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%
Phone interview: 5%
Skills test: 5%
Drug test: 4%
Other: 1%
Here are the most commonly searched roles for interview reports -
I applied online. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at Build-A-Bear (San Jose, CA) in Apr 2014
Interview
It was a group interview where we each took turns answered questions and demonstrating our people skills and creativity with the product. Instead of behavioral questions like a traditional interview we had to demonstrate skills we would use on the job and pretend the other people in the group interview were other customers. Some of the questions were how we would dress the bears in a display and a story we could tell about bears that were already dressed and set out by employees. We had to make up a background on the spot for them and why they were wearing the accessories that they were. Overall it was mostly evaluating how we worked with people and our ability to be spontaneous and creative on the spot without being able to prepare ahead of time. Once that interview was over they asked some people back for a second interview one on one which was more traditional.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How would you dress this bear and sell the outfit to a customer?
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?