I applied online. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at Nordstrom in Aug 2011
Interview
First, apply online. If you're a good fit for the company, HR will contact you via e-mail to set up a phone interview. Basic questions about customer service and work experience will be asked and if that goes well, they will ask for you to do an in-store interview. You will be interviewed by an HR representative and if he/she likes you, you will be interviewed by a department manager. If that goes well, then you get to meet the general manager.
So easy, I went to a job fair and was hired on the spot. They need people in the kids department, that's the easiest section to get into. They just ask about your personality and who you are.
Was inside Barton creek mall, hiring manager was prompt and clear with questions ranging from how I would handle difficult customers, to my personal experiences that could apply to the job.