From resumes to interview experiences, this panel of hiring managers provide a glimpse into the hiring process from their unique perspectives.

Meet the managers

Danielle Moses: Manager of Manufacturing/Industrial Maintenance Administration & Training Danielle Moses began her career at Publix in 1999 working as a cashier.

Kelvin Blasingame: Store Manager Kelvin Blasingame, #1410, Lakeland, Florida, began his career at Publix in 1979 working in graphic production.

Danika Langford: Department Head of Outbound Execution Danika Langford began her career at Publix in 1998 working as a front-service clerk.

Dwaine Stevens: Jacksonville Media and Community Relations Manager Dwaine Stevens began his career at Publix in 1979 as an office custodian.

Q: What advice would you give to a job applicant to help write their resume or complete their job application?

Danielle: Make sure your resume doesn’t have any grammar or spelling errors, and include any relevant work experience.

Kelvin: It’s important to be honest about the times you’re available to work. Also, list all prior job duties from past positions either on your application or in your resume.

Danika: Always include a cover letter specific to the job you are applying for. It should provide a brief overview of your background information, career aspirations and goals.

Dwaine: Keep your resume updated with relevant experience, and be thorough and honest. Make sure it’s formatted correctly, and bring a printed copy to the interview.

Q: What’s the most important thing a candidate can do during an interview?

Danielle: Arrive with a professional appearance, make eye contact and demonstrate they’ve researched the position.

Kelvin: Smile and show enthusiasm.

Danika: Be confident in your abilities.

Dwaine: Demonstrate a general understanding about the position they’ve applied for and be themselves.

Q: What qualities are you looking for most?

Danielle: I’m looking for a positive attitude, good verbal communication skills and qualifications for the position.

Kelvin: The associate will represent Publix to customers on a daily basis, so it’s important to have a servant mentality. We can’t teach that, but we can teach the rest.

Danika: By doing their research on the position they have applied for and showing enthusiasm for Publix as a company, it lets me know they plan on having an extensive career here.

Dwaine: The candidate’s personality and confidence. Also asking questions when appropriate tells me they came prepared.

Q: What’s the most memorable thing a job candidate has done during an interview?

Danielle: I don’t have any one specific memory; however, memorable interviews for me are the ones where the candidate has really nailed the interview. They had great answers to the questions asked and included relevant examples, all while having a positive attitude and a sincere enthusiasm for being considered for the position.

Kelvin: Once, while interviewing a young candidate for a customer service position, I asked her why she wanted to work at Publix. She said to help her mother pay the bills. I then asked how her classmates would describe her and she said, “I’m a helper. I like helping people.”

Danika: When I asked a candidate their strengths and weaknesses, they mentioned their strengths were being a go-getter, giving 110 percent and always being willing to help. The one and only weakness they revealed was chocolate. To this day, I have never had another candidate who thought so far out of the box when answering that question.

Q: What’s your favorite question to ask during an interview, and why?

Danielle: “Why do you think you’re the top candidate for this position?” This gives the candidate an opportunity to describe their skillset.

Kelvin: We are always learning at Publix, from the time we are hired until the day we retire. So I like to ask job applicants if they enjoy learning and if yes, how they would seek out opportunities to acquire new skills.

Danika: I like to ask, “What’s the nicest thing you have done for someone, and why?” It helps reveal the character of the person.

Dwaine: I like to ask, if there is anything they want to share that we have not already discussed. Usually, this allows me to better understand the job candidate.

We hope these tips help prepare you for the next step in building your career, and a special thanks to our managers for their valuable insights into the hiring process.