I applied online. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at JCPenney (Seattle, WA) in Dec 2011
Interview
I applied online, got a phone call a week or two later, came in for an interview, and started training that week. When I came in for the interview [for holiday employment] I was all ready for interview questions, but the only things I was asked were about my start date, and then I got hired on the spot.