Target Interview Questions & Answers

Interviewing PriceSmart? So now it’s time to review Target interview questions.

Now that you’ve qualified for the interview, you’ve passed the first stage, congratulations!

However, the competition is not over yet. Now you’ll see the most common Target interview questions you need to know to really get this job.

In each interview question, we’ll tell you what the interviewer actually wants to know about you and what you should give her/him.

Target Interview Questions and Answers

Sometimes we are surprised when certain questions are asked out of fear of not being able to answer correctly. If you anticipate the questions you will be asked and prepare in advance, you will be relieved of worries and have a great chance of impressing the interviewer with an ideal answer.

Here are Target interview questions that you should work on beforehand, along with their answers.

Why do you want to work for Target rather than one of our competitors?

Hint: Try to concentrate on your particular preferences for Target, as well as the retailer’s vision, working culture, and principles. Simply focus on what distinguishes Target from competitors such as Walmart or Kmart, and what Target hiring managers are pleased with.

Alternatively, you might tell them that you enjoy shopping in their stores or that the location is ideal for you—for example, near your home.

Good Answers: Target’s brand and corporate visual appeal to me. I prefer to shop here and believe that this is the setting in which people should shop and work. I appreciate the product quality and the approachable level of customer service. When I hear the word Target, I envision a welcoming and encouraging work atmosphere. I would be honored to work for this company.

To be honest, the biggest reason is the location of this establishment. I live only 10 minutes away, so working here will be quite easy for me. But I also enjoy shopping, so there’s no reason why I wouldn’t choose you as my job.

Why is this position available?

Hint: Tell them you have the necessary abilities, skills, personality, and experience for the position. That’s all Target needs to hear to be satisfied with your response. Alternatively, you can concentrate on motivation to do the specific type of work.

Of course, if you have done anything similar before and have relevant experience, you should include it in your response.

Excellent responses:

  • Because I am chatty and enjoy being among consumers, I believe I have the perfect personality for this type of employment.
  • This is the kind of work I’d like to do. And I’ve done comparable work in the past, so I have the experience, and I’d love to do it again here at your store. Why would I start from scratch when I can draw on my previous experience?
  • To be honest, I see this as the beginning of my career. I’d like to be a manager one day, but I believe everyone here has to start as a salesperson and possibly advance within the organization.

This is a routine job. What would make you want to do it well every day?

You should concentrate on your inclination for everyday jobs. Not everyone requires fresh challenges on a daily basis. Target’s ideal employees should enjoy mundane tasks.

A happy emotion from a task well done can be reflected in your response. However, you should not use money as a motivator. We all know that we work primarily for money (not many people would go to work if there was no paycheck at the end of the month), but discussing it is not a brilliant idea, especially at companies like Target, where wages aren’t the highest…

Excellent responses:

  • To be honest, I enjoy mundane tasks. When I learn how to do anything, I do it well and get a wonderful feeling from it. Positions that need you to learn new things every day are not a good fit for me because I am not the most creative person. However, once I learn to do my chores well, I enjoy doing them and can do so for an extended period of time.
  • I am a customer-focused individual. When I see happy customers at the store, it makes me proud of myself and motivates me to work hard every day. It makes no difference whether the job is routine or not.
  • No work, in my opinion, is routine. Even if you work as a cashier, you meet new people all the time, have difficulties to address, and other things happen in a business on a daily basis. This work has a lot of variety if you don’t wander about with your eyes closed.

What aspects of Target can you improve?

Hint: Target managers typically ask this question in interviews for leadership positions, but it may be asked in any store or distribution center interview.

It is a difficult question. You should not say anything crucial, possibly something that would personally affect the HR managers, because it could generate a sour mood in your interview (the same people that interview you for a job could be responsible for the situation in a store you mention, or they can have a different point of view).

On the other hand, you should say something to demonstrate your keen observation abilities and the value you can offer to Target as a store leader.

I urge that you remain positive in your response and mix a compliment with a suggestion for improvement. This amazing combination will nearly always work in your favor.

Excellent response:

Target, in my opinion, is a fantastic corporation with a distinct concept and solid process management. This store appears to be well-managed. However, if given the opportunity to better understand things, I believe I could improve certain procedures and increase store efficacy in some way, or at the very least improve the motivation of people in my team and job efficiency. At the end of the day, the corporation undoubtedly devoted a significant amount of time and money to refine each and every operation in the store. The most we can do as managers get the most out of our employees and help them thrive within the organization.

