I applied online. The process took 6 days. I interviewed at JCPenney (Winston-Salem, NC) in Dec 2012
Interview
I submitted an application online along with many others to both J.C.Penney's and other companies. I was very pleased to get a phone message from a JCP trainee manager within a week of my submission. I called her back as soon as I got the message, and she asked me when I could come in for an interview. I took the first slot she offered me, which was 10am the following morning. I showed up dressed in business casual attire- pin striped slacks and a silk navy blouse. I felt comportable without being too dressed up. I was met by a different woman than the one I talked to on the phone, but she was very nice and ran the interview smoothly and quickly. I made sure to be myself, answer questions honestly and modestly- and made sure to make eye contact and smile. The questions were very routine, and there were no curve-balls that had me stumped. I know one thing I had going for me was the fact that I can help myself from constantly straightening things, and I talk to people I have never met almost on a daily basis. I watched her scribble some things down, and then she asked me my availability and when I could start. I walked out of the store straightening the racks as I left- giddy from having landed the job.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
I think it must have been the one about naming an example of a time I had to multitask in a very stressful situation that turned out well and then elaborate on it. It's hard to dig up experiences like that in detail. I may have combined more than one experience into the same example in my answer, but all I know is that I went for the memories that triggered stress responses and followed them through with their resolution. I cared for a 93 year old woman with dementia in my home for 9 months. The day the ambulance came to pick her up and take her to hospice, my brother in law moved out of our house in a temper tantrum completely unrelated, I had a paper to complete with a deadline, and there was an appointment I needed to make that afternoon. I ended up delaying the appointment with a phone call, dealt with the ambulance and hospice smoothly, finished the paper, and let go emotionally of my brother in law for the time being. I couldn't believe I made it through that day, but I did. I can't believe that example came to mind with that question, but I ran with it, and it seemed to have worked.
I applied online. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at JCPenney in Dec 2015
Interview
They called me about a week after I applied. I missed the call but she left a voicemail to call her and schedule a time for the interview. I called back and arranged a time to come in. I went in and met with the lady and talked to her one on one. They were pretty simple questions that could be answered on the spot. We talked about availability and work hours. A good majority of questions were questions like "Name a time...". Like "Name a time you exceeded someone's expectations", "Name a time a customer was upset and what you did to calm them down". Those were pretty easy and I could come up with a good response almost instantly. There were a few questions were I couldn't think of anything so I made something up on the spot, but for the most part I gave an honest answer.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Availability, Job Hours/Requirements, "Name a time you..".
I applied online. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at JCPenney (Humacao, PR) in Dec 2015
Interview
It was one on one with the HR manager. Basic retail knowledge questions were asked. They also asked about availability and discussed hours being during evenings and over nights
I applied online. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at JCPenney (Alexandria, LA) in Nov 2015
Interview
I filled out an application online and was called the next day. I was interviewed by the Assistant Store Manager while the Human Resources lady sat in. After a few questions, it seemed like it was going well. I was then interviewed by the store manager while the assistant store manager sat in and took notes. The whole interview took about 45 minutes and I left with an offer that I accepted. I would suggest learning a bit about the company, because they do ask you questions about it. If you go in knowing that and what JCP's goals are, you'll definitely get an offer. Just know what you're talking about and be confident. Let them know what you can and can't work up front.
