As teens prepare to enter the workforce, the first query is the minimum employment age. For many, retail giants like Target, with numerous locations across the country, is an excellent first choice. So, what is Target’s minimum hiring age?
You have to be at least 16 years of age for a Target store job, whereas for the distribution center, the minimum employee age is bumped to 18 years old. The 16 years minimum age rule follows the legal working age for most states in the US.
Read on as we discuss everything there is to know about landing a job at Target, as well as employee benefits.
What Is The Minimum Wage at Target?
At the time of writing, the minimum wage at Target is $15/ hour, compared to the federal minimum of $7.25. However, the retail heavyweights have announced to increase their starting wage up to $24 for some workers and job positions.
The raise in the starting wage will depend on various other factors like local wage data and the market. However, this move comes with a $300 million investment by Target to provide early access to healthcare, and 401(k) plans to employees.
What are The Job Application Requirements at Target?
Target also demands a few other documents that attest to a person’s ability to work in the US, apart from meeting the age minimum age requirements.
You need to present legal proof to work in the country. Moreover, the employers require a Social Security number, contact information, permanent address, and proof of identification like a valid ID or driver’s license.
They will also ask for information about your education and (if applicable) employment experience. Make sure that you can start the job within 60 days after applying for a position.
However, for 16-year-olds, there are additional restrictions imposed by Federal Law regarding their work hours (which should not be more than 40 hours a week/ maximum of 8 hours a day) and nightwork prohibition in some states.
At 16 years of age, there are specific jobs that you cannot apply for, like team leadership roles. However, you can still go for Target store jobs like stock persons, cashier, food service team member, and sales floor team member. Once you are 18 years old, you can apply for a more advanced position within the company – so there is plenty of room for career development.
What Kind of Benefits do Target Employees Receive?
70% of Target employees say it is an excellent place to work partly because of the benefits. Apart from a significantly higher minimum wage than the federal standards, Target provides healthcare, financial, time off, and educational benefits. Although the eligibility for such benefits depends on the employee’s time at the company, hours worked, and location. Some of the perks of working at Target include:
- 10% discount in-store and online.
- Health, dental, vision care plans
- Life insurance
- Disability insurance (short and long term)
- Well-being time, vacation, and family leave
- TGT 401(k) plans
- Debt-free education assistance
The benefit eligibility is calculated every year for hourly employees, with the average hours calculated according to the previous year. You can learn more about all the employee benefits at Target here.
How to Apply for Jobs at Target
You can apply for your preferred job at Target online. First, go to their Career page and select the job you’d like to apply for – you can add filters regarding job positions and choose the locations that work for you.
Once you click on the “Apply Now” option, it will take 15 minutes to fill out the job application form. If, in any case, you are unable to complete the application in one go, it will remain in the system for 96 hours, and you can resume again within those hours.
You will be asked for your e-signature, after which your application will formally be submitted for review. After applying for the position, an email will confirm your submission. To check the status of your application, you can log onto your candidate profile and find the required information under the “My Applications” tab.
Does Target Allow You to Apply for Multiple Jobs?
You can use the same candidate profile to simultaneously apply for more than one job with Target. However, before applying for multiple positions, read the requirements to see if the job is within your interests and expertise.
What Kind of Questions Get Asked in Target Interviews?
Once you clear the initial stages of the hiring process, you will be asked for an interview. At Target, the recruiters usually ask behavior-based questions. However, they may change with the job role.
In most circumstances, the questions are about a past situation and how you handled it. Therefore, the best course of answering such questions is to explain how you chose to behave to resolve the matter and what was the actual outcome of your decisions. To learn more about what Target recruiters look for in the applicants, you can read tips to answer interview questions in the best way here.
Does Target Conduct Background and Drug Tests for Applicants?
All potential Target employees undergo a screening process, which includes a background check after they accept their conditional job offer.
Moreover, Target has a Drug Free Workplace policy, which means that drug screening is compulsory for specific jobs. Therefore, if the job you have been offered requires a drug test, you will be told at the time of accepting the offer. After this, you will have 24 hours to complete the drug screening process. If the screening is not conducted within the acceptable time frame, it may result in Target retracting its conditional job offer.
The Bottom Line
The minimum employee age at Target is 16 years. However, roles at the distribution centers require the applicants to be at least 18 years of age. At 16, Target offers you an entry-level job at the store, such as a cashier, stock person, or sales team member.
However, there are various opportunities for career enhancement along the line, which make you eligible for excellent employee benefits such as healthcare and 401(k) plans.