) and told me what the pay is like ($10/hr to start) and hours (11-7 5 days a week). We spoke about my experience with Papa John's (my last day there is this coming Sunday, YAY!), and he seemed impressed. Those that don't know, I've done everything at the store level except write schedules and hire people - I've even been offered my own store on multiple occasions ($700/week is... okay, minimum of 55 hours a week isn't, and I've seen GMs work 80+ hours a week for peanuts). It sounded almost like he was trying to sell me the job instead of the other way around (me selling myself).

Wish me luck guys - I REALLY want this job.

[Sphinx]

Good Luck!! Hopefully everything will pull through for you!!
It sounds like a really awesome job!! Like a . . . . . . . .Dream Job

[Spiffy McMoron]

Good luck, good luck, good luck!!!

It sounds like an awesome job, and I wish you nothing but good luck!

-Spiffy

PS: Bean-good luck!

[DistantStar]

Good luck! I'd LOVE to work at Whole Foods. But there isn't one here, dangitall.

[bean]

Interesting experience, to say the least.

I felt VERY overdressed (khakis and a nice button up shirt, took out all of my piercings and tied my hair back, although I wore my sneakers) - the first person to interview me was the "Associate Department Team Leader" (aka asst dept mgr), didn't look like he'd shaved in a week. I'm already liking the place, I HATE shaving every day (I always cut myself to hell). Very nice guy, asked a lot of the typical interview questions and went into quite a bit of detail about my experience with Papa John's. At the end, he told me he was going to try and get the store manager (sorry, "Store Team Leader") to talk to me and he wandered off. Someone from the service desk was nearby and she walked over and asked me how it went, I told her he had gone to get the STL - she told me that's a great sign and that they normally don't do the second interview on the same day. He came back and said the STL was tied up and asked if I could come back in 2 hours, I said yes (of course). Also turns out the guy interviewing me worked at another place that I've worked, around the same time.

Show back up - eventually the department manager (err sorry, the department team leader) walked up to me along with the guy who interviewed me earlier and another guy. All 3 are very nice guys - most of the "interview" consisted with them asking me why I was wanting to leave Papa John's after nearly 7 years, and them being pretty surprised at how PJ's has handled robberies (basically PJ's doesn't seem to care). I did toss out that I already had a 2 weeks notice in with PJ's and that my last day is this coming Sunday, and the DTL said "So you can devote plenty of time to us?" and I said yes. Asked if I had reliable transportation after doing delivery in this car (I've had this car 3 months, it's not torn up TOO bad yet). We barely touched on my CSR experience. DTL also had 3 visible piercings - YAY I can actually keep mine if I get hired.

They did ask me a few times what my long term goals were at Whole Foods - I told them (honestly) that I wanted to make a career with them and work my way up the ladder. One of them responded with "It's a great place to do that, one of the only places I've seen where even a company vice president doesn't need a college degree" (we'd gone over my education.. or rather, lack of - and it seemed everyone at the table was in the same boat as me).

Anyway, at the end, the department team lead told me he was going to speak with the store manager (never did get to meet him, but oh well) and get the ball rolling on a background check for me. He assured me I'd be hearing back within a week, and said he'd try to give me a call tonight to let me know how the discussion went with the store manager. Never did hear from him tonight though

I have my fingers crossed so hard they're about to snap. Wish me luck.

[Kika]

Good luck!

[JustADude]

Good luck and much mojo to you, bean. Sounds like a killer place to work, especially for those of us who think the 'clean cut' look blows. I still miss my long hair!

[Becks]

Best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Barefootgirl]

This sounds wonderful, bean! I have lots of bits crossed for you, so I hope you hear soon.

[bean]

I should have updated sooner.

They extended a job offer last (12/8) Friday. Yesterday (12/13) was orientation, which lasted about an hour. My first full day of training was today, from 9:30am to 4:00pm. Paid lunch break if I stay in the store, and for day 1 they pay for my lunch (anything I want in the store under $8). After the end of training for the day, I wandered around the store and bumped into my team lead (department manager if you want to use regular terms). We BS'd for a minute, then he asked if I can start work Saturday (my training ends Friday).

Of course, I said yes.

Also overheard other people who'd been hired for my team discussing wages.. turns out they hired me on at a higher than normal starting wage (seems the starting wage is around 8-9/hr, they started me at 10).

The only thing I'm nervous about is at the end of your first full month, everybody in your team/department has to vote on you. If 2/3 or more of your coworkers vote yes, you keep your job. Less? Cya. But I'm a fast learner and bust my ass, so hopefully I get that 2/3.

Vote Bean 2007!

[Rapscallion]

We have to get seventy-five percent of everyone after a nine-month interview voting yes

In the meantime, check your PMs.

Rapscallion