Dollar General is a discount retail chain with over 16,000 stores in the United States. They offer a wide variety of products, from food and household items to clothing and home decor.
A store manager at Dollar General is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the store. This includes managing staff, ensuring customer satisfaction, and maintaining store standards. Store managers must also ensure that the store is compliant with all applicable laws and regulations. They must also be able to motivate and lead their team to achieve sales goals and ensure that the store is running efficiently.
Dollar General Store Manager Job Duties
A Dollar General Store Manager typically has a wide range of responsibilities, which can include:
- Lead and motivate a team of associates to ensure the store meets or exceeds sales goals, customer service standards, and operational excellence
- Ensure compliance with all company policies and procedures, including safety regulations, cash handling, and inventory control
- Monitor daily operations, ensuring that all areas are clean, organized, and properly stocked
- Train and develop staff on product knowledge, customer service, and operational processes
- Manage payroll budgets, scheduling, and timekeeping for all employees
- Handle customer inquiries and complaints in a professional manner
- Maintain accurate records of all transactions, including sales, returns, discounts, and other related activities
- Develop and implement strategies to increase sales and profitability
- Analyze financial data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement
- Oversee the maintenance of store equipment and facilities
- Participate in local community events and initiatives
- Act as an ambassador for the brand, representing Dollar General in a positive light
Dollar General Store Manager Salary
The salary of a Store Manager at Dollar General is determined by a variety of factors, including the size of the store, the number of employees, the location of the store, the store’s sales volume, and the experience of the Store Manager. Additionally, the company may offer bonuses or other incentives to reward excellent performance.
- Median Annual Salary: $67,839 ($32.61/hour)
- Top 10% Annual Salary: $89,610 ($43.08/hour)
Dollar General Store Manager Job Requirements
To be considered for the position of Store Manager at Dollar General, applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Previous retail management experience is preferred, but not required. Applicants must also possess strong customer service and communication skills, as well as the ability to motivate and lead a team. Additionally, applicants must be able to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends. A valid driver’s license is also required. Dollar General offers a comprehensive training program for all new Store Managers, so no prior experience is necessary.
Dollar General Store Manager Skills
Dollar General Store Manager employees need the following skills in order to be successful:
Sales: Sales skills are an important part of a Dollar General store manager’s responsibilities. As a manager, you are responsible for ensuring your store meets its sales goals. This means you need to be able to motivate your employees to sell more products and help them develop their sales skills.
Merchandising: Merchandising is the process of displaying products in a way that attracts customers and encourages them to make a purchase. As a Dollar General store manager, you may be responsible for creating and maintaining a merchandising plan for your store. This can include deciding which products to display together, how to display products to make them appealing to customers and how to rotate products to keep the store fresh and appealing.
Training & Coaching: As a Dollar General store manager, you may be responsible for training and coaching new employees. This can include providing them with the necessary information to perform their job duties and helping them develop their skills. You may also be responsible for providing ongoing training to your employees to ensure they are up to date on the latest company policies and procedures.
Operations Management: Operations management is the ability to oversee the day-to-day operations of a business. As a Dollar General store manager, you may be responsible for managing the cash register, ensuring the store is stocked with products and maintaining the cleanliness of the store. Operations management is an important skill for a Dollar General store manager to have as it ensures the store is operating efficiently and effectively.
Customer Service: Customer service skills allow you to interact with customers in a friendly and helpful manner. As a Dollar General store manager, you may be responsible for greeting customers, answering questions about products and directing customers to the correct aisle for their needs. Customer service skills can help you provide a positive experience for customers and encourage them to return to your store.
Dollar General Store Manager Work Environment
Dollar General Store Managers typically work a 40-hour week, although they may be required to work additional hours to meet the demands of the business. They are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the store, including customer service, stocking, and merchandising. They must also ensure that the store is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Store Managers must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. They must also be able to work with a variety of people, including customers, vendors, and employees. Store Managers must be able to handle stressful situations and make quick decisions. They must also be able to travel to other stores in the area to provide support and training.
Dollar General Store Manager Trends
Here are three trends influencing how Dollar General Store Manager employees work.
Interpersonal Communication Skills Are Important to Managers
As the retail industry continues to evolve, store managers must be able to effectively communicate with their team and customers. Interpersonal communication skills are essential for Dollar General Store Managers in order to build relationships, motivate employees, and provide excellent customer service.
