Simple online application, I received an e-mail soon after telling me to schedule for a job interview. When I went, I had to wait quite a while for my interview, which wasn't bad. I didn't even apply for cosmetics, but that's what I was asked about, and I was told I got the job at the end of the interview. Pretty typical questions, like how you'd make a sale or upsell, why I wanted to work at Macy's, a time I made a sale, when I had received exceptional service somewhere, and stuff like that. I had to wait a while before I filled out the actual hiring paperwork though.

I find that the hardest decision I have to make is when I have to choose between strong team members for a promotion. There have been occasions when, even though I personally liked one person better than another, I nonetheless had to choose the other person based on their potential to assume the responsibilities of their new role. Sometimes I also had to promote younger employees over staff with seniority, simply because they were more skilled in the use of technology and more willing to work overtime. It’s never easy, but ultimately you have to think about who will be the most effective and productive in the new position.