Working At Barnes & Noble

Yes, Barnes & Noble does hire felons. However, they take each candidate on a case-by-case basis. Having a felony does not per se exclude you from employment at Barnes & Noble.

In recent years, there have been efforts over the last few years to increase opportunities for those with a criminal record in the workplace. Background checks are dreaded by those with convictions. However, not every state treats them the same.

For the following states, the background checks only go back seven years:

• California

• Colorado*

• Kansas*

• Maryland*

• Massachusetts

• Montana

• Nevada

• New Hampshire*

• New York*

• Texas*

• Washington*

No, Barnes and Noble does not drug test its employees before or during employment. However, Barnes and Noble, like many companies, considers itself a drug-free workplace.

It may ask employees to complete a form agreeing to a potential drug test, and may subject an employee to a drug test if they are suspected to be under the influence of drugs at work.

You answer the question, "Why are you interested in working for Barnes and Noble?" by emphasizing your passion for reading and books, as well as any interest and experience you have working in retail. In particular, you should highlight any desire to work in a position that promotes reading and literacy.

Some examples of specific ways to answer the question of why you're interested in working for Barnes and Noble include:

• You love to read, and would love the opportunity to work somewhere that encourages others to read as much as they can.

• You want to work in an environment where others are just as enthusiastic about books and reading as you are.

• The environment at Barnes and Noble is one you thoroughly enjoy and can thrive in.

• Barnes and Noble is innovating ways to access any book, anywhere, at any time.

• You want to work on a team where you feel valued, with an opportunity to make an impact on your community and the world around you.

• It is one of the biggest and best book retailers in the world.

You write a cover letter for a job at Barnes & Noble by highlighting your skills and experience working in e-commerce and your love for books. The old saying, "You only have one chance to make a first impression," is definitely true when meeting someone in person, and it is just as important when you are writing your Barnes & Nobles cover letter.

When writing your greatest novella (aka your Barnes Nobles cover letter), there are a few skills that you should focus on, such as good customer service, current book titles knowledge, old and new authors, as well as planning and organization.

Your cover letter should be one page long and divided into three to four paragraphs. The first paragraph should focus on the position you're applying for. The next paragraphs should highlight what you have to bring to the table. Be sure to include attention-grabbing yet professional information.

Remember, a cover letter is not meant to repeat what is on your resume. Rather, it is a chance to show some insight into your character, sell your expertise, and display your interest (and hopefully passion) for the position and company that you are applying to. The key is to maintain professionalism while showing personality.

For example:

You have to be 16 years old to work at Barnes & Noble. In some states, you may need working papers from the department of labor if you are under 18. Applicants are encouraged to apply online.

The benefits offered by Barnes and Noble include paid time off, store discounts, and competitive pay. While the exact benefits offered may vary slightly depending on the position, most benefits are offered to both full- and part-time employees.

Some of the benefits Barnes and Noble offers employees include:

• Competitive pay

• Paid time off after six months (one to two personal days per year; one or more weeks of paid vacation time per year)

• Medical, vision, and dental coverage

• Prescription coverage

• Healthcare flexible spending account

• 401(k) retirement plan

• Disability coverage

• Life and accident insurance

• Business travel insurance

• Merchandise discounts (books, devices, and accessories)

• Tax-free transit program

• Tuition reimbursement

• Additional discounts from select external vendors

The dress code at Barnes and Noble is business professional. Barnes and Noble encourages employees to wear collared shirts or blouses, khaki or dress pants, and close-toed shoes.

The company does not allow T-shirts, jeans, shorts, or open-toed shoes, though, depending on the location and manager, certain jeans and sneakers may be allowed.

There are no specific restrictions on any tattoos, piercings, or hairstyles at Barnes and Noble, as long as they're not offensive or dangerous in any way.

However, as the company leaves the day-to-day enforcement of the dress code to individual managers, some locations may be more restrictive about the tattoos, piercings, or hairstyles of associates.

The hiring process at Barnes & Noble starts with an application and typically takes about three weeks to complete. For most positions at Barnes & Noble, the hiring process is fairly casual, starting with an application, then one to two interviews, and finally, a job offer.

A candidate looking for a job at Barnes Noble will first fill out an application, either online or in the store. This application will ask generic questions about the candidate's background and work history, as well as availability.

If the candidate fits what the store is looking for, they will be asked to come in for an interview. Barnes Noble job interviews run about 25 to 30 minutes in length and feature a relaxed conversation on skill sets and experience in customer service-oriented job settings.

Popular interview questions for Barnes Noble include:

• What is your favorite book?

• What is your favorite literary genre?

• How would you approach a customer looking for a recommendation?

Positions and corresponding desirable characteristics vary greatly for Barnes Noble jobs. Most entry-level candidates, regardless of department, experience a single job interview to determine employment eligibility.

However, Barnes Noble applicants looking for managerial positions go through as many as three interviews to obtain employment. Managerial interviews may run as long as 45 minutes to an hour. Phone screenings typically begin the hiring process for positions of leadership, followed by in-person, one-on-one interviews.