I applied in-person. I interviewed at The Cheesecake Factory (Louisville, KY) in May 2013
Interview
Dress up, bring a pen, act professional, don't mention money. I had no experience but a lot of higher-level professional jobs that showed my attitude and experience dealing with people would be solid. It helped that I knew someone who had been there a while, too. I doubt I'd have been hired without her recommendation, but once I got the interview, I did learn that personality counts for a lot. It was a one-on-one with a manager, who did the standard list of annoying interview questions, a personality questionnaire, and then a 2nd interview with the GM. They asked if I would be willing to work as a baker instead of a server. I said yes, though I didn't really mean it. I think they wanted to test me. I just told them what they wanted to hear. But, I was very honest about my availability, so that did me a lot of good when scheduling began, as I didn't have to go and beg to have my information change. I was up front about what days I could work, so they never gave me any trouble when I was not able to pick up shifts.
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at The Cheesecake Factory (Sweetwater, Miami-Dade, FL)
Interview
The interview process was straightforward and professional. Questions focused on customer service, teamwork, and availability. The manager was friendly and clear about expectations, making the experience comfortable and informative overall.
I interviewed at The Cheesecake Factory (Bridgewater, NJ)
Interview
Nice and easy, the process was simple and smooth, they asked about previous experience, and that's really it. If you are looking to work somewhere with higher checks, go here.
I interviewed at The Cheesecake Factory (Washington, DC)
Interview
Pretty straightforward, they ask about your experience and how you would deal with certain customers. They ask about problem solving skills and customer service scenarios. They ask what you want from the job and where you see yourself in 5 years.
Simple interview process. Go in person and answer some basic questions with floor manager and they'll let you know if you got the job or not pretty much right there. Pretty sure everyone will get in.