Very Easy Interview – Overall Positive Experience – Yes, and I accepted – Fri, 10 Oct 2014
Interviewed Sep 2014 in Laramie, WY(took 14 days)
I applied online at the Carmax website. It took about 2 hours to do the online application, which consists of basic info - you know, all the normal stuff companies ask. What I did not expect was about 90 minutes worth of questions all centered on whether or not you are in this for yourself, or for the team. They ask the same questions again and again on different screens, just worded slightly different. After that, I received a phone call and an email within 2 days. They seemed interested in talking to me, and wanted to set up an on-site interview. They explained that they do their hiring in August and September, and my arrival date of around the 25th of September 2014 was a little late in the game, but doable. So we set up an on-site interview. They sent me an email with an explanation of what I could expect. The take away here is that they want you to study one of 3 vehicles that they present to you - and be prepared to talk to a mock client about that vehicle in a sales exercise when you are interviewed. Only study model years newer than about 6 years old because you won't find cars older than that on a Carmax lot. They also give you some steps they will expect you to go through in selling a vehicle. Don't skip a step, there are only 3. Practice this in your mind a few times. Then do that again. I wanted to "look the part" right away, so I dressed like a Carmax employee when I went in for the interview. I wore my Dockers shoes, khaki pants and a navy blue polo shirt. I was clean shaven, and had a fresh haircut. If you make it hard for them to tell if you "clean up well" you will not get a serious look and will probably feel rather dismissed after the process. When I went in for the interview I knew what to expect, because by this time, I had discovered this website. My first order of business was to fill out on a computer another questionnaire regarding my arrest record, drug use, and general questions trying to poke holes in my integrity. Before doing this, I was briefed that everyone stumbles once and awhile, and that by revealing those stumbles it would not, by itself, make me non-employable by Carmax. They stressed how important it was that I was honest, because they intended on doing some digging. They foot stomped questions regarding whether or not you ever knew an employee you had worked with before that was doing drugs, and what you did about it. It is probably pretty obvious what they want your answer to be. Don't screw this up. The first face to face I had was with two management trainees that were apparently practicing their interview skills and using me as a guinea pig. They will look at your results from the computer based questions that you just answered, and they will try to get you to elaborate. Just be honest here. From there, their notes will be passed up one level on their management ladder, and you will sit for about 15 minutes or so while they talk it over before being called in for round #2. Round #2 is with actual assistant managers (usually) and they will ask you all kinds of "STAR" related questions (Situation - Task - Action - Response) things. "Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer" is a good representation of what they might (or did) ask. Try to recall all the positive experiences you have had helping customers over the years, and use those examples. They asked me about how I would handle a difficult customer, or a customer with a complaint, and I told them about my "taking the HEAT" process. 1) Hear them out 2) Empathize with the customer 3) Apologize for the incident, and 4) Take responsibility for fixing it. They liked that. After round #2, I was told it was time for my sales exercise. But first, they had a 5 minute video they wanted me to watch in a room by myself. The video was less than 90 seconds and basically it recapped the email they sent me a week or so prior regarding the proper steps in selling a vehicle to a customer. When I came out of the office, they were ready for me. After a moment or two getting situated, we went right into it. I took about 4 min to go through all the steps and offer to give the customer a test drive (don't forget this), and offer to take the individual inside and complete the paperwork. Then I was told that the next step was an interview with the store manager, but that he was out of town on business. So we set up another appointment for a few days later, shook hands and parted ways. By the time my next interview was set up, I had not received the "it won't work out" phone call or email, so I went in. This might happen to you also, so don't burn any bridges while you wait for the call or email. The last step went well - the manager had a few other questions for me like "what makes you think you would be successful at this job?" I was then offered a position, and was led to the bathroom to pee in a cup.
Interview Questions
"What makes you think you would be successful at this job?" Or, "How would you handle a difficult customer?"
Answer Question
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview, 1:1 Interview, Group/Panel Interview, Skills Test, Personality Test, Drug Test and a Background Check