Build A Bear

Build A Bear Jobs & Careers – Application, How to Apply, Requirements & Interview Tips

Last Updated: September 20th, 2019 by Noah Shaw

If you enjoy stuffed animals and reliving your childhood through others, then get ready to fill out and submit your Build-A-Bear job application today.

Build-A-Bear has been bringing life to stuffed animals in their 400 locations throughout the US, UK, Canada, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Mexico, Africa, Australia, and more.

The company loves to hear little boys and girls squeal when they see their favorite bear being brought to life before their eyes. With some stuffing, a heart, name, and birth certificate, each child can take home his or her new friend.

Maxine Clark first started Build-A-Bear in 1997 and the company has grown massively since then. The company hires employees to work in all of their stores and you may find yourself working as a Sales Associate or Store Manager.

If you want to watch the light shine in each child’s eye as they watch their teddy bear come to life, fill out and submit your job application today.

How to Apply for Employment at Build-A-Bear

To apply for a position at Build-A-Bear, the most commonly used method is by submitting an online application.

Application Information

  • Minimum Age Requirement: The minimum age required to work at Build-A-Bear is 16 years old.
  • Hours of Operation: Build-A-Bear is open Monday – Friday from 10:30 am until 8:30 pm, on Saturday from 10:00 am – 9:00 pm, and on Sunday from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm.
  • Methods to Apply: Interested applicants can apply to Build-A-Bear by submitting an online job application.

Searching for an Open Position

To search for an open position at Build-A-Bear, applicants will need to visit the job search page.

From there, you will need to select the position that you would like to apply to. Upon doing so, you may be prompted to enter in additional information, such as a specific store. Some of the positions you search for will show you which stores have an opening for that job title.

Applying for a Job

To apply for a position at Build-A-Bear, you will need to click on the “Apply Now” button underneath the location of your choice. From there, you will be directed to the application.

The first section of the application asks for your personal information including your salary expectations and whether you are 18 years old and if you want to work full-time or part-time.

The next section of the application asks if you have a resume and if you do, the company requests that you paste it in the text box.

Once you are done with the above steps, you can submit your application. Since this application is short, you want to make sure you fill in all information correctly and as accurately as possible.

Application Tips

build a bear job application As you go through the application, you may come across questions you do not know how to answer. Below, we will go over some tips to help you get through the application quickly and smoothly.

Your Availability Matters

The application asks for your availability, which is either limited or full. There are no other options and there is not a box to explain your limited availability, so it is important to choose this option when you truly have things that prevent you from having an open schedule.

Include Your Salary Expectations

The application does ask for your salary expectations. It is important not to underestimate your skills, but you do not want to add a number that is outrageous. In the position section below, we go over what you can reasonably expect to be paid. Use this information as your guide when filling out your salary expectations.

Create a Good Resume

The application asks you if you have a resume. It is not recommended that you put “no,” but that you do include one.

If you do not have a current resume, you can create one in a Word processor quickly. Make sure to include your previous experience, skills, and any accomplishments you have received.

Should You Follow Up?

You can follow up on a position you applied to by calling the hiring manager at the location you applied to. You should give the hiring manager a couple of days to review your application before you call.

When you do call into the company, ask to speak to the hiring manager directly. If he or she us unavailable at the time, ask when a better time to call back would be. Managers like to see persistence, so do not be afraid to call in.

Positions and Salary Information

Build-A-Bear has over 400 stores located throughout the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the UK. The company also has franchise locations in other countries including Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and more.

Build-A-Bear hires employees to work in all of these stores. You can find both entry-level and management positions.

