Applying for a corporate role at Target? Then you’ll want to prepare for Target interview questions, which is what we’ll dive into in this article. If you’re applying for retail roles, this is not the article for you.
Target is one of the most well recognized brands in the world with an impressive reputation. The company made out well during Covid because it was categorized as an essential business.
In this article, we’ll cover how to prepare for a Target interview. But first, to build a foundation of knowledge as you consider a career with the company, we’ll cover the history of Target and what it’s like to work there. Of course, we’ll discuss how to go about interview prep with specific insight into Target interview questions. Let’s go!
Target History & Culture
Getting grounded in the history and culture of a company is an important first step in performing well in an interview.
Target is one of the largest retailers in the U.S. Its largest competitors are Walmart and Amazon.com. It started off as Dayton Dry Goods Company, founded in 1902, later renamed The Dayton Company. Target established itself as the discount division of The Dayton Company in 1962.
In the 1980s, as part of the Dayton-Hudson Corporation, it began expanding its store base across the U.S., and introduced new Target branded store formats in the 1990s as it achieved remarkable growth. In 2021, the company hit $100 billion in annual revenue. Target currently operates almost 2,000 stores and is a top 30 company in the Fortune 500.
Target found success as a “cheap-chic” player in the discount retail industry. Its products are affordable, but also cool, fun, and on-trend. Over time, it has added community give-back initiatives and integrated diversity, inclusion, and sustainability into its culture. Target donates 5% of profits back into its communities and its employees volunteer for over 1M hours each year.
Target has most, if not all, of the nice “corporate” benefits you could possibly want, from wellness programs to 401K match to generous PTO, etc.
[optin-monster slug="iyrd0qkvhucjhrgjklt7" followrules="true"]
Target Interview Tips
So, you have a Target interview coming up. If you want to crush the entire process and nail the Target interview questions asked of you, start by reviewing these Target interview tips from real hiring managers:
- Whether you are trying to land an interview or already have one, be sure to seek out Target at on-campus career events.
- Don’t be afraid to answer Target interview questions with examples outside of work or the classroom. You can lead groups, solve problems, and deal with difficult situations in the course of personal projects, volunteer work, or athletic endeavors.
- Be able to articulate the impact of your contributions. If you can be specific about changes made or money saved or raised as a direct result of your work, you’ll be more likely to stand out.
- Don’t shy away from bringing up current Target events. It highlights an interest in the company, and that’s considered very important.
- Don’t be afraid to get into the specific details of your experiences.
- Be energetic and kind. This is important at a company like Target. Even if you are interviewing for a finance or HR position, being friendly and energetic is important.
Finally, strong candidates share experiences in ways that offer specific examples of how their skills and capabilities are relevant to the position for which they’re interviewing.
Target Behavioral Interview Questions
In any Target interview, you’ll encounter behavioral interview questions. Behavioral interviews require a candidate to pull from their experiences to demonstrate a capability or skill. The knowledge, skills, and abilities Target will ask questions around are usually the exact skills required to excel in your role.
Here are a few common Target behavioral interview questions:
- Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced environment?
- Tell me about a time you provided exceptional customer service.
- Tell me about a time you were innovative on the job.
- Can you tell me about a mistake you made on the job? What did you do to correct it, and what did you learn from the experience?
- Can you describe a time you faced an ethical dilemma on the job? How did you handle it?
- Tell me about a time you didn’t agree with a team member. What was the outcome?
- Describe a time you received negative feedback from a supervisor. How did you handle it?
You’ll likely also be asked a series of more traditional interview questions. Examples of traditional interview questions Target might ask someone applying for a corporate or management type role include:
- Why do you want to work at Target?
- Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses?
- What is your ideal style of leadership?
- What traits do ideal co-workers possess?
- Can you tell me about Target?
You’ll notice the above questions try to get at your knowledge of the company. They also allow you to discuss your personality, style, and perspectives on getting work done effectively.
Conclusion
Need help preparing for Target interview questions? Our expert team can help workshop answers to common behavioral or traditional interview questions. Reach out today to learn more!
Additional Resources:
- Top Corporate Training Topics
- Leadership: Where Everything Rises and Falls
- Consulting Resume: Complete Guide
- Pyramid Principle Applied