Well, learning the sandwiches and that test was the most important thing. I impressed them and was a top candidate as I scored 100%, if you do that, you have a great chance to get hired, it shows you care, but it's also extremely important because they expect you to be on your game. They are in a hurry and often interview fast but seriously, they are expected to do a lot as managers and assistant managers, so you need to understand that you need to be interested in them, and that it isn't as if they are NOT interested in you, its just that they see a lot of people who don't have the qualities it takes to be a team member, so they really need to sort that out. Look them in the eyes and tell them you are going to be a hustler that always shows up on time, knows how to take direction, and is willing to work at a moments notice when emergency called in. Those things should also be true and looking them in the eye will tell them that. Don't be intimidated if they are looking you in the eyes, because thats what they need to find out, if they can trust you... they don't want to waste all the time in the world. Take time on your application, take time to write it properly and legibly. BE PRESENTABLE, get a haircut, even if they don't have a haircut. They're busy ! They aren't brushing you off you have to wait or you meet with a different person first. Go through the channels, be patient, come back when they say to come back. It doesn't all go perfect. Do as much online research beforehand so that they don't have to teach you the world about Jimmy Johns. Know how Jimmy started. Know why they need you to do things fast and the Jimmy Way. Know that its about cost control and high standards and ALWAYS being busy. You'll succeed at the interview. Focus over jokes and friendships. That's cool to be that way, but they are very serious about costs and they need you to be on an efficient team. You need to be a team player. You get more hours when you work hard, you aren't gonna get the schedule you want at the interview. Just go with it and mention if you have obvious conflicts, but your focus, is making the team successful. Think of how you have made a team successful in the past. Tell how your attitude has turned around a tough situation. How your ideas have helped a bad situation in another restaurant. If you don't have experience, stress that it is your desire that makes you a good candidate, and you can't teach punctuality, commitment to the team, work ethic, and a willingness to make coming in last minute ... early ... or staying late. So, whether someone has more experience could only mean that they've been taught wrong or been taught and chosen to do things their own way. You want to be taught the right way, and stick with that. And that's how you've done every other job successfully. Then make sure you do that. Transportation to work, have that covered. Why Jimmy Johns? Have an answer for that that makes sense. Respect their corporate franchise structure, it is interesting how it works. Learn about it. Compliment the consistency of the product, and how you can get a number 15 totally tuna in Iowa and in New York and it tastes the same, fresh and delicious ! You admire that. There is something special about seeing a team succeed, and although there are times when it seems upper management positions are far away, you see and understand that it takes only patience and effort, and the doors open up quicker than one imagines if the right things are done. But first things first, focus on the fundamentals and you understand that the floors being mopped and the walls being scrubbed are just as important to a customer coming back, as a decent sandwich. Because it could be to some customers. Notice to the hiring manager, that some customers are just having a bad day, and you kill them with kindness.... then follow through with that if hired. Notice to the manager hiring, that sometimes supervisors are stressed during rushes and have to yell, not because they are mad, but because they are frustrated due to a chain of events and its nothing personal. That you wouldn't take it personal, its business. If something like that ever happened, a Jimmy Johns manager would later come explain that to you anyway.
