I applied online. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at Macy's (San Jose, CA) in Mar 2015
Interview
BEWARE OF THE TROLLING AT MACY'S! Save your gas money and time - the jobs they advertise are a trolling scheme.
I got a very rapid response to my job application for Visual Merchandiser full time. No phone contact possible prior to interview. When I got to Macy's half an hour early, an assistant (who looed very unkempt in a shocking way) receives me and tells me the Visual Merchandiser who is supposed to interview me left for the day. I was also told that 18 people had applied for the job - highly unusual and totally unprecedented, said the assistant who looked very nervous. She said that, however, I could interview right then and there for a part time job. I said I am only looking for full time (the job I applied for) and left. Obviously the Visual Merchandising interviewer was present but didn't want to interview anyone for full time.
I have read several (!) reviews on Glassdoor detailing the exact same thing that happened to me today. Don't waste your time or gas money on Macy's.
It is quite obvious that the full time position is not even available in the first place - their ads are just a trolling scheme to get part time people in so they can avoid paying for healt insurance etc.
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Macy's (Raleigh, NC) in Jan 2015
Interview
Posted job and resume on Macy's site. I was contacted by the AA of the Hiring Manager through email within a day to arrange phone interview which was the following day
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Macy's in Mar 2014
Interview
I applied online for a Visual Merchandiser position, and received an email the next day inviting me to schedule an interview through a link they provided. Once at the interview, I had to wait 20 min to be taken back. The receptionist was trying to track down the Visual Manager, but no one knew where she was. Three associates were discussing where she was and saying things like "I have no idea where she is" and "Did she go home already?" Finally, another woman took me back and was a sales lead. She informed me that the Visual Manager had gone home for the day, so she was going to conduct the interview. She asked me strictly sales questions, like "Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult customer?" and things like that. I asked if I would ever have to work at the cash register during a shift and she said no, so I saw no relevance to the Visual Merchandising position I was applying for and the questions she was asking. At the end of the interview, she informed me she wanted me to come back the following day for a second interview with the Visual Manager since she was unable to interview me the first time. I took time off from my current job again the next day and went to the second interview. A woman took me back immediately this time, but the first thing she said was "The Visual Manager is gone for the day. I am the Sales Supervisor but I was the Visual Manager a few years ago, so I know what she is looking for." I instantly was bothered because I wanted the chance to meet with the woman who I would be reporting to. The second interview was geared more towards Visual Merchandising, and she asked me questions about my previous retail jobs and my visual experience. After the interview, I hadn't heard anything for about a week and a half. I called the store and asked to speak with someone about the status of my interview and if the position has been filled yet. The man I spoke to asked if I had received an email regarding the status of the position. I said I did not receive anything yet, and he said "All communication is done via email. Continue to look out for an email" and hung up. A month later I got an email saying that my availability did not correspond with the days and hours needed for the position, therefore I was not chosen for the position. I did not understand because I selected completely open availability on their questionnaire that I filled out when I applied. Overall, the interview process was very unprofessional, unorganized, and severely lacked communication. I was disappointed I did not get the job because I really want to be a Visual Merchandiser, but I don't think I want to work for a company that handles the interview process this poorly.