I worked for Target Distribution Center in 2006 and 2007, when I was living in Dekalb, Illinois attending college. I was pleased with working there, so when I completed my degree and saw they were looking for Executive Team Leaders in Wisconsin, (where I live now) I jumped at the chance to interview. I had a short discussion with a Store Team Leader at a job fair held at my university. I was very happy to be offered a official interview the next week. I attended the first formal interview and interviewed with 2 different Store Team Leads and I left the interview feeling great and ready to meet with the District Team Lead the next day. One of the interviewers during my first formal interview even stated that she felt I had great communication and leadership skills and that my 5 different internships in the past made me the perfect candidate for the Executive Team Leader position. The next day I attended the interview with the District Team Leader and this was when my feelings and thoughts about Target as a place to work changed. First, he was a completely rude and disorganized individual. My interview was at 12:30 pm and I was 10 minutes early and I waited for 35 minutes before he came out of the office to greet me. I listened as he called one of the secretaries in the office to discuss lunch and his plans for the evening. I still kept a positive attitude and as we interviewed I felt like he was simply going through the motions and he had no interest in hiring me for the position. He then told me that he had heard great things about me from the other interviewers. Then the conversation become strange to me. He stated that he tells all candidates for the Executive Team Lead position. that they would also be considered for a lower paying and less responsible position called Senior Team Lead. He then asked me if I would consider that position. I told him I would consider it but I was there to interview for the Executive Team Leader position. He told me that the position would be a stepping stone for those that may not have as many leadership skills under their belt. I was extremely insulted. I have had 5 different internships, 3 where I was leading teams of interns in the end. I have had several supervisory positions in food service, retail, and currently hold a lead position at my current job in the Telecommunications division at the local police department. I have held leadership positions in Student government and other organizations throughout college as well. All of these positions and experiences are on my resume and you could not miss them I was upset by this statement. So, I left the interview very confused by the juxtaposing statements by the interviewers. The only thing that I thought was that this District Team Lead was not appreciative of diversity in his stores. I will not blantantly call him a racist, but I am a African-American female that showed up in his suburban office with experience and he wanted to offer me a position paying me the same thing I make now and with no firm advancement outlook. I got a call 3 weeks later from his secretary offering me the lower paying position and I declined it. I do not have a different perspective on Target but, I know that if I was in a more diverse area in the country I would be in the Executive Team Lead position. I have slowly discovered that I have to leave Wisconsin to find success as a minority.

Got the interview from a career fair. Met with one person who handled hiring and had a great conversation and had one other phone interview. Asked me relevant questions and I was excited about the role