  • Sales Associate – The Sales Associate is responsible for greeting customers and helping them create bears. As a Sales Associate, you can expect to make between $8 and $10 per hour.
  • Associate Manager – The Associate Manager is responsible for helping customers and lending a hand to the Sales Associates. As an Associate Manager, you can expect to make between $13 and $16 per hour.
  • Assistant Manager – The Assistant Manager ensures all of the Build-A-Bear policies are followed by employees. As an Assistant Manager, you can expect to make between $11 and $16 per hour.
  • Store Manager – The Store Manager will oversee all operations within the store while ensuring goals for the individual store are met. As a Store Manager, you can expect to make between $45,000 and $55,000 per year.
  • District Manager – The District Manager is responsible for overseeing all stores within the district and making sure they are succeeding. As a District Manager, you can expect to make between $82,000 and $92,000 per year.

Best Entry-Level Positions

Build-A-Bear hires entry-level employees to work in their 400 locations. The company is committed to providing a great customer experience, which means you need to have good customer service skills.

The entry-level positions are a stepping stone into management positions and all employees have an equal chance of moving up into a leadership role.

Sales Associate

The Sales Associate is the heart of the company and is in charge of building all of the bears. In this role, you will help customers create and stuff their bears, as well as picking out outfits for the bears to wear.

You will greet customers as they enter the store and you will help customers check out and complete their transactions.

Build-A-Bear Careers in Management

build a bear careers Build-A-Bear offers a variety of management positions within their stores and throughout the district. Any employee working in an entry-level position can move into a management position within the company.

Full-time management positions offer a full range of benefits and employees should have strong leadership skills.

Associate Manager

The Associate Manager will help out where needed in the store including checking customers out and helping customers find the right bear for them. In this role, you will listen to customers and answer all of their inquiries.

The Associate Manager will also lend a helping hand anywhere that is needed and he or she will help ensure all Sales Associates are performing their jobs correctly.

Assistant Manager

The Assistant Manager is responsible for helping the Store Manager with all of the operations in the store. He or she will oversee the actions of the employees and ensure all policies are being followed.

In this role, you will also help train employees and provide the best customer experience by ensuring each customer is happy with their teddy bear and purchase.

Store Manager

The Store Manager is responsible for overseeing all of the operations within the store. He or she will recruit, hire, and train all new employees while also providing additional training to current employees.

The Store Manager will handle payroll, scheduling, and any complaints that are received from customers or employees. In this role, you will set goals for your employees to meet.

District Manager

The District Manager is a leader and will oversee all stores within their assigned district. In this role, you will set goals for all stores to meet and you will make sure they do meet these goals.

If a store is struggling, the District Manager offers additional training and leadership skills to help the store become profitable and successful.

Interview Questions and Tips

When you go in for your Build-A-Bear interview, you want to be as prepared as possible. Below, we will go through some of the questions you may be asked while at your interview.

Do You Enjoy Working with Children?

Since children are the main market that Build-A-Bear serves, you may be asked if you enjoy working with children. If you do not, this is not going to be the right position for you, so it is important to evaluate this question before your interview.

How Would You Make a Child Happy?

You may be asked how you would make a child happy should they come into the store upset. This will take some thinking, but you could explain to the interviewer that you would cheer them up by helping them pick out a new teddy bear friend, etc.

What Do You Like to Do?

You may be asked what you like to do outside of working at Build-A-Bear. This is a question to get to know you and the interviewer simply wants to hear about your hobbies and interests, so do not hold back.

Helpful Research for Your Build-A-Bear Interview

Maxine Clark first saw a need for Build-A-Bear when she went shopping with her daughter to find a stuffed animal and could not find one.

The company was opened in 1997 and has since grown to include 400 stores throughout the world. The company has made over 125 million stuffed teddy bears.

The company continues to thrive and provide smiles to children all over the world.

What Employees Say About Working Here

Employees who are employed by Build-A-Bear are happy in their positions. Many of the employees talk about how much they enjoy working with children and watching them light up as their bear is created.

In addition, employees have stated that the schedule s flexible and it is not a struggle to ask for time off. The employees also say that there is room for advancement within the company.

About Noah Shaw

An editor & writer on staff at LandYourLife, Noah is a career research enthusiast passionate about helping others find & work towards their ideal vocation.