What are your strong points and weak points?

Most individuals underestimate the complexity of this interview question. All you have to do is select a weakness that is NOT related to the job you are looking for and a strength that is relevant to the job in some way. In addition, I urge that you say that you are working to improve your deficiencies.

That is the attitude that interviewers look for in good candidates for all roles at Target.

Excellent responses:

I have a habit of being overly pleased with consumers. I also think too much at times. I have good listening skills and the capacity to comprehend the demands of the consumer among my capabilities. As a salesperson, I believe I will profit immensely from this, which is one of the reasons I applied for this job in particular.
At work, I sometimes struggle with concentration, especially when dealing with mundane chores. But I practice every day, and my concentration has greatly increased in recent years. One of my talents is that I am a highly responsible person who always completes all of my obligations on time. It is my greatest strength, in my opinion.
My computer abilities are not as strong as they should be. However, I attend evening classes and practice at home to increase my knowledge of Microsoft Office and other software applications. People, on the other hand, say I am a hard worker. I have no objections to working long hours and undertaking physical tasks.

Tell us about a time when you made a mistake and how you fixed it.

Hint: Mistakes can be costly, especially if you work in a profession where you are in charge of money or accounting.

However, we are all just ordinary people, including the interviewers. Every one of us makes mistakes. It’s something organic. Interviewers do not expect you to be flawless…

As a result, the best thing to do is to speak openly about a mistake you made and how you fixed it. You can also say that you try your hardest to avoid making mistakes. If you have no prior experience with making mistakes at work, you can discuss a moment when you made a mistake in school.

Excellent responses:

  • To avoid making mistakes, I always double-check everything. However, in my prior job as a cashier, I was really fatigued and made a few blunders as a result of my tiredness. More than $50 went stolen from a cash register at the conclusion of the day. I chose to accept full responsibility for my error and pay the remaining debt out of my own pocket. I learned my lesson and never went to work when sick again.
  • I recall a customer approaching me while I was busy. I forwarded him to a coworker. I declined to assist her. Because it was my specialty and obligation, not his, my colleague was unable to resolve her request.
  • She returned irately, denounced it to the manager, and stated she would never return to our business. I publicly apologized, and we offered her a free present. She agreed to it. She didn’t leave the store entirely satisfied. However, I realized it had been a huge mistake. Since then, I’ve prioritized assisting the customer over all other responsibilities at work.

Can you tell me about a moment you went out of your way to help someone?

Hint: This appears to be a challenging question. However, there are several instances on a daily basis when we “go out of our way” to assist someone.

You are not required to discuss a work-related incident. You can relate a story about how you helped a drunken man or how you helped one of your coworkers. At firms like Target, where they strive to establish a nice working atmosphere and a strong team culture, helping colleagues is highly valued.

Excellent responses:

  • Once I noticed a man on the street. Cars were simply passing by. I came to a halt and asked him if he was okay. There were no visible injuries. However, he did not respond to my question, so I immediately dialed 911. I asked them what to do and then did as they said. Five minutes later, an emergency rescue team arrived. It came out that the man had a spasm in his lungs and would have died if the rescue had not arrived.
  • I believe it is my responsibility to assist people. My prior job required me to provide transportation to three coworkers who lived in various cities. It was out of the way, yet at the conclusion of the shift, there was no public transportation available for them, and they had to wait an hour for the next bus. As a result, I vowed to give them a lift every time we were together on shift, even if it meant coming home twenty minutes later.
  • I attempt to be sensitive to the needs and emotions of both my coworkers and clients. If I encounter a consumer who appears to require assistance, I approach them and inquire. I’ve done it in all of my past jobs and intend to continue doing it till the conclusion of my professional career.

What would you do if you rang up an item for $20 but the buyer argued it was just $18?

The customer is a Target customer. And, at least while shopping at a store, the customer is always correct. That is why you must emphasize that you would never argue with a consumer. If they were incorrect, you would advise them to return the goods. Of course, you should apologize for the deceptive price tag, as well as anything else that may have contributed to the error.

