Let me start off by saying, that I have always been a huge fan of Forever 21. I understand that the clothes are far overpriced and that they fall apart after one wash but I enjoy the merchandise nonetheless. Guilty pleasure so to speak. I have shopped at this specific store for quite sometime, in fact, I can't really remember a time that it wasn't there. So you have to understand my excitement when I had seen a position for this location had just opened up in my specific area of expertise, Visual Merchandising. I quickly applied knowing that they would call me on account of the fact that I have a very diverse and extensive Retail Management background.
Fast forward three days to 1/12/2014, I receive a call around 10:30 in the morning from a lady named Alira? I'm not sure because every time I tried to confirm, it sounded different. Alira tells me that she has come across my application for the position and asks me if I "really think I'm ready for this job?" Which would've been a fine question had she not suggested I apply for "something like sales associate instead"
(I have held the position of Store Manager in stores like Payless, Spirit Halloween, and Dept Manager with Sears.)
Yes, I am sure I don't want sales associate. It was clear that she had no interest in this interview from the start but I did, so I pursued. I was told to come in today 1/15/2014, for an interview "if you really think you're ready". So I waited patiently for two days and arrived to my interview this morning approx. 15 mins early. The store manager and I spoke briefly and she said that being early had scored me some brownie points and I had assumed this would go well.
So Alira finally emerges from her lunch break with smeared eye makeup and food on her face. She takes me out into the hall and takes my resume. Immediately, she covers the top half and most recent part of my resume and only takes into consideration the jobs I held in 2007-2009. Totally ignoring my store manager positions. She then proceeds to tell me about her time with Forever 21 and how she is from Fashion Valley so she understands high end fashion more than the average person. Then without segue she asks me to tell her three things I like about her windows and three things I don't. I had no problem finding three things I liked, and she obviously enjoyed hearing them, but when I started to tell her about my dislikes she became defensive and cut me off after just one. I tried to explain to her my work history and why I felt this position was a fit and she just kept me referring me to "lower-end shops like American Apparel" She told me that none of my store management experience was relatable to Forever 21 especially Spirit Halloween, because there is no way to track specific trends. I can tell you that during my time with Spirit I was able to track trends on my merchandise and I was even able to use that information to boost my sales. I am no idiot. However she clearly had labeled me as one as soon as she picked up the phone. She just kept telling me that "maybe another store" would want me.
I've conducted interviews for retail positions. I was able to read her like a book, she wanted compliments on her window and then she kicked me to the curb after she totally insulted all of my experience. I left pretty upset.
Now here's the best part. I had felt as if my interview had been unfair, so in a last attempt to make a good impression I decided to email the store manager about my experience so as to prevent from happening again. As someone with Store Management experience, I had assumed that this would be information worth having to use in future coaching sessions.
I called the store, and a young girl picked up failing to give her name she answered with a pretty abrupt "Hello?". I simply asked for the store managers email when this young girl quickly snaps back with "Why?". I didn't really feel the need to explain myself to this rude girl so I simply asked for the email again. She asks, "Is this for a complaint?"
Now I can hear the girl just fine during all of this, so it struck me as odd that when she finally did divulge the information I was requesting she proceeded to mumble it inaudibly to me. I had to ask her to literally spell it out for me. H as in Halo. E as in elephant. and so on. However, she neglected to give me an email, and I can hear her talking to someone else in the background. The phone is the passed off to another girl who fails to give her name and she asks "What is it that you need?"
I just need an email to the store manager, please.
It honestly seemed like these girls didn't know anything. At all. Getting the manager's name was like pulling teeth. They referred me to a customer service line, who also couldn't give the information I am looking for.
Since I was unable to contact the store manager directly, this platform will have to suffice. Needless to say, I have no plan or desire to return to this "shop". read more