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 online. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Build-A-Bear (Norwich, England) in Sep 2019
Interview
I found the process quite simple and quick. I applied online, and within a week I received a phone call from the assistant manager offering me a place in a group interview. During the phone call I was asked a few questions about my background and my cv. The assistant manager also informed me on the phone call about the contracted hours (4 hour contract, with the opportunity to get overtime) and what the role requires.
There were about 12-15 of us in the group interview. We were interviewed by the manager and one of the trainee supervisors. They were both extremely friendly and made you feel at home right away. In the interview we all sat on the floor in a circle and one by one we said who we were, why we wanted to work for build a bear and who our favourite movie character is.
After this we got to build a bear, and as a group we performed a heart ceremony, with each of us picking a different trait. Once we had done this we split up into pairs where we dressed our bears and came up with a back story for them. This was so that the manager could see how creative we were.
If you got through the group interview you were offered a one-to-one interview with the associate manager. In this interview I was asked questions about my background and cv, about what I felt the role of a bear builder includes and what the most important thing about build a bear is. You also have to fill out an online questionnaire.
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?