Excellent Responses:

  • I’d never dispute with a visitor. I would contact a manager or another responsible party to confirm the price. If the consumer was correct, I would contact a responsible party to resolve the issue, so an item would cost us $18. If they were wrong, I would strongly apologize for the ambiguous price tag (or anything else that could have caused the mistake) and offer them the option to return an item.
  • First and foremost, I apologize for the uncertainty and respectfully request that they wait for a bit. Then I’d figure out what the true cost was and proceed appropriately. If they were incorrect, I would give them the option of returning the goods.

Describe a period when you were under work pressure.

Hint: Above all, you should aim to appear calm during the interview. That is the best demonstration of your ability to remain calm in stressful situations, and a job interview is a stressful scenario.

If you appeared stressed in any case (it is impossible for some of us to overcome interview anxiety), simply state that you always know how to prioritize your responsibilities and that stress does not negatively influence or distract you.

You may even argue that you work better under duress. If this is your first job application, you can talk about your college experience.

Excellent responses

  • My school leaving examination was quite stressful, and I had a lot to learn. To be honest, I wasn’t the most pleasant company at the time. When I was talking to someone, I was pretty nervous and irritated. But I learned a valuable lesson: stress does not make things better. Because of my tension, I only had problems and caused problems for others. Since then, this lesson has enabled me to be more relaxed. Nothing is at stake when life is not at stake.
  • My previous job in a call center was really demanding. We had to fulfill aggressive sales goals, and the entire office was under intense pressure at least, that’s how I perceived the situation. To be honest, I dislike working in such a hectic setting, which is why I applied for a position with Target. I’m aware that the workload is very heavy here, but it’s a different kind of stress. My results here are solely dependent on my motivation and abilities. It was a different scenario in the phone center.
  • As you can see, I am currently stressed. This job is extremely essential to me. I take my job extremely seriously, which is why I am occasionally anxious at work. However, I believe that I work better under pressure.

Give me an example of when you went above and beyond someone’s expectations. What was the end result?

Hint: As a competent employee, you should always strive to exceed your client’s expectations. It’s a good idea to emphasize that going above and beyond at work is your standard.

If you have no prior work experience, it is preferable to state what you would do in such a situation rather than saying nothing. You can also use an example from school.

From the perspective of an employer, the outcome should be beneficial. This includes acquiring a new customer, receiving great comments or online reviews, improving workplace relationships, and so forth.

Excellent responses:

  • It is my responsibility to always give 110% to a consumer. In my previous employment, for example, I called a friend who is an expert in the field of electronics several times for help when a customer asked about a specific issue that I was unable to answer. These extra calls were greatly appreciated by the customers, and I was delighted to assist them. They returned to the store several times after that, and I feel it was partly due to my efforts.
  • This is my first job application, so I’ve never had anything like it. However, I recognize the importance of customer satisfaction in this store and will always do my best to please the consumers. Three happy female customers exit the store with full bags.

Tell me about your previous experience.

This question appears to be simple, yet it is not. First and foremost, the interviewer will ask you to describe your experience. So, unless it is a brief one with only a few lines, you should not duplicate your entire resume:).

Try to discuss jobs that are at least somewhat comparable to the one you are attempting to obtain with Target. If you have no experience, you can highlight some educational experience, emphasizing the skills you acquired, especially if they will assist you to ease into your new career with Target.

Excellent responses:

  • For two years, I worked as a teller at Wells Fargo. I learned how to talk to people, sell items, communicate with various types of people, and deal with obstacles. I believe it will benefit me in this job, assuming you choose me. I enjoyed working with consumers and would like to continue in the same industry.
  • I’ve only ever worked part-time. I worked as a construction worker, harvested strawberries, and volunteered at a research facility. However, I feel I learned what it is like to have regular work and to be accountable for things and people. I’m excited to start my first full-time job, which I hope will be here at Target.

What would your teacher/former coworker think of you?

This question is asked by interviewers for two reasons. The first test is to check if you are critical enough to admit your flaws and inadequacies.

However, they may contact your references after the interview to determine your level of trustworthiness. Needless to say, saying the same thing your coworkers will say about you is a positive thing.

I recommend that you obtain references in whatever way possible. Even if you have no prior professional experience, you should request a written reference from a former classmate (or a close friend). Remember that at Target, any reference is preferable to no reference.

