Books-a-Million

Today I am off to Birmingham again. I have yet another interview to flub, this time with Books-a-Million. I have been having odd luck with my interviews lately. I have interviewed with several Walmarts for transfers, and of course I nail those right on the head, because I don't really want to be there. But when it comes to jobs I really want, I screw them up. Let's use my latest as an example. Bed, Bath, and Beyond. A nice little company best known for being in Adam Sandler's movie "Click". It was a position I am qualified for, I wanted, and would have provided decent enough money to keep Angela from having to work. At the end of the interview, I wouldn't have hired myself. As I stood up and shook the manager's hand, I knew I was not getting it. Some of my errors? I was negative about my current company. When being interviewed, never be negative about your past companies. Why should I be negative toward Walmart? No reason, they have been my main job for most of 15 years. They have good people working for them. They have good programs. They do honestly try to work with communities. They have great (yes they do) benefits and insurance. So why negative? I guess I was trying to give a good reason why I wanted to leave them. How did it sound? Like I hated them, and that translated to I was a frustrated employee who would probably get frustrated with any new place I worked too. Another thing I did wrong? I rambled. Instead of just answering the question, I would volunteer a little more, add that one more little example. I was a motormouth. And lastly, I couldn't name my weaknesses. I came off as a frustrated, arrogant, rumor-spreader, who thought he was perfect.

But anyways. My strategy with today's interview is simply be myself. Answer the question briefly. Use positive examples from Walmart. Why do I want to leave Walmart? I don't, but since I am moving to a larger city for the first time, I want to see what other opportunities are out there. To see if any other companies want to use my experience and knowledge. Walmart has great programs, and even though some of their newer programs are off to a slow start, I can see their potential.

Ok, enough about me. Let's talk about my wants. For Father's Day I want one of two things. I know I will get neither, but this is a wish list, not a need's list. I want the DVD "(500) Days of Summer" or the book by Anthony Bourdain "Kitchen Confidential". And stay tuned to this blog on Father's Day where I will give tribute to my late father. Anyway, I must go and be myself, so until next time....