Costco tells applicants to walk in and meet a manager after applying online

Costco says some positions require a business-related test, and prep sites guess that it involves basic math or numerical questions. If yours does, our reasoning test is a reasonable warm-up: timed questions on reading numbers from tables and on checking what a short text actually states.

Costco does not say which positions test, or what the test contains, so we cannot claim our questions resemble it. For most hourly warehouse jobs, candidates describe interviews and nothing else. If no test is mentioned in your invitation, your time is better spent on interview examples and on visiting the warehouse.

Costco hiring is local. You apply for a position at a specific location, and Costco says that location is who you contact about your application, because it does not send status updates by email or messaging apps. Each warehouse receives hundreds of applications, Costco says, and it hires throughout the year rather than only in seasonal rushes.

Most hires join in part-time, entry-level roles. Costco says it picks the best-qualified candidates on transferable skills, prior experience and member service skills. Read that last phrase as a hint: any job where you helped customers, handled a complaint or kept a line moving counts, even outside retail.

Costco's Resources for Applying page contains one sentence about testing: you may be required to demonstrate skills or pass a business-related test for some positions. That is all Costco publishes. It names no provider, no length, no pass mark and no list of positions.

Prep sites fill the gap with guesses: one lists numerical, verbal and diagrammatic reasoning plus a personality test; another lists a situational judgment test and a Word or Excel check for office roles. Those are commercial sites, not Costco. A sensible approach is to ask the recruiter what the test covers if you are invited to one, and to brush up on percentages and quick arithmetic in the meantime with our numerical reasoning test.

After applying online, Costco suggests introducing yourself to a manager at the warehouse you want. Few large employers say this. Go at a quieter time, such as a weekday mid-morning, rather than a Saturday afternoon. Say your name, the position you applied for, your availability, and one sentence on why you want to work there.

Keep it short and friendly. Managers are on the floor serving members, so two minutes is plenty. Bring a printed copy of your resume in case they ask, and note the manager's name so you can mention it if you call the location later about your application.

Glassdoor users rate Costco interviews at about 2.5 out of 5 for difficulty, and report an average of about 15 days to hire across job titles, with manager roles taking around 36 days. Candidates commonly describe meeting two supervisors with separate question sets, then an assistant general manager. A New York City candidate describes two department managers and then the head manager.

Questions candidates recall include how you handle difficult customers, why Costco should hire you, a time you made a mistake at work, and your availability. Prepare short stories using situation, task, action and result, and be honest and specific about the hours you can work. Our US employer assessment guide compares this with other large retailers.

For a new warehouse, Costco says applications open about 12 weeks before it opens. If a location does not appear when you search by a nearby ZIP code, it is not accepting applications yet, so check back. Online applications expire after 90 days, so if you hear nothing in that time, apply again.

Costco says to expect to work during its busiest hours, typically nights and weekends, with merchandise stocking in the early morning. Job listings ask for open availability to meet the needs of the business, apart from religious or disability considerations. Showing flexibility in your application and your interview is one of the simplest ways to stand out.

These come from anonymous reviews, university careers pages and prep guides. They often disagree, and Costco has not confirmed them. Read them as leads, not rules.

• Glassdoor users report about 2.5 out of 5 for interview difficulty and an average of about 15 days to hire, longer for manager roles.
• Candidates describe two or three interview rounds with supervisors or department managers, followed by a senior manager.
• Prep sites claim Costco uses numerical, verbal or situational judgment tests for some roles, which Costco does not confirm.
• Career blogs say Costco requires a pre-employment drug test, and a New York City candidate mentions one after interviews.