I want to begin by expressing my deep gratitude for my first two interviews including a corporate rep and the Regional VP, both of whom were very professional and I was grateful for the generous time they dedicated to my interviews. Our conversations left me feeling uplifted and confident that I could contribute positively to Tuff Shed.
While I am disappointed that things didn't work out for the General Manager role, I hope they understand why I withdrew my name from consideration.
After two interviews I was offered a third interview with the regional team.
Reflecting on my treatment during this interview with the regional team, I felt a mix of discouragement and embarrassment, and as if I was wasting their time. Panel interviews are fairly intimidating, often feeling like one is facing a challenge that's hard to prepare for. This along with the pressure to gain unanimous approval from the interviewers added to my anxiety, and I am certain I did not receive a single vote of approval.
I acknowledge that I struggled to present myself effectively. One contributing factor to my discomfort was the body language from a team member who seemed confused why I was even being considered for this role, it was also apparent they were reviewing my qualifications for the first time. Yes, one person showed up completely unprepared for the interview which was beyond disrespectful. They were obviously reading my resume for the first time, and making faces while doing it. On top of that they showed a cold demeanor, didn't welcome me, or even smile.This set a tone that made it difficult for me to feel at ease. They also asked the most lazy boxed questions ever. Greatest weakness, greatest strength...really?
Additionally, one of the other team members wasn't even paying attention and was texting on their phone and another team member was looking off the screen and laughing while I spoke, this further left me feeling disrespected during the interview. I really couldn't believe what I was going through.
I believe that the corporate rep and the Regional VP saw potential in my background, which is why I was extended three rounds of interviews. However, the treatment I received from the regional team made me feel undervalued. While during my initial 1 on 1 interviews I was given nearly an hour for our conversations, my time with the regional team was cut short to less than 30 minutes.
At one point, my integrity was directly questioned with inquiries about my knowledge of Tuff Shed (Do I even know anything about Tuff Shed?), then I was asked for the names of former employees that worked for me to vouch for me (Can't you just name one person?), and further requests for a list of my current clients that I consult for. Yeah I can name over 50 people off the top of my head, but I am going to protect the identities of my former employees. I have never been asked that before in my life, it literally caught me off guard. While I am always willing to provide references, these specific questions felt inappropriate and unprofessional.
I've worked closely with those in corporate to create this type of policy my entire career. We put people through training who conducted interviews clearly outlining what could be asked and what could't. I'd be surprised if Tuff Shed company policy, for very good reasons, would allow those outside of the corporate office to be seeking this information, and if the corporate rep asked me for this information I would have happily handed over this information.
During my first two interviews, I was informed that the Overland Park location has faced leadership challenges and has been operating at a loss for several years. This made me even more eager to contribute. They were being transparent and honest, this was awesome and refreshing. I had direct experience turning things around and clearing out bad debt and improving cash flow. Great challenge and I could do this. However, in the panel interview, the regional team did not really address the location at all. There was a lack of transparency regarding challenges, goals, and the store's culture. They didn't even talk about the position. I was really left scratching my head. They showed zero interest in righting the ship. Huge red flag, and that was the final straw for me.
From my perspective, it seems that leadership issues at this location are not limited to the store level. It's obviously at the regional level, and not with the VP. I offer this feedback constructively, not as a personal attack. The challenges at this location are solvable, but it requires alignment in messaging between the regional team, the corporate office, and the Regional VP.
Ultimately, it was my responsibility to convince the regional team of my suitability for the role. Since we didn’t discuss the role in depth, or at all, I missed the opportunity to do so.
I sincerely hope that neither the corporate rep or Regional VP felt I wasted their time.
