I applied in-person. The process took 1+ week. I interviewed at Trader Joe's
Interview
I found the job posting on monster.com, but it transferred me to their own website. I printed out the application and filled it in before I went to drop it off. Since they were opening a new store, they were looking for 50 hires and had drop off times.
When I went to drop off the application, I immediately had a 1:1 interview. After two days, I received a call for a second interview that was a 2:1 interview. Later that day, I received a call for a third interview with the manager. It was a 1:1 interview. Two days later, I was notified that I got the job.
To prepare for the interview I:
1. read all the interview postings on this site
2. wrote and thought about how I would answer the questions that were posted on this site
3. read about Trader Joe's (their entire web site, wikipedia, and articles linked from wikipedia
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
All the questions on this site were asked except
1. What is your biggest weakness
2. Describe how you work as a team with others
3. If you could wish for any job from a genie, what would it be
4. What do you think of garden gnomes
5. How well do you work under pressure
6. If a task was too difficult, how would you handle it
7. What do you not do well?
8. If a co-worker had a bad day, how would you cheer her up
9. If we don't have what a customer wants what would you do
Applied online and had one in person interview with the captain. It lasted maybe 10 minutes. Got a call a week or so later that I got the job. Very fast process.
It's two to three interviews, the final with the Captain (or highest manager) of the store. The interviews are largely to get to know your personality and how well you would do at customer service.
The interview process was absolutely wonderful! I didn't feel stressed or nervous and it felt like I was just chatting with a friend! Trader Joes is a great company and the interview was great.