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My First Job Interview
acwing
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Long time lurker, first time poster... sorta.
So, I'm home for summer from college and I'm looking for my first job. I managed to snag an interview with Target tomorrow morning. Frankly, I'm really nervous. I'm not exactly sure what to expect. Obviously I'll want to be as composed as possible and present myself as a responsible individual.
This, like I mentioned, is my first interview/job. So H/A... any advice or tips on what I should do or expect?
If you guys need any more info on myself, just ask and I'll happily fill in the details.
Thanks in advance!
So, I'm home for summer from college and I'm looking for my first job. I managed to snag an interview with Target tomorrow morning. Frankly, I'm really nervous. I'm not exactly sure what to expect. Obviously I'll want to be as composed as possible and present myself as a responsible individual.
This, like I mentioned, is my first interview/job. So H/A... any advice or tips on what I should do or expect?
If you guys need any more info on myself, just ask and I'll happily fill in the details.
Thanks in advance!
acwing on
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- Be prepared with a few questions of your own to ask the interviewer.
- Thank the interviewer at the end, and send a thank you note ASAP (I prefer written to e-mail).
Also, most importantly, try to stay relaxed. The world will not end if you fuck up, and the interviewer does not want you to fail.
Erm, yeah.
I've seen so many people be overly humble in job interviews that it's painful. The interviewer knows nothing of your strengths unless you tell them. (The resume is a VERY unreliable way of ascertaining strengths.)
The general rule of thumb is, unless its a fast food place, wear a suit to the interview.
It's Target.
Target.
I agree with this bit, its a bit over the top. The OP will probably feel more comfortable in button down shirt and slacks, relaxed but not looking like a slob if its his first interview.
If you don't know how to answer a question remember to keep eye contact and even if you are wrong don't panic. For example, if they say to you "Have you any previous experience as a cashier?" and you haven't, admit that you haven't but stress that you'd like to learn because you understand its fundamental for the job/trade. Be yourself.
Do IT jobs have different expectations? I go dressed to whatever daily dresscode that they have, and I try to make myself look the part...
When I go for Best Buy interviews I wear a blue polo, when I went for my CCity interview I wore a red polo, my current job I wore a polo, color didn't matter...
The idea for me is to try and make myself someone they can actually see as working for them... Unless your trying to get a relaly high profile job, I'd say dodge the suit...
But again, I'm IT so we may have lower dress standards....
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Same here.
and DO NOT WEAR A SUIT FOR A TARGET INTERVIEW. There is such a thing of being TOO dressed up. Makes you look like you don't know what the job is about. You want to dress one level up then what you are applying for. Collar button down shirt is more than enough for target.
Then you're probably AOK just being yourself, as you are more than qualified for retail.
If I remember from back when I worked retail in HS/College, they will likely ask you where you see yourself in 5 years. If you don't have an answer, graduate school or studying for any form of advanced degree (business, law, etc) is always a good one.
Best of luck.
Oh, and you don't need a suit, slacks and a nice shirt should be fine.
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"Every time you have to go back to job hunting (for your first interview or after having been employed for a long time) you're going to have to relearn interviewing. It's a skill, and it takes practice. Never have the first job interview you do be for the job you want most of all. You will inevitably make some sort of mistake, and the first interview might need to be treated as a learning experience. Interview a few times with jobs you can stand to not have so that you warm up for the really important ones."
Do not complain about anything at all. They might ask you about your past employers (if you had them) or maybe how school or life at home is going. They are all amazingly positive experiences and you have nothing bad to say about any of them. Hearing people complain about past jobs or stupid teachers or parents is a turn off in an interview. Be very positive about anything they ask you about.
If it's not a management or salary position, I'd say button up shirt, dress pants, and dress shoes. No suit.
Also, having been interviewed/hired by Target on two separate occasions, it's a breeze. I was hired on the spot both times. You will first be interviewed by an office employee, then if they really like you, you'll have a second interview right away with a manager. Stand and sit up straight, smile a lot, give a good handshake, nod your head, look like you're paying attention and agree with everything.
Target is all about being a team, and they want team players. Yes, you work great with others, you have lots of experience working in a team, and you enjoy working with and meeting new people.
The purpose of that question is simply to see if you can recognize areas in yourself that need improvement. Think of a few things you can talk about, but also mention ways you are working on them. They don't want you to blow smoke up their ass by trying to come up with "weaknesses" that can be considered strengths.
Also try to inject a bit of mild humour at this point, because it is one of the rare moments you will really be able to leave a memorable moment in their mind.
For example,
"I am a terrible speller. You won't find me competing in any spelling bees. I work on that from time to time, and I find reading helps a lot."
NOT
"Sometimes I try too hard. I have to remind myself that I need to slow down sometimes."
Interviews are fun. It's a game, so play. Even though it's only for a sales position in Target, one of my favorite pieces of advice from my dad (who has hired and fired loads of people), "I always ask myself, would I invite this person to my house for dinner?". Be likeable, don't go into "OMG BOSS!" mode, talk to this person like a person.
As said before, eye contact is paramount and will show that you will be able to talk to customers like you communicate to the interviewer.
Try to have a question or two to ask. Interviewers always ask you if you have any questions at the ends, so if you have something to ask about the company or the position it shows your interest.
They will probably ask something like "Why do you think you would be good here?" Try to apply your other real world/college experience to the position and the tasks you will be performing.
And Good Luck!!
A lot of people are saying "Don't be nervous!" Well if you are nervous, you can't really help it. Just try not to let it show. Don't wear clothes that you will sweat easy in and wear lots of antiperspirant. Don't fidget in your chair, but don't sit like an immobile object either. Just remember it will be over before you know it.
Looks like mere covered some points I made too. But I want to add, they will probably ask for specific examples, so try to think of things before hand so you don't get caught it an ummm.... moment. Things like when did you have to meet a deadline, how did you handle a stressful situation or an irritated person.
I will admit that there are people who I thought were hireable who talked themselves out of a job, but almost never the other way around. Look the part and act confident even if you aren't.
I just got back from the interview and I think I did alright. I didn't do amazing, but I don't think I did too terrible. There were some questions that I didn't expect, but probably should have. I stumbled a little on those ones, unfortunately. The manager wasn't there so I didn't get that second part of the interview like some of you mentioned.
So I guess my next question for now is, for those of you who have been interviewed at Target before, what should I expect from the manager's interview?
I can't remember it verbatim, but I think it was along those lines. I just remember it being kinda dumb or a little bit contrived for whatever reason.
I couldn't think of anything and I started to panic, so I said there was a time when my girlfriend was sick, so I ran her errands for her, and she was happy. It felt like a really weak answer, but I couldn't think of anything else on the spot.
I've run into those questions before. It's always good ahead of time to think of a time you turned a bad situation around in your life. It doesn't need to be some mindblowing act of awesome, but more of how you addressed and resolved a problem.
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