I applied in-person. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Trader Joe's (New York, NY) in July 2011
Interview
I turned in an application and resume in person. Two weeks later I got a call asking for a 1:1 interview. I went in and spoke with the general manager who asked me a series of generic interview questions. People there seem to be very varied. Some seemed happy and glad to be there, others seemed put out that they even had the job. The manager was very friendly and more like someone you would want to go to a backyard barbecue with. The manager made it pretty clear that he would offer me a job, but the next day a different manager called and offered me the job officially. There is a four hour orientation process as well.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What was a time in your previous job that you did not experience success?
I had 3 separate interviews. 1 was over the phone. 2 were in person. I never heard anything after the third interview. I called the store about a week later and they let me know they didn’t actually have any available positions. Really felt like they wasted my time.
I applied in-person. I interviewed at Trader Joe's (West Hollywood, CA)
Interview
Casual, took place outside of the store. First I had a phone call interview. Then another which was in-person with 2 of the mates in the store, and finally a third in-person with the captain of the store.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What was something I did for a friend that was above and beyond?
Different questions than I have experienced in past job interviews, but seem to be their traditional hiring questions. They want to make sure they are hiring sociable people more so than just someone that can do the job.