Pilot Flying J Interview Questions & Reviews

Interview Details – HR phone interviews (2) VP interview (1) DM interview (1)

Negotiation Details – I told them I wanted 60K they started with 50K and settled on 55K

Interview Details – I received an email about an initial phone interview. During the phone interview he asked me about my previous experience and told me what jobs were available. I then took an assessment test. The test consisted of manager questions on what you would do in given situations, some math and then a number series and picture series where you have to chooses which comes next. He then set up a face to face. The face to face interview was pleasant. The manager interviewing me was friendly and professional. He asked me about my experiences and asked me what I have been doing since my last job. None of the dreaded interview questions were asked. It was basically just a conversation about my abilities, the jobs available and compensation of the company.

Negotiation Details – He started me off at the top pay for the job, based on my experience. I knw what the payrate was and was going to ask for the high amount but didn't have to.

Interview Details – Applied and two different locations and had several interviews at each locations but seemed to not be interested in my background which is very extensive in food and retail management. I felt as though it was because of the age difference and experience in me and the interviewers. They seemed intimidated by my experience and wanted someone less likely to be able to advance.

Interview Details – I first applied to Flying J to be a maintenance person in 2009. One week after putting in my application, I received a call from A Mr. Peter Correa, then Maintenance Manager. When I arrived for my interview, I spotted him fixing a framed poster. I neglected to mention that the one next to it needed fixing as well. Proceeding to "his" office (A room shared by all managers for various tasks, usually interviews), we chatted a bit, with him mostly being impressed with the fact that I pronounced his name properly (kor-RAY-uh). It seemed to delight him, for some reason. The interview itself seemed standar fair* (Previous job history, what I thought I could bring to the company, etc.).

I didn't get the job.

Three months later, I was contacted again, this time by a Nicole Beal, the new Maintenance Manager. When I arrived for my interview, she greeted me with a painfully strong handshake and an infectious smile. I immediately liked her and was terrified by her. She immediately started asking me about my family and how I felt about them. She seemed to like my answers (I focused on trusting "Momma never led me wrong" type answers), and was very eager to sit me down in the same office and same chair Mr. COrrea had sat me in 3 months before. After initial questions (See asterisk above), she started asking me why I thought Peter had declined to hire me, and if I thought he was foolish for doing so**. After dancing around the subject, I realized that she only called me to prove a point i.e. that she was NOT Peter Correa, and she would do things the way SHE pleased, right or wrong. I played to her ego, and was offered the job that day. The next day I was given a packet to take to a specific clinic for a hair follicle drug test. Once that came back clean 2 weeks later, I was brought in for training (all digital presentations with test questions. Is still done, but only to supplement hands on training, though unpassed/unfinished tests are taken very seriously).

Now, this was before the Pilot and Flying J brands merged in July of 2010. Nicole Beal has not been employed at any PFJ location for some time, and the interview process is now, as I have hears, much more streamlined and focused on actual skills, abilities, and whether or not an applicant is actually good for the company.

Negotiation Details – At the time, the offer was non-negotiable (Wages for new hires at thta time were set for $8.50, in order to encourage more applicants). As of now, wages are minimum wage, non-negotiable, but with regular raises for good, consistent work.

Interview Details – Went into truck stop and applied online with the employee kiosk.I called the next week to check on my application and the store manager set up an interview for the next day.I went in for interview and was hired and started work the next day.

Negotiation Details – No negotiations...was hired...went to work

Interview Details – I got an email telling me that, according to my application, I would be a great addition to Pilot flying J. I had a 1 on 1 interview with the manager. He explained to me the history of pilot flying J and asked me a few basic questions. Then I had a 1 on 1 interview with the DM and a 1 on 1 interview with the GM. Overall it was an easy interview. I got offered the job on the spot.

I have been working with pilot for over a month now and it is one of the best jobs I have had. The managers are absolutely great! They work with me on scheduling and everything else.

Negotiation Details – No negotiations. Pay is minimum wage with a possible pay bump after 6 months. Insurance is immediate upon being hired which is fantastic.

Interview Details – After applying I was contacted a few days later to come in and interview. It went well and a week after that I was called to do a job shadow for a few hours to see if I was still interested. The manager gave me the impression that I was the guy he wanted, but told me that I would be having to take an online test at some point that all new hires had to take to test my workplace tendencies and competencies.

A week later I got a call from the area rep and got through the test. I did not hear back from anyone until I called three weeks later when the man I interviewed with told me that as far as he knew, I was the one they were going to hire. Two weeks later I got another call from the area rep who told me I scored well on the test and we negotiated my pay and hammered out the details of my training phase.

Negotiation Details – I received a hint that for my position the maximum was $12 / hour. This was a deduction in pay for me from my then current job, but I wouldn't have to commute as far and would get benefits so I knew that it would be worth it. However, I made it perfectly clear that if I did not get $12 / hour I would not accept an offer. I have a degree in management and have worked in all areas necessary on the job (food service, customer service, management, accounting, inventories, vendor / stocking / receiving etc) so I knew that a person could not be more qualified than I was. The big thing they push for this position is that you are relocatable. Its a very likely possibility that you will get promoted if you perform, and even more-so if you are relocatable. I, in fact, WANT to be relocated, so I made sure to push that I wanted to advance far in the company and was receptive to relocation.

Interview Details – Was very short, hardly any questioning, real simple. Hired on the spot.

Negotiation Details – non existant

Interview Details – I showed up to one of their "Retail Manager Hiring Events" that they have all over the country. A region manager is usually present so you can complete all your interviews in one session. I was the first one there so I skipped the interview with the GM and spoke directly to the Region Manager. She asked many STAR (Situation Task Action Result) formatted questions and inputted her observations on an Ipad. She also asked me to describe the positive and negative aspects of every relevant job that I've ever had. Be cautious with this as they are trying to determine if you would have issues with Pilot Flying J. The interview lasted about 35-40 minutes, and there was nothing unusual about it. After that, I was directed to complete an official application online and she also emailed me a link to complete the assessments online. Over the years, I have taken MANY online assessments and also studied them in grad school as Assessments was an actual course I had to take....and this is BY FAR the most intensive assessment I've ever taken. Make sure you have pen, paper, and a calculator handy. The assessment consisted of "which number is next in this sequence", "which word is not like the others", "ratio equations", "which pattern is next", and "_____ is to _____ as ______ is to ______" type questions, in addition to the personality portion of it. After that, the Divisional staffing manager set up a day in the field to shadow a GM. It lasted 4 hours, and they want to give you a chance to determine if this is something you really want to do, and also evaluate your managerial skills/style. Then one more phone interview with an Divisional VP/Regional HR and you're done.

Reason for Declining – I made 65K base and 12-15K in bonus at my previous job, and they told me the most I make coming in was probably around 50K TOTAL. Also, you must be willing to get shipped off anywhere in the country if you want to get promoted quickly, which would not be an issue if the compensation was higher. I felt a little mislead because the Regional told me everyone in her region comes in as a Asst GM. Not sure if that's the way it works in other areas, but I could not work for 30k less a year. It doesn't seem like a bad company to work for for, and I was told by the 3 GMs I met that many longer term GMs make 6 figures...but you have to willing to stick around.