Agenda.

• 5:30 -- 6:00 Arrival/Mingle/ Food
• 6:00 -- 6:15 Introduction and Target Overview
• 6:15 – 6:30 Interview Tips
• 6:30 – 7:30 Mock Interview Practice
• 7:30 – 8:00 Networking

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As technical experts, we share commonalities:

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• Safety​
• Quality​
• R&D/Innovation
• Design/Aesthetics​
• Sustainability​ (e.g., Circular Designs)
• Reliability and Efficiencies
• Total Cost Ownership
• ​Vendor Partnerships and Consultant Management

Engineering @ Target.

Target Tech

• Defines the patterns that allow to scale to meet the needs of the business
• Which technologies to use and how to apply them 

• Protects guest information
• Protects targets sensitive data from bad actors 

• An ecosystem of trusted, powerful, and easy to use analytical data & tools to accelerate science and analytics at Target

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• Combines software and systems engineering to build and run large-scale, massively distributed, fault-tolerant systems, and harden business critical services

Architecture

Cyber-Security

Data Sciences

Infrastructure

Product Engineering

• Plans, designs, delivers and supports infrastructure products and technologies for forward guest facing teams 
• Deploy, run and manage Target technology while controlling cost, ensuring operational health 

Target NSBE Leaders

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Raymond Smith Byrd

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Chauncy Curtis

Properties

Karen Reeder

GSCL

Chanice Edwards

GSCL

Shannan Watkins

Owned Brand

Product Design

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Interview Tips: Stories

NSBE External Engagement

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• Think of 3-4 stories you want to tell
• Frame these stories up with a headline, then move into the situation, behavior, and outcome (SBO)
• Try to practice these stories with all the questions and be able to tell the entire story in 2-3 mins

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TLP Program: Taylor

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TLP Program Experience: Hamza

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TLP Program: Ikraan

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Professional Attire & Presentation

NSBE External Engagement

• Dress one level above the standard company dress code
• You can ask the recruiter or hiring manager about the dress code
• It is better to dress up than dress down

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Interview Tips: SBO / STAR Method

NSBE External Engagement

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• Situation: The context of set up of the story
• Behavior: What specific actions you took
• Outcome: The results or improvements

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• Situation
• Task
• Action
• Results

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• SBO works better for uncertain situations and roles that require autonomy

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Successful Interviews

NSBE External Engagement

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• Concise: The candidate was able to tell the story in a concise and timely manner

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• Interesting: The stories are interesting and have a challenge to overcome, like the plot in a show or story

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• Understanding of employer concerns: The candidate has researched the company and understands the challenges and opportunities of the company

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• Beneficial to the employer: The candidate was able to highlight their skills and how they can benefit the employer

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Mock Interview

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Mock Interview Session (1 hour – group based )

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• Go to the table that best aligns with your major/background
• Split up in groups, try to balance tables (max 6 at a table)
• 1 hour total, each professional volunteer will go through 3-4 interview questions using the open roles that best represent the groups major

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• (5 min): Quick Intros and interviewer shares career insight

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• 15-20 min: Discuss 1-2 interview scenarios together as a group using STAR Method
• 15-20 min: Pair up and ask each other 1 question and volunteer goes around giving feedback
• 15 min: feedback and key takeaways

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Mock Interview Volunteers

Dwight Howell

Director, Store Design

Urban design/

Engineering

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Dwight Howell

Director, Store Design

Urban design/

Engineering

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Mock Interview Volunteers

Dwight Howell

Director, Store Design

Urban design/

Engineering

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Dwight Howell

Director, Store Design

Urban design/

Engineering

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16

Mock Interview Questions

NSBE External Engagement

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Talk to us about your background, prior work, training, or other experiences that have prepared you for this role?

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Take time to describe:

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• Any relevant skills, experiences, or attributes.

• Why you are interested in this position.

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Mock Interview Questions

NSBE External Engagement

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Describe how you work with people who think differently than you do.       

• How do you create a fair and unbiased environment?
• This question is assessing inclusivity.

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Mock Interview Questions

NSBE External Engagement

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Describe how you partner with others to find creative solutions.

• How do you use your relationships to identify partners and solutions to explore?
• This question is assessing connection.   

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Mock Interview Questions

NSBE External Engagement

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.   Describe how you make sure your work is impactful.

• What criteria do you use to determine what’s truly the best approach to a project or solution for a problem?
• This question is assessing drive.

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