Does this happen at your store? Older, experienced associates applying for positions and not even getting an interview while the person who gets the position is from home depot or one of the newer associates at the store.
Case in point; our newest head cashier is a 19 year old (with an attitude problem) cashier who has been with Lowe's about 5 months. Our 40 something single mom who has been with Lowe's for six years wasn't even given an interview. Single mom asked Ops manager why she didn't get an interview; she was told she was unreliable. Meanwhile 19 year old calls off frequently on weekends.
A millwork specialist who used to be the full timer in hardware/tools applied for the vacant department supervisor position. He's been with Lowe's for six years, four in hardware/tools and the last two in millwork as a specialist. The guy that they hired is an annoying jerk from home depot who thinks he has/knows all the answers. He frequently says "at home depot we did this..."
It's getting so at Lowe's if you want to get ahead you need go through home depot.