Still apart of process (will update upon completion). Applied online via Snag-a-job for position in Greenville, NC store in mid-late October 2014, received call from recruiter about a month later (which means for assistant manager postions and above, do not feel discouraged from lack of phone call right away).
Met with talent recruiter in Goldsboro, NC (meeting point was mid-way between our locations). She was very friendly. Interview took about 35-45 minutes, nice portion of which was spent on general conversation. She did have a list of interview questions. I know every interviewer does to use as a guideline, however, only two or three interview style questions were asked of me. Topics covered were:
Recent Employment History
Experience/Example of working with a needy (her word, not mine) customer
Experience/Example of great received customer service
Assessment of Interview results and discussion of option (if hired) moving forward
Very simple and fairly easy. There were many other interview style questions she could have asked and that were on her list, however, as you can see she barely scratched the surface. While it's early, I do believe this is a good sign that through my demeanor and the way I answered what questions she did have and interacted with her, she found all the right things she was looking for.
This is my second grocery related interview and my 4th overall and each time I was either hired on the spot or indicated secured employment. Through my experiences, particularly with grocery stores and this interview, is that hammering in and displaying a passion for customer service is the most important thing they seek. It can get you the job right then and there and you not even know it, trust me. Harris Teeter especially (regardless of how some may feel about this) truly does seek to hire employees with exceptional customer service standards, as they feel this is something that can't be taught, but has to be in you.
So if you do not have this in you, my suggestion would be to research what customer service is, learn the different aspects, research interview questions, and practice answering each question in a way that brings forth some kind of customer service attribute to light. Also, understand that every interview is different, and that preparation is key. I have always gotten the job for every interview I've had. I say that not to boast, but to stress the importance and value in preparation. Without it, I wouldn't have had the wonderful opportunities I've had.
At this current point, I am awaiting contact from my recruiter so that I may continue forward and meet with my future District Manager. My previous work experience in grocery retail was in the customer service department as an assistant manager but from a much smaller store with FAR less volume. This was my recruiter's only concern, not due to her lack in faith of my capabilities, but to ensure I get placed in the best position to succeed. She herself came up with the remedy of me possibly becoming an assistant manager in a smaller department (Dairy/Frozen) so that I may be hired but I won't have to be loaded with so much right off the bat in the customer service department (which is CONSIDERABLY larger). I take this as a sign that I will eventually be hired (after all, if she didn't want to hire me, she wouldn't have suggested alternative assistant-manager positions) and this shows that if you present yourself well and, again, drive-home your passion for customer service, you'll give yourself more of an opportunity for employment.