The university’s American Marketing Association hosted a recruiter from Target on Tuesday to discuss interview and resume techniques.
Theresa Owens is a field campus recruiter for Target in the Maryland, D.C. and northern Virginia areas.
Owens led the presentation and is the person you would encounter if interviewing for an internship or full-time entry level position at Target in any of the aforementioned areas.
According to Owens, the person you are interviewing with has a lot to do with the outcome regardless of what you say and do.
“Just like with anything else, there are certain people you hit it off immediately with and other people, you could spend a year with them, 24/7, and you would just never connect,” said Owens.
Owens added that you should customize your resume to the position and company in which you are applying.
The interviewee should be sure to tell the interviewer why they are right for the position, outline their skills, gain information about the position and find out if they are right for the position.
According to Owens, the warm-up speech can be a very useful preparation tactic. It should be 3 to 4 minutes long and hit the high points you want to convey to the interviewer.
During the interview you should identify the competition and say what makes you different from others that may be applying.
“At Target, we are interested in the individual,” said Owens.
According to Owens, some good questions to ask at the end of the interview include inquiring about the training you will receive at the job, asking what your duties and responsibilities will be and asking what a typical day is like working at the company.
One other question that Michelle Doan, executive team leader of human resources, added is to ask about the culture at the company.
“It gives you a good snapshot of what you will be walking into and it shows that you are interested in more than just the position,” said Doan.
Owens added that you should never ask controversial or negative questions during the interview.
The last points involved follow-ups and included tips such as making sure you are thoughtful in the follow-up and be sure not to be too eager.