I applied online for a senior project manager position in a global department. Whole Foods encourages you to reach out to hiring managers and team members, so I also sent my application directly to the hiring manager a few days later. This was a good idea because the HM said he wasn't aware of my application (perhaps it was filtered out by the system). I had an initial 15 minute call with the recruiter, then a 30 minute phone screener with 3 members of the hiring team, and was invited to move forward with the rest of the process.
A panel interview with 10 team members was scheduled for 3 weeks out, and I was given a project to work on and present. I was also invited to partake in the due diligence process with all 10 members, which meant individual phone calls with them over 2 weeks. These calls were very helpful, as they are intended to be the interviewee's opportunity to gather the information and advice necessary to prepare for the project, and to also learn more about the role and the members you'll be working with. Yes, it's a long process and takes a lot of time and effort on your part, but it's really beneficial. The process is in place to help you succeed on your panel interview, so take full advantage of it.
The panel interview was about 1 hour long and in a small conference room at their Austin offices. After quick intros, I was given the opportunity to make a personal statement (3-5 minutes), then was asked to present my project (10 minutes). This was followed by rapid-fire questions ranging from why I wanted to leave my current position to which books I'd want to have in the department's reference library. I felt comfortable and at ease throughout the interview and didn't feel like anyone was trying to trip me up with tricky questions. Some questions tested my depth of knowledge, others wanted to know how I handle multitasking and the type of supervision I prefer. I was offered the position a few days later and was kept in the loop about delays in decision, etc.
Make sure to read the hiring process FAQs on the Whole Foods website as they're very helpful. Read up on their core values and leadership principles. Whole Foods is a company that wants to see you do more than less to show that you really want the job. They encourage you to find out who the team members are and reach out to them. Let your passion come through in your project. Be honest and comfortable during your interview. You don't need to know the answers to all the questions, but you should know how you can find it and who can help you do so.
The overall process was very positive with good communication from the hiring team throughout. While it was a lot of work (about 8 hours for calls/interviews plus many more hours of prep time for the project and interviews), the process was respectful and professional.
For these global positions, it take about 2 months from when they open applications to when they make an offer.