I applied in-person. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at Carlton Cards in Apr 2011
Interview
Dropped my c.v. in store, got a call the next day. I met the store manager at the mall's food court, very casual interview, simple questions about your hobbies, your studies, etc... The manager then gave me an idea of who I would be working with. Bilingualism is not mandatory and is ignored. The hire decision is based on your potential to ''fit in'' with the existing staff, mostly students.
I applied online. The process took 4 days. I interviewed at Carlton Cards (Edmonton, AB) in Jun 2012
Interview
I sent my resume in by e-mail in response to an online job ad, and received a phone call the next day to set up an in-person interview with the manager. She asked the basic interview questions (tell me a bit about yourself/your previous jobs, why did you leave your last job, greatest strength/weakness, etc.).
She called me the day after (she had more interviews after mine) and offered me a phone interview with the flagship manager, which I accepted. The flagship manager called me that evening. She was more experienced (the manager of the store was young blood and new to interviewing her own staff, which is why she needed to get the second interview) and so she asked more difficult questions, and was more to-the-point. She asked why I thought I was qualified, and asked more probing questions about the details of my last 2 positions held.
The day after my telephone interview, the manager of the store called to offer me the position. I started the next day, which is when wage/benefits/etc. were finally discussed with me before I signed the paperwork and was given my key.