I applied online and received an email from the Store Support Team Leader a few days later inviting me in for an interview. I arrived about 15 minutes early and went to the customer service desk as instructed and alerted them I was there for an interview, and they told me to go sit at the tables (right beside the check out lanes) and someone would be with me shortly. When I arrived, there was an interview happening already at one of the tables! It definitely felt awkward sitting near my "competition" and hearing their answers. About 10 minutes later, a person (who wasn't the same person I was corresponding with, which threw me a little off guard) came and began my interview (with a customer sitting right next to me eating lunch, mind you). Overall, I felt like I did a decent job with the interview. I did a lot of research on the company and possible questions I would be asked, so I felt mostly prepared, although there were 1 or 2 questions that definitely caught me off guard (such as the 3 things I would never compromise on). I did feel like the interviewer was very disengaged and was too focused on writing my answers then genuinely trying to get to know me. They informed me that they had a ton of applicants so I would probably hear back in a week or so if I made it to the next round of interviews, but I received a very impersonal automated rejection letter about 2 days later. I felt like the whole experience was very disingenuine and I am almost glad I didn't get the job as I would not want to work with people who don't truly care about their employees.

I could write a novel on how bad this interview was and all that was wrong with it, but here are the highlights: Dismissed Experience: Despite my background growing up on a farm and years of food service experience—including managing a Pretzelmaker after my manager quit—I was told I lacked the qualifications to stock produce. Proven Leadership: At Pretzelmaker, I managed all operations, including cash drops, hiring new employees, and ensuring the store opened on time daily. This avoided significant fines from Simon mall, saving the company tens of thousands of dollars. Loss Prevention Expertise: My most recent position was managing loss prevention at Dillard’s Inc., further demonstrating my skills in responsibility and management. Poor Skill Assessment: I was looking for a part-time role to balance with my studies, but the interview process failed to assess my relevant skills and experience properly. Hostile Atmosphere: Rather than being told I was overqualified, which I’ve heard in the past, I was made to feel as if I lacked basic competence. The hiring manager appeared threatened by my experience and seemed to use their position to assert unnecessary authority. Shifting Expectations: What used to be considered entry-level now has inflated expectations, making it difficult to understand how someone with my background was seen as unfit for the role.