Before heading to your interview, contact the people on your reference list and inform them that you will be interviewed at Target. They should be prepared to get a call from the store manager.

They will call someone in 80% of situations to seek an “honest” evaluation of your talents and personality. It’s preferable if you choose who they’ll call…

Instruct your references to tell Target’s supervisors something like this:

Mark is a responsible and well-organized individual. He has always wanted to work for Target because he admires the company’s goal and brand. I wholeheartedly suggest him for this position at Target.

It will just take you a few minutes to contact your references before an interview. However, it can pay off handsomely in the end. If you still have time, contact your references.

Excellent Responses:

  • Working with me was enjoyable, according to my coworkers. They would remark I was a responsible employee who loved my time at the store.
  • My coworkers would describe me as a customer-oriented person, a good team player, and a decent team leader-if necessary. They would remark I always did a decent job and tried my hardest, even if I made mistakes like everyone else. I had several references with me. They’re right here. You can read over the list or phone the folks to find out what they think of me as a person and as an employee.
  • My coworkers would describe me as pleasant to be around. They may also claim that I was always on time. They would very certainly advocate hiring me:).

How would you behave if another coworker was spreading false information about someone else?

Managers at Target do not want you to fix the problems of other store employees. They only want to hear that you are focused on your work and do not care about gossip. And, obviously, you dislike gossiping. They seek persons that have a pleasant attitude toward others.

Excellent responses:

  • I would simply tell them that what they were stating was false and go back to work. Gossips will always exist in the workplace, and we must accept them as an unavoidable occurrence. However, I want to concentrate on my work and avoid thinking about other people’s talk. I, for one, never gossip.
  • It’s their point of view. I always attempt to maintain positive relationships with my coworkers. However, I need to focus on my job, and I don’t think I’ll have time to ponder about other people’s gossip. I strive to be polite to everyone, but if some coworkers cannot get along, I have no control over it.

What would you do if a customer accused you of providing poor service?

The customer is always correct. That is the corporation’s policy. As a result, you should never propose disputing with them. On the contrary, you should recommend asking them additional queries and attempting to make them satisfied with your service once more. Another option is to offer them the help of some “more experienced” colleagues.

Excellent responses:

  • First and foremost, this is unlikely to occur because I always do my job responsibly and strive to exceed my client’s expectations. But if that happened, I would apologize, ask what I did wrong, and strive to make them satisfied with my service again.
  • I’d apologize and ask what I might do better. If I was unable to satisfy them with my service, I would offer them the assistance of one of my colleagues or a manager, whatever they chose.
  • I would try to resolve the situation while remaining cool and listening to their complaints. In order to improve my behavior in a similar situation in the future, I would try to remember the situation, what I did, and how the consumer reacted. Excellent customer service is essential, and we should always strive to provide it.

How would you react if your boss requested you to modify the way you do your job even though you knew you were doing it correctly?

Target is an American firm with strict hierarchical restrictions. They want their staff to obey their superiors’ directions. As a result, you should simply state that you will accept it and follow the instructions of your supervisor or manager.

At the end of the day, supervisors know the regulations, have been with the organization longer than you, and face the responsibility for mistakes. You will accomplish things better as your career progresses at Target, which is unavoidable. For the time being, you will merely follow their lead…

Excellent response:

  • The supervisor has a lot more experience. They see the larger picture and grasp things that I don’t. Furthermore, it is their duty and responsibility to instruct and correct me. They must have their reasons. As a result, I would convey my point of view—just to provide feedback—but if they insisted on their proposals, I would simply adjust the way my job was done.

Target interviews are among the easier job interviews. The organization has a fantastic training program, and if you show ambition and a positive approach toward work, they will offer you an opportunity.

Athina Iliadis is a Human Resources Professional with over 25 years’ experience in corporate environments working for companies such as Pearson, LexisNexis, Hershey, and Reckitt. In her current role as a consultant working with clients around the world, she coaches managers and employees on HR issues, supports leaders in their business, produces content about careers, interviews, and job opportunities. She is fluent in English, French and Greek, and she holds a BBA with a major in HR from Université du Québec à Montréal. Find her on LinkedIn and at athinailiadis.com

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