First of all, as everyone else has said, this is not a fast process! Be prepared to wait it out! I applied online kind of as a whim, and a month and a half later I received an email from a recruiter for a phone interview. I was still a bit iffy on it, but we scheduled it out for 2 weeks later.
The phone interview is really more of a screening process and it was very easy. I was moved onto the next round.
This was an in-person interview with a Store Team Lead. It went really well. I was able to build rapport right off the bat. The STL was super nice and actually made me want to work at Target. We started out with just getting to know you types of questions, then onto the 5 STAR questions you've read a lot about on here. I didn't feel like I did very well on the STAR portion, but at the end of the interview, the STL told me how much he liked me and how he thought I would be a great asset to the company. I felt really good. I was interviewed on a Friday, and on Monday I heard back from someone at Target HQ to schedule my next interview, this time with another STL at a different store.
I did this interview on a Friday as well, later that same week. I really liked this STL a lot, she was very nice and she asked more follow-up questions, but I didn't feel nervous because she was very professional about it all and I could tell she was asking these questions for a reason. Again, this was the same format as the last interview: At the end, she told me more about the program so I felt like that was a good sign. I left and was feeling confident and excited about the position.
The following Wednesday I heard back, to schedule an interview with the District Team Lead. Throughout this process, the STLs I interviewed with kept telling me I'd hear from the recruiter, but she never contacted me again after the initial phone interview. I thought that was kind of weird. The only person I heard from was the HR person at HQ. Anyway, this interview was about 2 weeks out.
I drove over an hour to do this interview, and it was early in the morning, and I was getting sick! But I really wanted the job so I figured it was worth it. An employee walked me back to the district office, and from there, the DTL's receptionist gave me some drug testing paperwork to sign. I thought it was a good sign. However, as soon as I met the DTL I could tell he had written me off. He didn't seem at all interested in what I had to say and he didn't even bother writing down some of my answers. I knew they were doing a lot of interviews that day, but I was a bit put off. I know I didn't interview at the best level I could because he wouldn't even make eye contact with me. This format was similar, introductory questions and then the 5 STAR questions. However I was very uncomfortable the whole time and I knew he didn't even want to talk to me. I was rushed out the door after 10 minutes.
I knew after that I probably wouldn't get the job, and a week later I got the typical rejection email. I was a bit disappointed after having such positive experiences with the STLs that the DTL treated me with no respect. In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't get the job because I would've had to move to a state where there isn't much of anything, and I also got a job offer from a company for a position I feel more qualified for. I'm not sure why I was written off so quickly by the DTL; it could have been my lack of formal work experience. I'm glad I went through the process though because having to answer that many questions forces you to come up with creative answers.
I think as long as you are qualified, and friendly and bubbly (it is retail), then you will do great! Be patient and good luck!
