Bed Bath & Beyond Store Manager Interview Questions
& Process

First, I talked with someone from HR who asked basic background questions, the usual stuff. Then, I was scheduled to meet the District Manager, who is based over 75 miles away. I agreed, and met with a manager who had recently started in his role. He spent almost the entire meeting, about 58 minutes out of over an hour, talking about company culture and how different they are, even saying competitors would fail. He mentioned the company is desperate for staff and pays 65-70k, but expects 60-70 hours a week, regardless of what you accomplish. He also noted they don't praise employees, just assign more tasks, suggesting positive feedback would be good. He thought I was a good fit and said he'd call in two days, but it's been seven. I've emailed him and HR, who used to email me frequently, but haven't heard back. Not responding leaves candidates hanging. They should at least email to reject someone. Also, given the distance and the economy, the $100 mileage cost for an interview is tough; they should offer mileage reimbursement or use video calls. The interviewer didn't wear a suit, just a polo and walking shoes.

The regional hiring manager reached out to me by email in October after seeing my resume online. We planned a phone interview for the following week, and I got ready. However, he never called. The next week, he sent an email to apologize and suggested rescheduling. The rescheduled phone interview time passed, and again, no call. I left a polite phone message and an email stating my continued interest, but I never received a response. Given this experience with their recruitment process, I'm reconsidering my interest in the company.

Since I was promoted from within, my interview process might differ from an external candidate's. You should definitely do your research and know that customer service is a major focus for BBBY. It's also important to have a solid grasp of product merchandising and placement, as well as the dollaring-out concept. I really suggest checking out the store layouts beforehand so you can ask informed questions and share relevant observations during the interview.