Background info: I'm in college part-time because I am training in ballet full-time and prepping for auditions and whatnot; I've been needed to get a job for a while now because I'm 19 and now in charge of my ballet expenses. To put it simply, I'm running out of money, what with my private rehearsals, audition fees, intensives, travel fees, and the 6 pairs of pointe shoes per 3-4 months...oy vey

Anyway! On Thursday morning I sent in an application for Staples. The manager called me back later that day while I was at ballet, and I called back when I got home in the evening, and we set up an interview for Monday at noon. I am so incredibly excited! I need this job, badly, and I want it, and so I'm trying to get ready for the interview so that I can get the job.

I'm not nervous - I never let myself get nervous, it does no good. So that's not my problem. Well, I don't actually have a problem - I am just lacking experience. I have no idea how a job interview usually goes down.

Surely they will ask me about pay. What do they like to hear? And how do I find out how much is a reasonable amount to ask for?

I plan on just being down to earth and honest, not that I have anything to hide. But I mean, if they ask why I am interested in working at Staples - obviously I am not particularly passionate about office appliances...but I actually do think it would be a great place to work my first part-time job, instead of a grocery store, for example.

When I called, I intended to leave a message, because it was after hours, but the manager ended up picking up. I was surprised and unprepared and a bit flustered, so when he asked me what my intention was and why I was interested in working there, I was just very honest and said the first things that came to mind because I had not prepared to answer such a question then and there; I said that my goal is to get a part time job to help fund my education, and that I am interested in working for Staples because it is close to home and I feel that it would be a job closer to my level of interest and intelligence than working somewhere like a grocery store. Or...I said something like that, anyway

I probably would have said something different if I had planned it out, but he seemed pleased and did end up scheduling me for an interview...

So now I guess I am just wondering, did I approach it the right way over the phone? And should I do something different during the interview?

Regardless of what I do, I know to go in very positive, enthusiastic, smiling, friendly. It won't be fake, either, because this is really exciting for me!

They probably won't ask you about pay. It's not the kind of job where you negotiate your salary - they will have a fixed amount per hour for everyone of your level who works on the shop floor. You won't get a choice.

Personally I wouldn't say that I was too smart to work in a supermarket but whatever, you've already answered that question so he probably won't repeat the same conversation in the real interview. He'll want to know about any experience you have, what your idea of good customer service is, how you will fulfil that, etc.

Oh, I hope you're right - I don't want to have a choice, to be honest. I wouldn't know how to approach it.

And like I said - that's not exactly how I phrased it. I don't remember what I actually said, but I didn't use the word intelligence or smart. I know in my head I was thinking it would be a more sophisticated job that a supermarket job, and I did say something along those lines...trust me I was so worried after I said that because I was scared I had done something wrong! I was so not expecting to have to answer that kind of question when I called

Yeah, if you start throwing around that it's somehow more sophisticated of a job, or that you're too smart for other jobs, they're going to start getting really nervous that once you realize that retail is not at all a sophisticated job, and that it doesn't really require any brain power, regardless of whether you're scanning paper or food, that you're going to bail. So stop saying that.

If they mention pay, tell them you want whatever wage people in your position would typically start at. My brother has in the past been responsible for hiring people, and he said the kind of unspoken rule at retail places is that if someone asks for below what the typical starting wage is...they get it. No prompting on the part of the staff that they could get more. If they typically start people out at $10, and you ask for $8, you'll get $8. So ask for starting wage. Don't bring it up yourself, wait for them to mention it.

Stop inferring that you think you're so sophisticated and smart for getting this job, just smile and talk about how much you want to work there, and ride your way into the job...

Just demonstrate in your interview that you have the basic life skills necessary to do well at this job. You're timely and disciplined, years of being a ballet dancer have taught you that, and you're implying that they can rely on you to show up to your shifts on time and all the time. You're organized and clean, implying that you would know how to keep the store from getting cluttered and that you would make it a priority. You're smart, pick things up quickly, and are friendly, implying that you could learn the stock pretty quickly and help customers find what they need. You have a good attitude, implying that you won't cause drama at the store.

You don't have the have a passion for office supplies to show that you have the skills necessary to be a good, reliable worker for them. Just mention qualities like what I stated and be sure to be clean, presentable, and upbeat and you'll be fine.

^ the speaker/writer implies. The listener/reader infers

Hey guys! Thank you so much for all your advice! I definitely applied it to my interview

I am really happy to announce that I was offered a job at the Print and Copy center and I accepted it, and tomorrow morning I'm going to fill out all the paperwork that they said I had to fill out. I have no idea what paperwork this is, but I guess I will find out!

You'll have to give them your personal information so that they can pay you and your tax contribution from them is correct.

Congratulations

Congratulations! Good luck with everything.

Congrats. The paperwork will involve tax forms and that kind of stuff. Bring your ID with you (and if you have a passport thats better). Maks sure you know your social secuirty number, and have a blank voided check with you in case they pay by direct deposit.

^Oh, I don't have a checkbook yet. I've been meaning to order one but never got around to it. I only have a debit card, as well...I need to open a credit card.

You might still be able to to direct deposit if you know your checking account number. I'm not positive though. They might just pay you by check and then it won't matter. But it's always useful to have a checkbook so even if you don't need it for this, it's a good idea to get one. You don't have to pay for fancy ones either, most banks have free ones.

^My bank has a form I can print out from their website to do direct deposit. I've used that before. If not, they'll usually fax something over.