This is not a review of an interview but some tips for those that are looking to apply from someone on the other side. Most of these tips will be for those that are applying for their first job or as an entry-level in-store position:
Be prepared. We will ask basic tech questions and can tell when you are being honest. Keep your answers real-world and the more details the better. Work that you have done for friends and family is great but just because you have built a computer does not make you an elite applicant. It is definitely something that can give you an edge but do not rely on just that and expect to get in the door.
We are generally looking for three things: Tech experience, people skills, and the ability to learn. Tech can be taught to anyone, but it is much harder to teach someone how to talk to an upset client. I cannot teach someone who is not open to learning.
Ask yourself these questions before going in:
1) Am I passionate about technology?
2) Can I explain complicated technical terms to the average person in a way that they can understand?
3) Do I enjoy being around others who share my passion?
If you answer no to any of these questions, an in-store Geek Squad position may not be the best option. Discuss this with your interviewer and they may be able to recommend some positions elsewhere in the building for you.
There are generally three steps to being hired in, a Phone interview, an in-person with the direct supervisor, then a third interview with the general manager of that location. The phone interview is basic questions: hours, travel, location, why you want to work there, etc.
The second interview is debatably the most important as it is usually the person that you will be reporting to or even the person that they report to. This interview will decide if you get the job 90-95% of the time. Be open, be honest, and be candid. The interviewer is usually interviewing five to ten people around the same time as you and will appreciate the brevity. Be respectful of their time. Listen closely and ask that the questions be repeated or rephrased if you need to. It is much better to answer a question completely than try to rush through the interview because you were worried about perception. This interview should take an average of 20-30 minutes to complete and if it drags on beyond that it should be because of the interviewer, not because of your answers.
If it goes well, you will receive a third interview with the Assistant Manager or the General Manager of that location. It can happen at the same time or be scheduled for a different day entirely based on what the current business is like in the store at that time. Be prepared for it regardless and you will do just fine. Many of the questions at this stage will be similar to what you have answered before however there will be a few extra questions including some that the GM may make up or add in the moment based on how the interview is going. Follow the same tips from your prior interviews and you will be fine. One of the biggest questions that applicants fail is along the lines of "if your friend/family/coworker took ______ from the company, how would you respond?" I do not care about your relationship with said person, the correct answer is always, always to report them immediately. You will instantly be turned away if you answer anything else. You are here for the business and it must always come first.
As an important note, it is extremely rare that a candidate is told if they are being hired on or not immediately following their interview. There are, as aforementioned, typically several applicants for any spot and information is not allowed to be released until all interviews have happened. Do not despair or push the interviewer for more information. They will give you what they can when they can. The best thing to do would be to ask a closing question such as, "Do you see any reason why I would not be qualified for this position?" It will not ensure that you get the job, but it makes a tremendous difference and pushes the fact that you are truly interested in working there one more time.
Final tips:
-You are being watched from the moment that you walk into the building to the moment that you leave. Be polite, ask questions, walk around, and interact with the employees. The interviewer is likely to ask associates what they saw after you left. Every little bit helps.
-Dress code helps but is not as important as you think. Dress for where you came from. There is a big difference between showing up in jeans and a ripped t-shirt because you drove straight from your other job and wearing that because you just rolled out of bed.
-Be prepared for curveball questions. One of my favorite questions to ask was something along the lines of what I have listed below. Keep an ear out, listen closely, and ask for a repeat or a rephrase if you need to.
Good luck!
