Anytime you interview with Target, it’s like you’re that desperate person (you, the enthusiastic and eager candidate) who wants any bare minimum attention from the hot popular guy/gal at the party (Target). You, dear reader, not only have to possess all 5 Cs (confidence, competence, chemistry, culture fit and charisma) but you must know how to be very comfortable with rejection in the forms or ghosting, being lead on for weeks or months, to ambiguity and automated rejection letters. It’s exhausting and draining as Target usually ends up hiring someone the hiring manager already knows, which almost always, is someone internal. How does one get into the mystical and fantastical world of Target Creative if one possesses the technical skills, soft skills, AND possibly all 5 Cs (which I will never know what they think on their end but I believe that I possess all of them, humbly) but rather just not enough connections of folks from the inside with enough rank and influence to make one stand out from all the rest? Still a major fan of you, Target, and I look forward to when you might call me back with amazing news. Until then, hi Walmart, hi Kohl’s, hi JCP… I suppose I’ll take your offer instead. Forever in my heart, A hopeful hire

The Target culture that I experienced does not embrace an older applicant with a lot of varied experience, but rather a younger generation that does not necessarily have the qualifications.