Books-A-Million Bookseller Interview Questions & Reviews
Overview |
| |
Salaries |
| |
Reviews |
| |
Interviews |
| |
Photos |
| |
Jobs |
| |
|
Updated May 7, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
|
Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 14 ratings 
“Easy” Interview
|
Interview Experience [?] Based on 14 ratings
|
Books-A-Million has 3,296 connections on Glassdoor
See Who You Know
| 1–10 of 14 Books-A-Million Interviews | Sort by |
Bookseller at Books-A-Million
Posted May 7, 2012
|
3.0
Average Interview
|
Overall Neutral Experience
|
Received and Declined Offer
|
Interviewed May 2011 in Inglewood, CA (took a day)
it was a good opportunity
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Books-A-Million
Posted Feb 27, 2012
|
4.0
Difficult Interview
|
Overall Negative Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed Feb 2012 (took a day)
I began my online application and left it to finish later. Two days later, I received a call from the General Manager inviting me to an open interview. The night before the interview, I completed the online application.
The interview consisted of four people. Myself and one other potential employee were interviewed simultaneously. The interview was conducted by the District Manager (DM), while the GM sat next to him quietly. The DM was very abrasive and the interview was very fast paced. The DM asked each of us to describe ourselves, our recent work history, and things like that. We were then handed a fact sheet which seemed to just cover some basic information about the company and how it treats its employees. We were to read both sides of the paper right there, and keep it for our own reference. After finishing reading, we were asked a series of questions at a very fast pace. First the other interviewee would be asked, then the other.
Questions included variations of:
•What are two things you could bring to this store?
•What did you like about your past jobs?
•What is one area where you think you could improve?
•What is something you're proud of?
•Where do you see yourself in five years?
•What is the difference between this store and a library?
The interview ended with an impromptu sales pitch. The DM had a bag of misc. things. We had to pull one out, without looking, observe the item for 30 seconds, and then "sell" it. My fellow interviewee had a little Buzz Lightyear reading lamp, while I had a little zen garden thing (these are the sort of tchotchkes BAM! keeps around the check out area, a.k.a. cheapo impulse buys). My little zen kit had a "Buy 2 Get a 3rd Free," and the DM/GM were clearly looking for me to mention this deal in my "pitch."
Interlaced throughout the entire interview was the emphasis on selling the company's discount cards. I had previously worked for BAM! one summer several years ago, when the card only cost $10 and employees weren't pushed as hard to sell as many. The DM was very interested in knowing how well I did selling cards back then (I couldn't remember, it was too long ago); my fellow interviewee had also worked at Borders before, and the DM wanted to know how well he was at shilling out their cards when he worked there.
The stakes seem higher for the card now, as it's doubled in price and employees are required to maintain a percentage of at least 5% (that is, when you work as a cashier, at least 5% of all your sales are discount cards). The emphasis on selling cards was brought up at the very beginning (the DM began the interview by saying something to the effect of, "If hired, maintaining your employment depends solely on how many cards you sell. If you underperform, you will lose your job. If this scares you or doesn't interest you, you're welcome to leave now before we begin.")
Both of us were hired on the spot, pending the results of a background check. I received a call about a week later to fill out paperwork and have since started working there.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
There was no negotiation. The pay is slightly above minimum wage, but employees receive bonuses for every card or magazine subscription sold, on the condition that the store as a whole meets its quota.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Books-A-Million
Posted Nov 10, 2011
|
1.0
Very Easy Interview
|
Overall Positive Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed Dec 2009 in Murfreesboro, TN (took 1 week)
I met with the assistant manager first. We talked about the company, what the job would and entail, and he asked general questions. Then, I met with Manager. I was offered the job that day. Full time. I just had to wait for the background check to go through before I could start.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Books-A-Million
Posted Mar 9, 2011
|
1.0
Very Easy Interview
|
Overall Neutral Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed May 2010 in Colonial Heights, VA (took 5 days)
It really depends of the manager not the interviewe. I have seen many cases that a manager would hire someone based on their looks especially it's a female on female interview. Like I have said many times over, at BAM, there is a lot of corruption. Also, you got to have expereince at selling something. But then again, the way that managers get their stores sales, it really dosen't matter since they cheat to do so.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Non existent
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Books-A-Million
Posted Feb 10, 2011 — 0 of 1 people found this helpful
|
3.0
Average Interview
|
Overall Neutral Experience
|
Interviewed and No Offer
|
Interviewed Jan 2011 (took a day)
I saw that they were hiring on one of the job search websites and decided to apply online. I called back a week later and the manager told me to come in for an interview later in the week. When I went in, I was instructed to sit in the cafe area of the store and wait until she could be with me. She first asked me how old I was and when I told her she said that I was too young because you have to be 18 to work there, but she continued the interview anyway. She said she would call me the next day if they were able to hire me anywat, but I never received a call back.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Personality Test.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
