I applied online. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at Best Buy (Chesterfield, MO) in Nov 2007
Interview
I was first interviewed by one of the assistant managers and they asked the basic interview questions that most companies ask to see what you say. They asked personality specific questions to make sure you were a person that they were looking for. Then you did got asked another set of questions by another assistant manager. The General Manager interview was also similar, but he was much more up front about things than the other two, most likely to make sure you fit the Best Buy mantra.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
If you could be a character in a movie which would it be and why?
I applied online. The process took 6 weeks. I interviewed at Best Buy in Feb 2009
Interview
I submitted an online application and waited. Eventually I was contacted and told I needed to resubmit another online application since 45 days had passed. This resulted in a phone interview that also resulted in being called for a 1:1 interview.
In the interview I also found out that the original position I had applied for was not what I was being interviewed for. That was a little disconcerting since I had been preparing for several weeks to interview of the original position.
In the one on one interview I found several of the character assessment questions from the online application. Unfotunately during the interview, for some of the questions, I did not have really relevant job experience that I could apply directly so I really had to extrapolate to try to answer appropriately.
I feel that the interviewer was competent to evaluate a match between a applicant and a position.
When you apply online, be as honest with your answers about behavior and interpersonal relationships as you can. Don't try to 'say what they want', really describe yourself. I think this is the first level 'personality test' that is partially carried forward into the 1:1 interview.
The phone interview actually introduced the thought of yet a third possible position to interview for.
Be Flexible! - Not only about the possible position, but also be available for whatever schedule needs they may have.
I thnk I ended up not getting an offer only because my availability did not match their current needs.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How do you react with an employee that you really dislike.