Managers need to be able to listen actively, understand different perspectives, and respond appropriately. They should also be able to give clear instructions and feedback, as well as resolve conflicts quickly and efficiently. By developing strong interpersonal communication skills, Dollar General Store Managers can ensure that their stores run smoothly and efficiently.
Increased Use of Technology
As technology continues to evolve, Dollar General Store Managers are increasingly relying on it to help them manage their stores. Technology is being used to streamline processes and improve customer service. For example, store managers can use automated systems to track inventory levels, monitor sales trends, and analyze customer data. Additionally, they can use mobile apps to quickly access information about products, pricing, and promotions.
The increased use of technology also allows store managers to better understand the needs of their customers. By leveraging data-driven insights, they can make more informed decisions about product selection, pricing, and marketing strategies. This helps ensure that customers have a positive shopping experience and keeps them coming back for more.
Workforce Generation Gap
The workforce generation gap is an emerging trend that Dollar General Store Managers must understand in order to effectively manage their stores. With the Baby Boomer generation retiring and Millennials entering the workforce, there are now four generations working side by side. Each generation has different values, expectations, and motivations when it comes to work.
Dollar General Store Managers need to be aware of this generational divide and how to bridge it. They should create a workplace culture that encourages collaboration between all generations and provides opportunities for growth and development. By understanding the needs of each generation, managers can ensure that their store runs smoothly and efficiently.
Advancement Prospects
Dollar General Store Managers have the potential to advance to higher-level positions within the company. As they gain experience, they may be promoted to District Manager, Regional Manager, or even Vice President of Operations. These positions involve more responsibility and higher salaries. In addition, Store Managers may be able to move to other retail companies, such as Walmart or Target, where they can use their experience to take on higher-level positions.
Interview Questions
Here are five common Dollar General Store Manager interview questions and answers.
1. Have you ever had to deal with a difficult employee, how did you handle it?
This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle conflict and whether or not you have experience resolving it. Use examples from your past to show that you are capable of handling difficult situations with employees, customers or other stakeholders.
Example: “In my last position as a store manager, I had an employee who was consistently late for work. This caused them to miss their scheduled breaks and lunch hours, which affected their performance during their shifts. After talking with this employee about their tardiness, they informed me that they were having family issues that prevented them from getting to work on time. I decided to give them another chance by allowing them to take two additional personal days per month without consequence.”
2. When was a time that you went above and beyond for a customer?
This question can help the interviewer determine how you treat customers and whether you are willing to go out of your way for them. Use examples from previous jobs where you helped a customer in need or went above and beyond to make their shopping experience more enjoyable.
Example: “At my last job, I had a regular customer who would come into the store every day at lunchtime. She was always friendly and polite, but she never bought anything. One day, I noticed that she didn’t have any food in her cart. I asked if she needed some help finding something, and she said she just wanted to look around. I told her that we could hold any items she liked until later in the day when she came back. After that, she started buying things with each visit.”
3. Tell me about a time when you had to prioritize tasks.
This question can help the interviewer determine how you manage your time and responsibilities. Use examples from previous experiences to explain how you plan your day, week or month to ensure that all tasks are completed on time.
Example: “In my last position as a store manager for a small retail shop, I had to prioritize tasks every day. For example, one of my main priorities was ensuring that our customers were happy with their shopping experience. To do this, I would make sure that my employees greeted each customer who entered the store and helped them find what they needed. Another priority was making sure that we stocked enough inventory so that customers could purchase items without having to wait too long.”
4. What is your greatest strength and weakness as a leader?
This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be honest. Interviewers want to know that you are self-aware and can use your strengths to overcome weaknesses. When answering this question, think about the skills you have developed over time and how they’ve helped you succeed as a leader.
Example: “My greatest strength as a leader is my ability to communicate effectively with others. I am always looking for ways to improve my communication style, so I take classes on public speaking and presentation techniques. My weakness is delegating tasks. I like to do everything myself because I feel more confident when I’m able to oversee every aspect of a project. However, I understand that delegation is an important part of being a manager, so I am actively working on improving my delegation skills.”
5. Dollar General has many different departments within our stores. Which department interests you the most?
This question is a great way to determine what kind of work you would be most passionate about doing as a Dollar General store manager. Interviewers ask this question because they want to make sure that you are going to enjoy the majority of your job responsibilities and not just one or two aspects of it. In your answer, try to identify which department interests you the most and why.
Example: “I am very interested in working with our customer service team. I think that providing excellent customer service is the most important part of any retail experience, so I would love to help train and support my employees in making customers feel welcome and valued at all times. I also really like interacting with people, so I would enjoy helping out in the front end of the store.”