View Comments (3)
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Books-A-Million
Posted Jan 5, 2011
|
1.0
Very Easy Interview
|
Overall Neutral Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed Jan 2011 (took 1 week)
I went on the Books-a-Million's website and applied for a part-time Bookseller opening in my area. While completing my application I was directed to take a personality test. I then received a call for an interview about 2 weeks later. The interview seemed a little unorthodox, she started to ask about my previous work experience and then started on the job description. Pretty much what I expected after reading Glassdoor.com, they are all about the discount cards and magazine subscriptions. The interviewer continued to stress the discount cards and magazine subscriptions so much that we never got to any questions other than about my previous work experience. She then told me that she would be e-mailing me a background check and said she would call me after it came through. It took her about a week to finally call me back and offer me a job.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
No negotiation, it is minimum wage with the chance at earning more money if you sell discount cards and have people sign up for magazine subscriptions.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Personality Test and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Books-A-Million
Posted Oct 30, 2010
|
1.0
Very Easy Interview
|
Overall Positive Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed Oct 2010 in Greenbelt, MD (took 3 days)
I applied on-line, then brought a hard copy of my application, resume, and references to the store's job fair. I was interviewed at that time by the co-manager, two days later by the general manager. After the background check was done a couple of days later, I was offered the position and invited to come to the store to fill out payroll-related paperwork. I was very pleased that my years of experience in another industry were seen as an asset. The gm was prepared to refer my application to the district manager for considerationfor a manager's position, but I told him that I want to learn the business from the ground up and go from there. This desire seemed to make a very favorable impression on him and on the co-manager and reinforced my desire for a new career, not just a job. I was also impressed by the friendliness of the other staff in the store. I would advise an application to be super-prepared for an interview. I made a point of reading up on the latest news about the company.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Books-A-Million
Posted Oct 27, 2010
|
1.0
Very Easy Interview
|
Overall Neutral Experience
|
Received and Declined Offer
|
Interviewed Oct 2010 (took a day)
I walked into Books A Million (BAM) on a Thursday and was informed that they had just had a job fair, but if I still applied online that they might still consider me. So I applied online that day, then I went back in on the following Monday to formally introduce myself to the manager and turn in a resume. I was called that same night for an interview on Wednesday. I arrived 15 minutes early and checked in at the Cafe. Shortly after checking in, the store manager and the district manager joined me in the cafe where they preceded with the interview. They basically just asked me about myself and my experience with retail. They also kept stressing if I could sell discount cards and magazine subscriptions. I was a little put off by that because they made it seem that the discount cards meant more than the sales....and the cards are $20! Anyways, after the interview was over it took them 3 days to call me and formally offer me the job. I had applied to several other places and had interviews at all of them, and one offered more money (and less stress as far as selling expensive discount cards go), so I declined their offer.
Interview Questions
Reason for Declining
They kept stressing over their discount cards and magazine subscriptions and if I could sell them or not. They also let you know that selling the cards and magazine subscriptions is a MUST and if you do poorly, you get warnings/written up/fired. NOT INTERESTED!
Other Details
I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Personality Test and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Books-A-Million
Posted Jun 18, 2010
|
1.0
Very Easy Interview
|
Overall Positive Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed May 2008 (took 1 week)
This was a one on One interview with a GM of the company. I then took a personality/IQ test in a room with several others. It was an extremely organized interviewing process, but that was because they were opening a new store and brought in people to do a mass hiring.
Negotiation Details
They were non negotable! Take it or leave it!
Other Details
I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, an IQ/Intelligence Test, a Skills Test, a Personality Test and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Books-A-Million
Posted May 28, 2010
|
3.0
Average Interview
|
Overall Positive Experience
|
Received and Accepted Offer
|
Interviewed May 2010 (took 2 days)
I am stressed after reading all of the reviews that have been posted for this company. The first inteview was informal and the co-manager made it very clear that selling the discount card was a huge priority. I love this store and remain hopeful.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
There was not a negotiation phase.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview, a Personality Test and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
RSS Feed for Books-A-Million
Interviews
Embed
