Bear Builder applicants have rated the interview process at Build-A-Bear with 2.2 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) and assessed their interview experience as 78% positive. To compare, the company-average is 67.1% positive. This is according to Glassdoor user ratings.
Candidates applying for Bear Builder roles take an average of 13 days to get hired, when considering 95 user submitted interviews for this role. To compare, the hiring process at Build-A-Bear overall takes an average of 15 days.
Common stages of the interview process at Build-A-Bear as a Bear Builder according to 95 Glassdoor interviews include:
Group panel interview: 26%
One on one interview: 21%
Personality test: 13%
Background check: 10%
IQ intelligence test: 8%
Presentation: 7%
Skills test: 5%
Phone interview: 5%
Drug test: 4%
Other: 1%
Here are the most commonly searched roles for interview reports -
I applied in-person. I interviewed at Build-A-Bear (London, England) in Nov 2015
Interview
So I applied by handing in my CV to the Stratford Westfield Build-A-Bear store. They took about 2 weeks to contact me via email asking me to attend a recruitment party. There was about 10-15 of us there. The process was really relaxed and simple and a nice atmosphere. We started by saying four name age and a fact about ourselves (say something fun and funny not boring like what you want to be when you're older). After that we was split into teams of three and were told to make an advertisement for build a bear within 5 minutes and to make sure it was Christmassy. I had two girls who Weren't afraid of acting so it was great. After that they say they were gonna kick out people they didn't like. I was beyond surprised when my name was called out. We were taken to the back and told we were safe. We then had to sell an item on the spot within 10 seconds. And finally we role played customer and sales assistant. We took turns to play each. When it was my turn to play sales assistant I was greeted with the most difficult scenario of all the recruits. I had an angry customer. The two ladies doing the recruitment were awesome and didn't mind that I was messing up and were laughing their heads off! We finished that day and got told that we will get called for a floor trial and again after that for an interview. The floor trial was just you working for a few hours and then seeing if you are able to approach customers. I didn't prepare for an interview that day which they did spontaneously. Before the interview they make you complete a test on their website. It's all based around your morals so be honest. They called me just today telling me I got the job! So make sure you are confident and fun and bubbly!
Basic questions, asked about sewing, experience with kids, knowledge on the company, days I’m free ect ect ect ect. Had a brilliant interview and got the job, would work there again if I didn’t move
Group interview and then 1:1 - was simple enough and felt very relaxed. Nice team and then found out about 1 week later. Was a Christmas temp job so was quite a lot of people there and wanting to apply
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Build-A-Bear (Toledo, OH) in Feb 2025
Interview
The interview takes 3 rounds: a phone interview, an in person interview where you fill out a survey then complete an interview, and a follow through interview. I was hired on the spot at my follow through, but process could be different.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How would you handle a mistake that you had to report to your manager?