Karl Miller wrote:

>What would be the technical qualifications for someone to service
>the classical section of your record store?  A college degree in
>music?

Educational level would not be considered.  I would give minimal
consideration to musical expertise.  Knowledge of applicable discography
would receive great consideration.  A record store is a business, not a
learning facility.  Other important considerations in addition to the
discography aspect would be knowing your customers, knowing where they
are, knowing how to reach them, knowing how to use computers to enhance
customer service, efficiency, and accuracy, knowing the relationship
between "turnover" rates and profit, etc.

>How would you choose (interview) a potential manager of a classical
>department and what would be the qualifications of such a person?

Here's some good interview questions:

1.  What responsibilites would you consider appropriate for the manager's
position? (A good first question since the answer will tell you if this
person is even in the ballpark.)

2.  What strengths would you bring to the position? (This is where you
expect to hear about the applicant's technical knowledge.  Does the
applicant mention discography at all? Does the applicant bring up the
world of customer service?)

3.  What weaknesses would you bring to the position? (You want a
no-nonsense response that shows that the applicant knows his/her
weaknesses, is of high enough self-esteem to assertively mention them,
and provides some insight as to how to overcome them.

4.  Why do you want the classical manager's job? (This will tell you more
about the "person" than an hour of chit-chat.  Although, some chit-chat can
tell you a lot too.

That would be it for my questions.  I'd want to get many questions from
the applicant - that also can reveal much.  Also, watch that body.
Where are the applicant's eyes looking?  Does the body appear
comfortable?  Is this person making you nervous?(think what the person
would do to your customers.)

That's how I'd do it.  However, when I open my record store, I'll be the
owner, manager, accountant, tax expert, sales clerk, and cleaner of rest
rooms.  I don't think I'd do a great job answering my own questions.

Don Satz
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