CarShop Interview Questions
& Process

I applied online and then got a call from the Carshop recruitment team. After a quick chat, they invited me for an in-person interview. The general manager met me and took me to the interview room. They asked what I knew about the company and the job. The GM then went over the position and what the role involves. They asked me some questions and I got to ask questions too. I felt good when I left, really enjoyed it. Was a bit bummed when they said I wouldn't hear back for a few weeks, but then got an email the next day saying I wasn't successful. I messaged the recruiter for feedback, but didn't get a reply.

The interview process was honestly great. I had three phases of interviews. Since I already work here, knowing they always look internal for higher positions is a huge deal and shouldn’t be overlooked. The first interview was more preliminary and seeing what kind of person I am. Definitely a casual conversation aside from rapid fire questions. The 2nd interview was much more job focused. Again still along the lines of a conversation rather than that of an interrogation, but understanding what my goals, contributions, and weaknesses would be in this important position. The 3rd was more of the same with my direct supervisor, but followed by a job offer! (Which I’m still shocked about.) Thank you CarSense!

I did a really long online application that took about 3-4 hours, with some essay-style answers. After that, I was called in for an interview at the specific location I applied to. I sat down with two managers, and we talked about my background, my previous work history, and what I expected to make. A big part of the conversation was about what the job actually involved, and then sharing details about my life experiences. They were trying to see if I could hold a conversation, think quickly, and keep going when things got tough. They also wanted to know if I had the mental toughness to deal with a lot of rejection. I got a job offer, had to do a pre-employment drug screen, and then started working.

I applied on 1/30/16 for the 'Internet Sales Consultant' role at CarSense.com, noting the identical description for 'Sales Consultant.' Laura contacted me for basic questions and then invited me for an interview with her and Gary (auto sales manager) on Tuesday. I took a half day off. Laura was nice and asked about my background, experience, education, and interest in auto sales, plus transitioning to face-to-face interaction since that's not part of my current job. She didn't discuss job duties but seemed to get to know me. Then, I waited to see Gary, but Laura rescheduled, saying 'something came up.' I agreed to return Thursday, taking another half day. On Thursday, Gary was also polite and thanked me for applying and returning. He discussed job aspects and asked about moving into auto sales. Although I applied for 'Internet Sales,' it wasn't mentioned, and it felt like an interview for straight face-to-face sales, which confused me. Gary felt good about me and my skills but required a personality test for fit. He hinted that favorable results would lead to an interview with GM Tim. I got the test the next morning, completed it quickly, and emailed Gary. He said he'd be in touch after getting HR's feedback. Monday afternoon, Gary called to schedule the interview with Tim for Wednesday. I took the day off. I arrived early for my 10:00 AM interview with Tim, but waited about 40 minutes. Tim was polite but less enthusiastic than Laura and Gary. He focused on face-to-face interaction, again with no mention of 'Internet Sales,' which fits my skills better. The interview was brief. Tim mentioned Laura and Gary liked me, that it was Gary's decision, and he'd give Gary feedback. I left unsure. No feedback came Thursday or Friday. On Saturday, I emailed Gary to check my status. Two hours later, I got a generic email saying they felt other candidates were more qualified. I don't mind not getting the job, but I felt my time wasn't valued (rescheduling, late start to interview). I suspected Gary was leading me on about the personality test, and I don't understand why I interviewed with Tim if the results were unfavorable, or why the focus was on traditional sales when I applied for internet sales (the job listings were identical). I was also unhappy about having to follow up to see if I was still considered. I know they owe me nothing, but this caused a lot of stress. I wish companies were more considerate of candidates' time. It seemed like a great place with a terrific opportunity. I'm sharing this not to discourage others, but to prepare them for potential time waste, especially if taking time off work. Don't overanalyze things, or you'll likely be disappointed.