Interview Questions & Tips for Potential C-Store Employees

There’s no question about it – interviewing is tough work. While going through the process may feel tedious at times, maybe even daunting at some points, getting to hire great people truly can make all the difference in your store’s performance. Conducting good interviews requires just as much of a conscious effort on your part as it does your potential new hires. It’s important to remember that while you are interviewing a candidate, that candidate is also interviewing you. Find your next superstar employee by checking out our suggestions for getting the most out of your interview process.

Our Top 5 Must-Ask Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.

We love starting off with this one because it’s a great icebreaker to begin the interview. Though predictable, this open-ended question helps you get to know your candidate more.

2. How did you hear about this position?

This is an essential question for employers to ask because it lets you know how your candidate found you, as well as gives you a good idea behind why they applied and what they are seeking this new position.

3. Why should we hire you?

This common question gives your candidate a chance to distinguish themselves from the rest of the interview pool. Asking this also helps you see how well they understand the role and their perspective of how their skills align with the position.

4. What type of work environment do you prefer?

Before bringing someone new on board, you need to be sure their workplace expectations align with your company’s environment and culture. This question helps you gain an understanding of whether or not the potential new employee will be a good fit for long-term.

5. If you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be and why?

Always throw an interesting one out there. This question can trip a lot of job seekers up but it’s a good test to see how fast and well they can think on their feet.

General Tips to Conduct a Good Interview

– Always, always, always be sure to explain your company culture and the job description. It’s important to set clear expectations of the position for you and them.

– Interviews should be conducted in a professional and ethical manner. You should be aware of what you can and can’t ask. For example, you can never ask someone their age.

– Be sure to focus on the conversation. Even if a candidate isn’t the right fit for the job, they should still feel like your company treated them well. Rid yourself of any distractions throughout the meeting and show that you care by focusing on what the candidate has to say.

– To evaluate your candidate’s critical thinking skills, consider setting up a mock scenario. For example, layout a situation where 5 people are in line, a vendor is doing a product check and a delivery is waiting for a signature. Ask them how they would proceed from here?

– Team up with someone. Asking one of your coworkers to join you in an interview is a great way to compare someone’s unique judgment and perspective with your own and leads to better hiring decisions.