I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Bed Bath & Beyond in Jun 2011
Interview
Sent my resume to them via snagajob. They called me in to interview a week later. Dress business casual. Had to fill out an application at customer service. First I interviewed with an assistant manager. She asked about my work history and the usual behavioral questions. I did well so she left and came back with the department manager I would be working with. He asked me a couple questions about how my experience is relative to the job. After this, he explained the job and the company. We had a good conversation. It was very laid-back and he seemed intent on hiring me. I didn't get hired on the spot though. They had to check my references first. One of my friends called to tell me they contacted her a few days later. About a week after the interview the assistant manager called to offer the job to me and asked if I could come in the same day. It was the first time I have ever been called back when not getting hired on the spot, so don't get discouraged if this happens to you. After working there for a couple years, I found out that the turnover rate is so high they will hire anyone that is not too weird. On the other hand, the better dressed and more professional the applicants are, the less chances they seem to get hired; but, this is likely because they can't negotiate a decent wage.
I applied through a staffing agency. The process took 5 days. I interviewed at Bed Bath & Beyond (Union City, NJ) in Aug 2013
Interview
I was contacted by a temp agency on a Wednesday for a temp job at BB&B in late August. The following day I had a phone interview with BB&B. It was about 10 minutes long, and it was very easy. The interviewer wasn't energetic The interviewer also said that the job isn't data entry, even though the temp agency told me that was the title. He said it was quality control. The interviewer asked me why I wanted to leave a permanent job for a temp job. I explained that I wasn't working a permanent job. I had it written on my resume that the job I'm working is temporary. Then then the interviewer asked me my current pay, and how much the temp agency is going to pay me for the job at BB&B. The interviewer of a company is not supposed to ask what a temp agency is going to pay the candidate. The temp agency told me the next day that the person liked me, and wanted to schedule me for a face-to-face interview. I thought it was too much to do two interviews for a temp data entry position, but I scheduled for the face-to-face for the following Tuesday.
I arrived at the h.q. in Union for a face-to-face on a Tuesday. I met a recruiter from the temp agency there before the interview. After waiting 20 minutes, the recruiter informed me that we'd have to walk to another building for the interview, which was a five minute walk. Then the interviewer showed up, and walked me to his office. It was the same person who interviewed me on the phone, and he was a recruiter. The hiring manager, who I was supposed to be interviewing with was not available to do an interview. When I sat down, the interviewer had to go somewhere, so I waited ten minutes for him to come back. Then during the interview, he received a phone call, and was on the phone. The interview was very easy, but I didn't get to talk much. They weren't regular interview questions. Just questions like, "is that something you'd want to do?" or "You don't mind driving this far?" The interviewer again asked me why I wanted to leave a permanent job for a temp job, and I explained that I'm not working a permanent job. After he showed me what the tasks for the job were, I wasn't too interested in it, but I didn't say that. The interviewer also began to ask me what I wanted to do as a career, and my goals. I felt that the interviewer shouldn't have selected me to be interviewed if he thought that I was overqualified. It was a waste of time. After the interview, he said he'd talk to the hiring manager, and I'd have to come back if they were interested. I wouldn't have agreed to be interviewed a third time anyway, but the agency informed me that they selected another candidate the next day.