I applied in-person. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at PetSmart (Kentwood, MI) in Jul 2018
Interview
I applied online and waited several weeks for notification. I received a call from the PetsHotel manager asking for a phone screening. This location did not have a position open within in the hotel but did in retail/cashiering and stocking (resume collecting). The phone screening included questions about relatable experience in pet care or retail. The manager provided information on the job description and answered questions about scheduling and training. If the phone screening is successful and you decide to pursue further, the manager will set up a one-to-one interview (more in-depth with questions about your skills and hypothetical situations). The phone-screening lasted around 20 minutes. Have your resume, a notepad, and maybe your references if you have any when answer or calling back for a phone screening. I was not asked about my given references but it is best to be prepared if need it. My one-to-one interview was scheduled several days after the phone screening. If the one-to-one interview is successful, the manager may schedule a second interview with the store manager. The first interview was about 30-35 minutes long. Good luck to anyone applying for a position - be confident, practice for your interview, and do the best you can!
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How would you describe customer care? Do you have any experience in retail or selling products? How would you sell this particular product? Given several tasks, how would you prioritize them and why (ex: meeting a deadline given by the manager for finishing stocking, cleaning up after a dog accident, assisting a customer with finding everything needed for a first-time puppy owner)? Describe in a time when you had to motivate someone and how this might relate to working with coworkers during a long or stressful shift.
The interviewer, the assistant store manager at the time, was very nice and kind. She created a very relaxed atmosphere during the interview, which I appreciated, especially since interviews can make me very anxious.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Have you worked with animals before? What would you say your greatest weakness is?
Easy and laid back. Don’t sweat it, just answer with a bit of common sense. Everything was quick once I had been called for an interview. However, my application had been sitting for months before I received a call. Fairly normal for this industry.
You call on the phone to express your interest and they will interview you pretty quickly after that. You come in and usually the manager or assistant manager asks you basic animal care questions and your experience with customer service. Overall pretty easy interview process
