Had phone interview with HR (who is one of the founders of the company) went well. Was asked questions around performance management and KPIs. Was offered a face to face interview and presented them with a SWOT analysis and a 90 day business plan. Was with two area managers for an hour, was asked questions around service, KPI performance, how to drive performance of the team, what I knew about the company, your usual questions for management, nothing too surprising. I wasn’t offered the role, due to talking about performance management too much. On the phone interview I was told that they wanted the store to become a £1M turnover and in order to drive that performance management would be needed, but talking about it was the reason I wasn’t offered? Mixed messages by seniors in the company.

Contacted by a recruitment agency told of the vacancy. Was told at this point they needed a strong manager to drive sales think I underestimated this. Went through interview prep and job description with the agency. Recruitment agency was great. Asked to prepare a SWOT also prepared a 90 day plan off my own back. One on one interview with regional manager in store. Lasted just over an hour. Standard store manager interview questions. Lots of emphasis on driving sales and performance management. Big emphasis on would I be prepared to dismiss under performers and experience of staff dismissals. Made it very clear the role was all about achieving targets. Regional manager told me a new director had taken over this year and now it was tough business all about meeting targets and those who could not meet them are to be dismissed. Regional manager used the analogy of if a chef is always burning steak he would be fired and therefore if a sales assistant couldn’t sell and meet their targets and KPIs they would have to go too. The good: at least they were honest about the role. Can take holidays during normal retail Peak trade October- December. Bridal must have massive highs seeing all those brides getting ready for their special day. The bad: cut throat business, made what could have been an amazing job sound like a complete nightmare. Back of house staff area was a complete mess and shabby no time taken to brighten up for staff make motivating and a pleasant environment. After the interview I decided it was not the role for me. I have made tough decisions and had to dismiss staff but there are so many other tool and ways to develop, coach and motivate staff rather than fear and threat of their jobs. All in all I actually felt sadness for what could have been a brilliant role was actually the most cut throat company I’ve ever encountered in 20+ years of retail.