It was extensive and pretty straight forward. They asked meaningful questions and it felt as if every level of interviewer had different things to ask/value they brought to the process.

This interview was for one of 400 positions IKEA was recruiting for in one whirlwind week for their upcoming grand opening of the new store in Denver (Centennial), Colorado. So, it may be atypical due to that. They interviewed literaly hundreds of people each day for four days in one week. It was held at a local Workforce Center. You came in, gave your SSN number, and were confirmed as an invited interviewee, then got in line to have HR staff verify that you brought all the proper and completed paper work. then, at your appointed time, on 20 minute intervals, you were called up with 25 others (so they were interviewing 100 per hour) and went back to a meeting room and competed a days/hours availability form. Then you were called out of the room for a one on one interview witht eh manager of the area for which you applied. I interviewed for the Kitchen Planer position. I had 5 years directly related experience in selling, designing, manufacturing and installing custom cabinetry using the Euro-cabinet (Ikea style) 32 mm system. I interviewed with a manger who had 17 years in kitchen design. Due to the sheer volume and pressure to get candidates through, it was very rushed and she hardly looked up from my paperwork the entire 15 minutes. In general, it was a poorly conducted interview, and this manager was not well trained. But she certainly knew her field. I think because it was a grand opening, there must have been ample candidates for the position who were better qualified than I. Additionally, the manager "forced" me to give a minimum acceptable hourly rate I was willing to work for. I also think that i asked above their target range. I had researched on Glassdoor.com and found the range was $18-20/hour for kitchen designers. i asked $22/hr minimum, based on the fact that I had owned a $1.3 million cabinet company and knew every aspect of the process, materials, manufacturing, construction and installation, as well as design. i considered those added value. I rated the overal interview process as "negative" mostly from the aspect that it was a hectic grand opening hiring event. In general , I think IKEA is a great company, and they did as good a job under the circumstances as possible, with no time for personal touches with each candidate. No sour grapes here.