BJ’s Wholesale Club is a US-based, members-only chain that operates on the East Coast and in Ohio. BJs has approximately 200 locations and around 25,000 employees. They have ongoing staffing needs, and so they recruit and hire year round. Job hunters will find that the chain has many entry-level positions including stock handler, clerk, and cashier. They also offer management jobs.
Since shopping retailers are customer-service oriented, you must present yourself as someone who works well with people. Preparation is key, from the resume to the interview itself. To set yourself apart in the hiring process, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Interview Questions
BJ’s Restaurant Interview Questions
How to Make Your Resume Stand Out
If a resume is required, put together your best effort. Manager hopefuls often need to provide a resume with their application. Consider these points for making your resume stand out:
- Include a header
- Provide a cover letter
- Use industry keywords
- Build the resume around the job you’re seeking
- Highlight how your skills apply to this job
- Detail your growth as a worker
- Proofread your work
When it is obvious to management that you are serious and professional, it will go a long way. Turn in a resume to highlight that you have the right skills and are a good fit for the job. Nothing says ‘unprofessional’ like an error-riddled resume that isn’t relevant to the job in question. Put your best foot forward on your BJs resume.
Tips for Acing Your Interview
Now that you’ve gotten through the paperwork phase, next comes the face-to-face time – the interview. Don’t go in blind. Before going, there are some steps to take so that you’ll be ready.
Do Research on BJs
Once you’re invited to interview, start doing some company research. Find out as much as you are able about BJ’s future plans and company performance. Gain an understanding of the store and its culture as this is a critical step in preparing for the interview. A job seeker familiar with the workplace will quickly distinguish themselves from the rest of the applicant pool.
It is a given that they will expect you to have a knowledge of their business. They will want to get an idea about how well you will fit into their environment. That said, expect to be asked questions like, “What do you know about BJs?” and “What makes you want to work for us?” This will highlight that you will be a value-added employee for their store.
Learn directly from BJs. Read over their social media pages (Facebook, Linkedin, Google+, Twitter, etc.) to learn what they are sharing. Also look over their website – pay special attention to the “About Us” section. Another good step to take is to research their Glassdoor reviews. Go into your interview knowing their pay rate and interviewing information. Go directly to the immediate source. That is, reach out to the contact noted on the job posting and get particular details about the position you are seeking.
The more information you gather, the more you will feel comfortable as you interview.
Take Time to Rehearse
Practice will help your delivery and confidence. Do a dry run interview with family or friends and ask them to provide you with feedback. Record yourself or rehearse in front of the mirror. Rehearse what and how you will answer.
Go over the frequently asked questions commonly heard in the interview. This will help you get a better grasp of how your qualifications and personal background apply to the job being offered. This isn’t an exercise in learning your answers verbatim; it is just a way to get an overall idea of what you should answer and how to deliver your answers.
Interviewing managers will often ask, ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ Have some questions prepared for the manager. The interview is a two-way street – you get to know them, and they get to know you.
This practice will give you self-assurance. Your responses will be more confident, focused, and natural. It will be clear to the BJs hiring manager that you are well spoken and able to think on your feet.
Go Over Your Best Qualities
List out your values, interests, skills, strengths, and weaknesses. Run down times in your work life you’ve shown each quality. Interviewers will often ask how you’ve handled certain scenarios, so this is a great exercise for preparation. Remember that you need to make your answers relevant to the job for which you’ve applied.
Dress Appropriately for the Interview
Arrange in advance what you will wear on the day of the interview. First impressions are vital, and this will go a long way in the impression that the hiring manager takes away. Show them that you are professional and take work seriously. Here are some basics on interview attire.
If you are an entry-level job seeker, start with business casual as your base-level attire. As most jobs at BJs are non-manager level, it is not important to wear a suit and tie. Neat, well-fitting and clean clothing is what you want. But, if there is ever a question, always overdress. Never underdress!
If you’re interviewing for a manager position, wear semiformal clothes at least. It might even be best to dress business formal. Semi-formal for men means dress pants, a button-down shirt, a jacket, and a tie. Women should wear a dressy skirt or dress pants and a dressy blouse. As another option, wear a nicer business-like dress such as a simple sheath dress.
If it seems more appropriate to wear business formal, here is how that looks. Men should dress in a dark suit and tie. Women should wear a blouse with dark pants or a skirt. Otherwise, wear a dark suit. For both men and women, remember some general dress tips:
- Grooming counts
- Limit your accessories
- Choose well-fitting attire
- Shine your shoes
Don’t hesitate to contact the person who scheduled your interview if you have questions about what is appropriate dress. Again, err on the side of caution and be a little overdressed if there is any doubt. You are making the best impression you can.
What to Do on the Day of Your BJs Interview
Be on time for your interview. By “on time,” we mean 10 to 15 minutes before the interview. If needed, do a pre-interview practice run. Drive to the interview location, get a feel for the traffic, and learn what you can about parking. Factor all this into your travel time. Rushing and arriving last minute will mean unnecessary stress that you don’t need on such an important day.
Be Courteous
No matter who you interact with, remember that your manner must be polite. Have a kind demeanor from the second you arrive until the moment you leave. If things go right, these are future co-workers. Don’t save your politeness for the interviewer only.
Avoid Common Interview Mistakes
While focusing on what to do right at your BJs interview, don’t forget to avoid common interview mistakes. Turn off your phone upon arrival. Do not chew gum during the interview. Do not bring in food or drinks.
Stay Calm During the Process
Collect yourself the best you are able. Remember, you have done everything necessary for the interview. Wash your hands to clean off any nervous sweat. Take some deep breaths. If you feel you don’t understand something, ask for clarification. Stop and think the question through for a brief moment to gather your thoughts if you feel you need to. This is better than rushing an answer to kill dead air.
BJs Frequently Asked Interview Questions
Each successful applicant ends up meeting 1-on-1 with a hiring manager. Entry-level applicants usually only have one interview. Management applicants are interviewed multiple times. Though there is a difference in entry-level and management interviews, generally speaking, they are looking to learn about your work experience, ability to work on a team, and job skills.
Frequently Asked Questions for BJs Entry-Level Jobs
- Could you please tell me about yourself?
- Imagine you find five dollars on the ground – what do you do?
- Why do you want to work at BJ’s?
(Note that cashier applicants might be given a basic math assessment.)
Frequently Asked Questions for BJs Management Jobs
- How would you deal with an upset customer?
- Tell me about a time you had to take responsibility for a mistake – what did you do?
- Can you please describe the best and worst management experiences you’ve had?
- If we hired you with BJ’s today, what would be your #1 priority?
- What training would you need in order to be ready for this job?
What is the Average Time for BJ’s Interview Process?
BJ’s is a large grocery store that does not require an application process to be completed before starting a job. They do, however, have a long interview process.
The BJ’s interview process starts with an in-person interview. This is followed by a drug test and background check. After this, the candidate will need to attend orientation and training sessions for two weeks before starting work on the floor.
The total time of the BJ’s application process is about six weeks from start to finish and includes three interviews along with drug tests and background checks.
Conclusion
The interview is a time to sell yourself as the right person for BJs. The fundamental tips above will give you a good approach to impressing the hiring personnel and raising your chances for success. Be ready now that you know what to expect. With just a little investment upfront, you can get the job you want.