Retail job interview questions.

Help with 3 hard interview questions for part time job…?

• Hi, my name is Chris, and I’m a college student planning to apply to some part time jobs. Yes, I know the economy is bad right now, and I haven’t tried to get a job in awhile, but I’m gonna try. Keep in mind I’m just planning to apply to some part time jobs like the supermarket, retail, etc, not that this will be a permanent career job. I thought of 3 hard questions they might ask in the interview/I need some advice. (1) Keeping in mind this is a part time job that pays an hourly rate and not annual salary, what should I say when they ask how much would I want to get paid hourly? I’ve read you shouldn’t do too low but not too high either. I have had 3 part time jobs in the past, but my longest job was working retail for 7 months. Minimum wage in CA here is now $8/hour. I was thinking of asking for at least $9 per hour but how would I word this in the interview? Should I word it something like, “Since I have had a lot of experience with my previous jobs and with my qualifications, would $9 an hour be ok?” Or is there a better way of stating this? (2) I’ve had 3 part time jobs in the past, but gaps in between. I’m a biology major at my college (I eventually plan to go somewhere in the medical field, but am not sure in what), which is a hard major. Being a full time student with that hard major, that explains why I haven’t worked long in each job, I’ve spent more time in school. But now that I’m part time this semester, I have more availability and can work more now. But how should I answer the question of why there are gaps in my work history? Even though these are just part time jobs and not a lifelong career, they’re not gonna wanna hear school as an excuse (3) they might ask if I plan to make this a lifelong career or how long would I plan to stay if hired. Honestly, I eventually plan to go somewhere in the medical field, but am not sure in what. Obviously I don’t want to say this in the interview to sound too overqualified and that I’d leave it when something better comes along. I think if they asked my major and I said biology (to be honest as you should do in an interview), it has nothing to do with retail, and they’d know it’s not going to be my career later. So if asked if I plan to make this a lifelong career or how long I would plan to stay, what should I say? Sorry these are long questions but they’re hard questions and I need some input. thanks

• Answer:

  1) I have never had a job interview for a part-time/retail/whatever ask how much I wanted to get paid. Usually they say (when they hire you) what the starting salary is. If they do ask, I would give your ending salary from your last comparable job plus $.50, or maybe a little more if it's been awhile or if you would have a lot more responsibility in the new position. You could say something like "I'm looking for something that pays around $9.00" and if they ask why you deserve that much explain about your qualifications. 2) People understand you're a student first and foremost. They're only going to hold it against you if you quit in the middle of the semester (ie it wasn't just a summer position) or have had a lot of 2-3 month non-summer jobs. Make sure you focus on how responsible you are and explain why you have enough time this semester to make a full commitment. 3) Don't lie. But if you're planning on going to grad school, say something like you're looking at going to grad school in a year or two, so you're planning on being here at least 18 months (or whatever.) People aren't stupid - no one plans to stay in retail forever. What they want to know is that you're not planning on leaving right away. Explain why you're interested in retail right now - you love working with people, whatever. By the way, I worked retail in college for 16 months before I left for grad school. We had about 30 employees and four managers at any one time. By month 6, I was the fourth most senior employee. When I left, I had outlasted every single employee I started with and four managers. They'll be happy to have you for more than three weeks - even in this economy.