When I updated my LinkedIn account a few weeks ago, a name
popped out as a possible contact and I immediately recognized someone whom I've
run with a few years ago. I remembered that she worked in the human resources
department of Target, so I thought, what the heck, I'll try to apply for a
position totally unrelated to healthcare and see if I'd like it. I could use
some new challenges even if the pay is lower. So I scoured the Target website
for positions that interested me and found one as a night shift backroom member,
with little idea of what it involved. I thought it meant taking products from the
backroom and stocking the shelves. Two days after filling out the online
application, I received a call and was set up for an interview on a Monday
morning at 5:30 a.m., which I thought was a very unusual time for an interview. But
first, I went to the place two days before the interview to scout it and
ask one of the workers what the hours for night shift were (10 p.m to 6 a.m.). I
also checked out the inner and outer perimeter of the store. Having done that,
I found the door where I was supposed to ring the buzzer on my interview day.
I arrived at the site
at the precise time and was given a short test which involved some work
situations and how I would respond to them, plus some math problems about
product stocks and shipping distances. Now I don't know about you, but at 5:30
a.m. with brain fog is not exactly a good time for me to be solving math
problems. After I turned in my test, the first shift leader/interviewer said
they don't check those answers anyway. Well, thanks a lot pal! My addled brain
had to go all the way back to high school to figure out formulas on how to
solve those math questions! I had to think long and hard but I think I got the
correct answers. He posed more questions on how I would respond to certain work
situations, then I was asked to wait in the employee break room for a second
shift leader/interviewer. The second interviewer explained what the job
involved, which basically was unloading delivery trucks, opening the boxes, and
distributing the products to the proper area of the store, then tearing down
the boxes and cleaning the distribution work area. He gave me a few more
scenarios and how I would respond to them. They were hypothetical questions
about safety, co-workers, supervisors, and moving merchandise. His main concern
was that I didn't have any experience with the job I applied for and also that
they didn't have a full time position that I desired. Since Thanksgiving and
Christmas was approaching, it was going to be their busiest time of the year
but they only needed seasonal workers, and that meant there would be no
benefits like insurance coverage. After the interview, I was told that I would
be receiving a call or email whether I would be hired or not.
I was actually quite apprehensive about applying for this
type of job because after all, I've been working in hospitals for the past 32
years. It would be challenging of course if I were offered the position, but on
the other hand I won't have to deal with potentially violent psychiatric
patients anymore. When you start perceiving the behavior of psych patients as
normal, then you may already be one of them, LOL!
In the end, a few days after the interview, I received an
email saying that they will not be hiring me. No doubt it was due to my
inexperience. Looks like my human resources connection didn't help :( Nonetheless,
that is okay by me. It may have been interesting to learn the system though. Thanks for the interview Target. I found it to be very interesting :)
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