I applied in-person. The process took 3 days. I interviewed at Trader Joe's in Oct 2013
Interview
I printed out an application and when I went to drop it off I had a quick impromptu interview with one of the crew members. I was scheduled for a 2nd interview. The 2nd interview went well and I was called back the next day with an offer.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
I didn't find any of the questions to be difficult or unexpected. I came prepared to ask questions at the end of the interview about qualities they were looking for in an employee and potential for growth. During the interview I focused on expressing my interest in the Trader Joe business model and related my passion to food with the store principles.
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.