Teavana Retail Associate Interview Questions
& Process

This was my very first job interview, so I was super nervous applying for a simple Barista gig. I got an email from Teavana HR saying they wanted to interview me and to pick a 45-minute slot online for the next week. Got a confirmation email saying two Hiring Managers would be there. The interview was in a quiet lounge at the mall since the store wasn't built yet. I got there early and showed up five minutes before my time. The General Manager, who did most of the talking, was pretty stiff the whole time. Her questions hinted at their aggressive sales goals. It felt like random questions, not really about me, but more about my personality and sales techniques. She seemed a bit condescending, maybe to see how I'd react to tough customers. I also think I didn't make it clear enough early on that I was mainly interested in being a Barista to learn their ways and move up, especially since the online application bundled Barista, Team Member, and Team Leader roles. She even told me Baristas have sales goals, and when I questioned it based on the ad, she seemed surprised. I figured out later that Baristas are indirectly involved in sales. They seem to really want sales-focused people. I got rejected the next morning, which I wasn't surprised by. I was flustered but expected they might be aggressive. I'll call the interview 'average'.

I put in my application and got a call a few days later to come in for an interview. I went in the day after she called. I had to wait about half an hour because it got busy. There was only the manager and one other person working. We went to a bench in the mall and she asked me about my previous jobs and education because she couldn't print my application. The printer wasn't working. She asked me common sense questions and what I would do in specific situations. I was told that if I got the job, I would make $8.55 an hour and the position would be for nights and weekends.

First, you'll need to apply online, but it's also a good idea to bring your resume with you when you go in to meet the general manager. The interview process has two parts. You'll start with a group interview, where you'll be with the General Manager or Assistant General Manager and two other people. It's mostly a discussion at a table where they'll ask you basic questions about your background. The second interview is where they'll ask you more detailed questions about how you'd handle specific situations.