I applied online and then I got a phone call from the manager where he asked me about my availability, my interests, my work experience, etc. Then we scheduled a group interview for a few weeks out. My interview was today. There were 7 of us and around 8 REI employees as well. We started off by telling the group about our passions and why we chose REI. Then we did an icebreaker where we talked about our most memorable outdoor experience. Then we split into two groups. My group was myself, 2 other applicants, and 2 associates. The questions were pretty easy. They asked us what we would do to ensure good customer service if we were hired on. They asked us what customer service meant to us, and if we could think of a specific time that we encountered good/bad customer service. They did pull out a bag of products for us to"sell" to our partner. That was the scary part for me but it actually went really smoothly. They don't expect you to know everything about product. I chose a fleece vest, there were also some wool socks, a backpack, a water bottle, and a few other things in there. Overall, it was a really fun experience. I was nervous but everyone was laid back and really friendly. It was more of a discussion than an interview. If you're scared, don't be!