I applied in-person. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at Trader Joe's (North Wales, PA) in Feb 2013
Interview
Visited the store in-person to drop off my paper application and resume. One of the managers "pre-interviewed" me and told me that he'd be in touch within 30 days, either asking me to come in for another interview or telling me that I didn't get it. I didn't hear back from the store until a few months later. I was asked to come in for a real, sit-down interview with one of the hiring managers. I already had a part-time job at this point, but I figured I could use the extra income. I went in and did the interview, was promised that I would hear back in two weeks and never heard back. It's fine it I didn't get it (for whatever reason), but I wish they wouldn't have promised to get back to me if they had no intention of doing so.
I had 3 separate interviews. 1 was over the phone. 2 were in person. I never heard anything after the third interview. I called the store about a week later and they let me know they didn’t actually have any available positions. Really felt like they wasted my time.
I applied in-person. I interviewed at Trader Joe's (West Hollywood, CA)
Interview
Casual, took place outside of the store. First I had a phone call interview. Then another which was in-person with 2 of the mates in the store, and finally a third in-person with the captain of the store.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What was something I did for a friend that was above and beyond?
Different questions than I have experienced in past job interviews, but seem to be their traditional hiring questions. They want to make sure they are hiring sociable people more so than just someone that can do the job.