Barnes & Noble Bookseller Interview Questions & Reviews
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Updated May 4, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 36 ratings 
“Easy” Interview
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Interview Experience [?] Based on 36 ratings
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| 31–36 of 36 Barnes & Noble Interviews | Sort by |
Bookseller at Barnes & Noble
Posted Oct 25, 2009
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Aug 2009 (took 3 days)
I interviewed with 3 different people who all asked the same questions. They were all nice, but the atmosphere is very corporate.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Barnes & Noble
Posted Sep 22, 2009 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Aug 2009 (took a day)
I walked in and there was a group of 15 people sitting at the table waiting to be interviewed w/ me. We all waited for the three managers to come in and then they had us say our names and something describing ourselves. Then they told us to go pick out a book and come back to the table. The head mgr. walked up to each of us and asked us to sell her the book. I was very nervous. There were people there w/ writing degrees and much older more mature adults that probably were more appealing than me. It could also be that they lost my application, twice. Organizational skills anyone? I had been asked to stay after the group interview and have a private interview. Which raised my hopes. She asked me about my work experience in previous job situations. How did I handle a bad situation? How did I make the customer happy again? The head store mgr. was very interested in money. Couldn't care less about books, it was all business and numbers for her, like most corporate management, I assume, but she was detached, ingenuine. It's too bad though, because I know childrens books really well and I would have been great in that section. Their loss. On to the next opportunity.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview, a Presentation and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Barnes & Noble
Posted Jul 26, 2009
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Declined Offer
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Interviewed May 2008 in Bethesda, MD (took 2 weeks)
Was asked the basic questions (why here, skill set, ambitions) and then was given then radical scenarios to play off of, bizarre. I was asked how I would deal with a customer who needs to prepare for their GRE and they have to take it in 3 months. I suggested that they devise a new strategy or go take a course.
Interview Questions
Reason for Declining
Inadequate pay.
Other Details
I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a Presentation, a Drug Test and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Barnes & Noble
Posted May 12, 2009
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed May 2007 (took a day)
Interpersonal questions
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Barnes & Noble
Posted Mar 18, 2009
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Sep 2007 (took a day)
I applied the old fashioned way -- paper application, filled out in the store and handed in the same day in person. For hourly positions, I believe that is the only way to apply to B&N. There is no online application, which is very different from most places. I don't know if it's necessarily better or worse, just different.
I received a callback within the next 48 hours to schedule an interview. On the day of my interview, I was given a brief tour of the store and a brief rundown of Bookseller responsibilities and requirements. I don't remember doing a lot of talking, just a lot of listening.
The person who interviewed me asked me the standard questions -- "Why do you want to work here? Can you meet all prescribed requirements with time/availability?" I didn't feel judged or immediately written off like at other places I've interviewed, where it seems as though the interviewer has already found their candidate and are just going through the motions and wasting everyone else's time. The interview was also very brief -- maybe 25 minutes, from handshake to handshake. I received another callback, stating I was hired within the next 48 hours after the interview. And the rest has been history...
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
No room for negotiation whatsoever for my position/salary/hours.
Other Details
I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Bookseller at Barnes & Noble
Posted Mar 18, 2009
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Oct 2007 in New York, NY (took a day)
The process is sometimes done with 2 managers, but I was interviewed by just 1. It was an informal interview. They were mostly determining my level of comfort interacting with customers, my motivating factors for seeking work there. We discussed my previous retail and customer service work experiences and talked about how those skills could apply to Barnes & Noble. I was asked about what I liked to read and what books I might recommend to a customer. There were also detailed questions about my daily and weekly availability and they needed to make sure I would not be leaving for the holidays, as I was initially hired as seasonal help. All in all, the manager who interviewed me put me at ease early on and I feel did a good job finding out about the "real" me. I imagine like in most interview scenarios, it all depends on the tone set by the interviewer.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
There isn't much to negotiate. B & N offers a set starting pay, with a 25-50 cent increase if you have previous bookseller experience. The starting pay, benefits and perks were laid out for me in the interview. However, when they called and offered me the position officially , the offered starting pay was higher due to my previous experience.
Other Details
I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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