applied online; got an email from hiring manager for a 30 minutes' phone interview, which went well. Then received an email from HR for a on-site. The on-site lasted about 2 hours with the hiring manager and one senior level person.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Think of your solution or methods you gonna use to a problem they give to you within about 10 minutes
I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Kroger (Cincinnati, OH) in Apr 2013
Interview
Applied online and about two weeks later got a call back from receptionist to setup phone interview. Phone interview consisted of mostly talking through resume with a lead associate in the hiring department. After phone interview received another phone call to set up in person interview. This interview was a panel interview of going through credentials and then about 90 minutes of behaviorial based questioning. Panel consisted of Controller, Asst. Controller and two lead analysts. This interview ended with a Excel skills test. After this interview another week went by and was once again contacted by receptionist to set up 2nd panel interview. The content of this interview was similiar as the previous, but was a bit more serious. The panel consisted of division VP, two Directors and a manager. The questions in this interview were a bit more intrusive, they really wanted specific details of accomplishment. About 8 or so days later I was called and offered the job by an HR rep from the HQ. Was asked to complete a drug test and background screen. This process took almost a month. Overall the process was very thorough but worth it. I am starting Monday and cannot wait!
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Kroger (Cincinnati, OH) in May 2014
Interview
The phone screening with the hiring manager was very fair. Just be prepared to answer the standard interview Qs (e.g., "Tell me about a problem you encountered at work and how you solved it") and Qs specifically geared towards your resume.
My second interview (N.B. The hiring manager told me that the hiring process for this position involves only these 2 interviews. Meaning, if I would've made it past the second interview, I would've received an offer from HR.) included 2 Kroger people: the hiring manager and his supervisor. It was described in the letter I received from HR as a "90 minute panel-style interview...featur[ing] Behavior-Based Interviewing." Read that very carefully. "Featuring" means that the interview focuses on behavior-based Qs but includes other stuff as well. Here's the breakdown: 60 minutes of behavior Qs. These are very fair. Just review the Kroger Leadership Model diagram/pdf and prepare specific responses for all 8 listed values.
The next 10 minutes cover job-specific Qs: "Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 on the following." This doesn't require any prep: either you've done this stuff or you haven't. Realize that this is a Lean, Six Sigma driven position. If you don't have relevant experience or training (I didn't) then there's not much you can do or say. Also, be honest on your Excel self-assessment. The hiring manager noted that people who really know Excel tend to rate themselves lower because they realize how powerful and wide-ranging a tool it is. (I rated myself a 7-8 and then proceeded to bomb the test.)
The final 20 minutes (for me, it was closer to 16) are split between an Excel assessment and a process/efficiency fact pattern to analyze.
Re the fact pattern, you're asked how to improve the efficiency of a certain aspect of a given store department. After your time is up, you’ll need to explain your recommendations and thought process to the panel and answer their Qs.
Re the Excel assessment: Be ready. You’ll have roughly 7 Qs to answer (including creating a graph). The spreadsheet is about 2000 lines long and the functions required are advanced: think VLOOKUPS, COUNTIFS, SUMIFS, and the like.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Cover the Kroger Leadership Model diagram/pdf and there won't be any surprises. All of the Qs were scripted.
