I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Target (Philadelphia, PA) in Apr 2018
Interview
(I will set the stage for this review with the fact that I am a working professional who was just looking to make a little extra money by working weekend shifts, not some high school kid or college drop out. Seeing that this Target store was a quick drive, having retail experience, and knowing those companies love people with weekend availability I figured it would be a cake walk with the manager just reviewing my resume confirming I was available Friday nights after 5pm, Saturdays, and Sundays and then a "you are hired". Apparently I was wrong.)
I applied online and was interviewed during a hiring event for a new store that was opening in the Philadelphia area. I was about two minutes late do to construction right outside of the event venue that was blocking the parking lot. I had to park about a few blocks away so instead of showing up about 10 minutes early as planned I was exactly 2 minutes late. Figured no big deal as there they were backed up anyhow. Checked in and everything was fine. Waited another 30 minutes before my name was called.
The interview started out with the standard questions like "tell me about yourself". The hiring manager then suddenly looked at his sheet and remarked that I checked in 2 minutes late. I apologized (not brining up the fact I was made to wait 30 minutes because they were running late) and said that I didn't expect there to be construction which you could see right through the event space's windows blocking the free lot that always has ample parking. He then goes on a 10 minute (literally 10 minutes) monologue about how Target has time and attendance standards that are strict and even being 2 minutes late for a shift was unacceptable. I apologized again and said explained that I realized it was important and that I certainly realize that is a priority in any job, but sometimes extenuating circumstances (like the big giant construction project going on right over there you see through the window) happen and it should show that I planned ahead by being encountered with such an obstacle and still making it only 2 minutes late for the interview. He then wanted to further debate the subject. So for another 5 minutes he goes on about how many associates he has had to discipline for being late and that there are no excuses for being tardy to work (really guy...you never got stuck on a train or in traffic or your car wouldn't start...?).
Anyway, he finally let the subject go and he asked me a few more questions. I noticed right before he was about to ask me another question that he just made a big giant X across the interview sheet, thanked me for coming in, and said I would get a response in 48 hours via email. Well, "Mr. Always On Time" wasn't even close to accurate about that. It took 10 days for me to get a poorly formatted rejection.
It was one of the most unprofessional interview experiences I have had in my career and I have sat on both sides of that interview table many times (many more as the hiring manager). To engage a candidate like that over something as arriving 2 minutes late (when forced to then wait 30 minutes) and then belabor the point for 15 minutes is just embarrassing for Target to allow someone like that to make hiring decisions. I think it was a legitimate point to bring up, but once I answered the question he should have moved on. (Also as I hiring manager I would have accepted the answer seeing the extenuating circumstances that were blatantly obvious). And he should have finished the interview instead of making a decision half way through based upon what was really only about 3 questions and his assumptions that me arriving 2 minutes late would make me a bad hiring decision. It was so bad I considered filing a complaint with Target corporate HR but didn't want to get "blacklisted" in case I ever wanted to apply again.
Interview questions [2]
Question 1
Tell me about a time that you had to handle a situation with a difficult customer?
You see a fellow associate take a soda from the sales floor to the break room without paying for it. When you confront him about it the associate tells you it is no big deal and that everyone does it. What would you do?
easy get to know you type interview, questions about background, basic stuff, like have you worked retail, do you like working with customers, do you want the job, what hours can you work, are you flexible
Nice. Good questions and seemed interested in attitude, satisfaction, etc prompt and started on tone by long turn manager and hr person and professionally done and very polite and tactful
It was fast, quick, professional, and straight to the point. I was explained the role and responsibilities for the position. Then was asked the hours that I was available and what hours the position called for.