Leadership and career development interview with a Macy's vice president

¶ … Interview

The person's name, position and organization

Position: Vice President of Store Management (VPSM)

Organization: Macys

Why you chose this person to interview

This individual exhibits all the qualities I find admirable as a leader. Irrespective of the field or industry, leadership's skills are necessary to advance. In today's global environment, where competition abounds, leaders must be effective in driving results. David, as I have seen from both his words and subsequent actions, drives results within the retail environment. This environment is characterized with changing consumer sentiments, macroeconomic conditions, and overall business dynamics. David has proven in his extensive career, to overcome many of these pitfalls, while continually improving business results. As such, he is an ideal candidate to interview. For one, he possesses skills which are in high demand and sought after. Secondly, many of the skills and abilities he possesses are transferrable. In the event that I change careers or industries, the knowledge and contacts gained from this interview will prove invaluable in regards to my overall development within an organization. Finally, David has an extensive network that may prove useful in identifying areas of opportunities in regards to future employment. By establishing a quality relationship with David, and learning his methods of business, I can better qualify for future positions.

Your interview questions

Questions pertaining to the future economics of the business:

How have you adapted your leadership style throughout the years, particularly in the tough years of 2007-2008?

What are some of the future trends you see within the retail industry? How have the Omni channel and My Macys strategies worked in regards to sales performance?

Do you see the JC Penny transition as having an impact on the company's sales growth in the future?

How is the company using technology to improve the customer experience?

Which firms do you think are your toughest competitors, and how do they differ from your company?

Questions regarding future opportunities as it relates to the future of the overall business:

How did you get into this field?

What do you like about your job? Any dislikes?

What's the best way to find out about jobs in this field?

What kind of experience or training is required?

What is the career ladder for this position?

What are current job prospects like?

What are the most important parts of your job

What would you recommend I do at this point to get into this field?

Would you provide feedback as to the appropriateness of my resume for this occupation?

The person's reaction to your resume?

David was very impressed with my resume, particularly the manner in which I showed how my skills would benefit the company. What he was especially pleased with was the transferrable skills that I acquired throughout my coursework and professional experience. Leadership positions, he pointed out, are needed within the retail industry. This is particularly true as a fundamental shift in consumer purchasing behavior is occurring. More consumers, David mentioned, are purchasing products through multiple channels. Online, mobile, and physical stores are now being fragmented. This required leaders in order for the retail industry to better articulate a compelling value proposition for the consumer. Secondly, he was very fond of my broad range of experiences. Macys, as David mentioned, values both balance and diversity of activities. The company encourages individuals to pursue hobbies outside of work and in some respects, bring new and innovative thought processes to work. This encourages the formation of ideas that otherwise would not have been though of. These two concepts of leadership and broad skills are ideal for the retail environment.