Store Manager 

How did you get your current job?
My love of gardening and knowledge of gardening landed me this job with family.

What was the application process?
I filled out the basic paper application.

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
Yes, we talked about my knowledge of gardening and I answered questions about seeds, plants, fruits, when to plant them, what to feed them, how to prune them, when to cut plants back, etc.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
How long have I been gardening? Who taught me what I know? Why do I love gardening? When plants are planted during spring and fall. When to prune rose bushes, when to plant strawberries and fruit trees. What is an heirloom seed compared to hybrid seeds?

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
Yes, I felt right at home the first day. He showed me what I needed to do, and I did it. I pretty knew what the job was about.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
I learned from hands on experience. I learned the office and manager skills from watching others who did that job. I asked questions.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
No, not really. I am a high school grad. If anything, complete high school or get a GED.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
N/A

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
For me, it’s the love of gardening and growing things. I think you would need to enjoy doing this type of work to really benefit from it. You have to enjoy digging in the dirt and feeling the soil between your fingers, and sometimes your toes. lol. I would suggest reading books on gardening, and taking a horticulture class. Learn some basic office skills, and maybe take a class to learn other office and manager skills. Places like Home Depot have gardening classes. You can learn gardening skills from online gardening forums like Daves Garden & Gardenweb.

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
The gardening knowledge mentioned above. You would need to know how to grow plants, trees, shrubs, bulbs, seeds, fruits and berries. You would need to know basic office skills and computer skills. You would need to have people skills. Know how to treat workers and customers in a good way. You would need to be able to organize and do visual displays, order products and services, do pay-role, accounts payable and schedules,etc.

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
I learned from hands on experience and from reading. Yes, you would need training and experience.

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
I would start with learning the gardening skills, and work towards the office skills by taking a class or classes. You may want to check out a Master Gardeners program.