I was contacted within a week of providing my resume, even before I had filled out the second portion (cover letter, etc.). First, there was a phone screen consisting of resume-related questions. Second came a more substantive phone interview with the head of the qualitative marketing wing. The third and last part of the interview process occurred in the office and consisted of 3 separate interviews (prospective superior, prospective colleague, and a consultant, respectively). Every interviewer was respectful and the process was fairly easy and straightforward.
Word(s) to the wise: 1) This is not a stepping stone to transition to consulting, it's an opportunity to support superiors' qualitative market research. As such, 2) Do not equivocate when they ask if this fairly low-level position is THE only job for you. They want a notetaker who is capable of handling the logistics of scheduling qualitative market research for vendors--not a critical thinker who wants to engage in research and analysis on their own. I do not wish to cast a value judgment on those who are satisfied with such a highly circumscribed remit, but you should know what you are getting yourself into.