I applied through an employee referral. The process took 5 days. I interviewed at Nordstrom (Arcadia, CA) in June 2011
Interview
Look for openings Nordstrom's website under careers, submit application. Will get a phone call from HR if you are a likely candidate. Phone interview with HR, personality test online, followed by an in-person/in-store interview with the department manager if all goes well. In-store interview generally takes place in the back stock room. More casual than formal (with my experience).
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
"Pick out an outfit and sell me (the interviewer) this outfit."
So easy, I went to a job fair and was hired on the spot. They need people in the kids department, that's the easiest section to get into. They just ask about your personality and who you are.
Was inside Barton creek mall, hiring manager was prompt and clear with questions ranging from how I would handle difficult customers, to my personal experiences that could apply to the job.