1.
Why are you interested in the position, and what relevant knowledge and
experiences do you have?
*"Hi, my name is Nobu and I am currently a senior at Leland High School. I’m
excited about the opportunity to work at Target because I truly admire its
commitment to excellent customer service and creating a welcoming environment
for guests. I enjoy working in fast-paced environments where I can interact with
people and contribute to a team.
One of my most relevant experiences is founding and running a nonprofit tutoring
organization, where I recruited over 20 bilingual tutors and organized more than
500 lessons. This experience strengthened my leadership, communication, and
organizational skills—all of which I believe are essential for providing great
service at Target.
Additionally, I have experience working with people from different backgrounds,
thanks to my tutoring work and my involvement in competitive varsity wrestling.
Through these experiences, I’ve learned how to be adaptable, patient, and
solution-oriented. I’m also fluent in Japanese and English, which would allow me
to assist a diverse range of customers.
I believe my ability to communicate effectively, stay organized, and work
collaboratively makes me a strong candidate for this role at Target."*
2. Describe how you learn and adjust when an experience does not turn out as
expected.
*"I believe challenges are opportunities to learn and improve. A great example of
this was when my tutoring organization faced a tutor shortage. We had more
students signing up than we could support, so I had to personally cover extra
tutoring sessions until we could recruit more volunteers.
At first, we expected to find enough tutors quickly through word-of-mouth, but that
didn’t go as planned—we weren’t getting as many volunteers as we needed.
Realizing that we needed a new approach, I decided to revamp our marketing
strategy. I created a social media presence to raise awareness about our mission,
and we designed vibrant posters to display at various high schools to attract
bilingual volunteers.
This new strategy was a success—I was able to recruit over 20 bilingual tutors,
allowing us to support more students effectively. This experience taught me the
importance of adapting to challenges, thinking creatively, and staying persistent
when things don’t go as planned. If I face an unexpected challenge at Target, I
would take the same approach—analyzing the situation, adjusting my strategy, and
working toward a solution to keep everything running smoothly."*
3. How do you work with people who have different perspectives than your
own?
*"I believe working with people who have different perspectives is a great
opportunity to learn and grow. A good example of this was during a group project
in one of my AP classes. My teammate and I had very different ideas on how to
present our research—he wanted a detailed report, while I preferred a more visual
approach with infographics.
Instead of dismissing one idea over the other, I suggested that we combine both
approaches. We worked together to create a well-rounded presentation that
included both a detailed written report and engaging visuals. Our teacher praised us
for making complex information easy to understand.
This experience taught me that the best solutions often come from collaborating
and integrating different perspectives. If I were to face a similar situation at Target,
I would approach it with the same mindset—listening to my teammates, finding
common ground, and working together to deliver the best results for our guests."*
4. Describe how you have worked with another person to achieve a goal.
*"One of my best teamwork experiences was when I worked with a fellow tutor to
improve lesson engagement for younger students. We noticed that some students
were losing interest during long sessions, so we decided to create a more
interactive approach by incorporating games and storytelling into our lessons.
I focused on structuring the lessons in a way that made learning fun, while my
teammate designed creative activities to reinforce key concepts. By combining our
efforts, we saw a significant improvement in student participation and
comprehension.
This experience taught me the value of collaboration, adaptability, and
communication in reaching a common goal. At Target, I would bring the same
teamwork skills by working closely with my colleagues to ensure smooth
operations and the best possible experience for customers."*
5. Imagine you are on the sales floor and see a guest who appears to need
assistance. How do you proceed?
*"If I noticed a guest who seemed to need assistance, I would approach them with
a friendly and welcoming demeanor. I’d say something like, ‘Hi, you look like you
might be searching for something. How can I help?’
Once they share what they’re looking for, I would guide them directly to the
product, offer recommendations if needed, and answer any questions they have. If
I’m unfamiliar with the product, I’d let them know I’ll find the right information or
connect them with a team member who specializes in that area.
Throughout the interaction, I’d stay engaged and ensure they have a positive
experience. Before they leave, I’d ask if they need any further assistance to make
sure they find everything they came for. My goal would be to provide helpful,
efficient, and friendly service that reflects Target’s commitment to customer
satisfaction."*
6. Are you able to fulfill all the job requirements, including lifting, scheduling
flexibility, and attendance?
*"Yes, I am fully able to meet all the job requirements. I understand that working at
Target involves lifting and moving merchandise, working a flexible schedule
including nights and weekends, and maintaining regular attendance.
Through my experience as a varsity wrestler, I’ve developed the physical
endurance and discipline needed for demanding tasks. Additionally, my
background in tutoring and organizing lessons has taught me to manage my
schedule effectively and stay committed to my responsibilities.
I am confident that I can perform all essential functions of the role and will bring a
strong work ethic and positive attitude to the team."*
