I applied in-person. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at Nordstrom (Dallas, TX) in Mar 2008
Interview
I was interviewing for a cosmetic sales position, so the department manager and vender managers were all present. I was ask questions be each person at the table and even ask to "sell" something. It was a bit stressful. At Nordstrom they are always looking for friendly, nice empoyees that are customer service driven and goal oriented.
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.