Target Hiring Overview For 2023

Is Target on the Ban the Box list?

The Ban the Box campaign advocated by civil rights groups gets companies to remove the box asking about criminal history from their applications. Its sister movement, the Fair Chance Business Pledge, works to help former felons be treated equally.

In 2013, Target announced plans to remove the previous conviction question from the initial employment application nationwide. The process was finalized in 2014, and Target no longer gathers criminal history information from applicants until the interview process. They are on the list!

This is great news. You will be initially looked at based on your experiences, not your criminal history.

Does Target have any special programs for hiring felons?

Target does not have any specific programs for hiring felons. However, other companies in your community do. Always check with your local workforce center or job placement agencies, though. They have knowledge about their specific communities and will point you in the right direction.

What are the odds someone with a felony will get hired?

We think there is a high chance you’ll get hired at Target with a felony. While it is great that they don’t ask about criminal convictions on the application, they still perform background checks and will discover your criminal history. Ultimately there is no guarantee, but you have a better shot here than elsewhere.

What are some entry-level jobs?

Target is a growing company, which is a testament to the value customers place in them. In just three months, the number of shoppers in their stores increased by three percent. More shoppers means they need more employees.

So, what kind of jobs can you expect at Target? If you look at their employment page, you will likely always find postings for positions such as the following:

• Cashiers
• Sales floor members
• Food service assistant
• Logistics team (shelf stocking)
• Electronics department member
• Beauty team member

For these jobs, you can expect light labor, like cleaning, stocking shelves and getting the shopping carts out of the parking lot. Most of these entry-level positions do not require a high level of education, though you should always highlight your skills on the initial application and in an interview.

Does this sound like something you want to do? More importantly, does it sound like something you can do? Remember, there’s always room for growth. You are building your resume just by being employed.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

One of the best ways to get a job at Target with a felony is to show you would make an excellent team member from the moment you show up. Get online and explore the positions you are interested in applying for, then get your resume together.

We’ve put together an excellent guide to building a resume for former offenders put their best foot forward. Read it here.

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t have experience in this area. Get creative. What jobs did you hold in prison that can translate to real-world skills? Dorm jobs, librarians, kitchen workers, clerks, and more, are all positions that have given you valuable skills.

Think about the things you can put on a resume after working those jobs:

• Organizational skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Kitchen work experience (for Target’s food services)

Choose the store you want to apply for and go there in person. Yes, you can apply online, but getting face-to-face with the person who will be hiring you is always better. When you show up, be positive and upbeat. Make sure you are well-dressed and groomed.

You don’t want a manager’s first thought to be, “I bet they did time.” You want them to think, “I want this person on my team.”

We could not find any information regarding Target’s tattoo policy. So, if you went a little crazy with the prison tats, cover them up the best you can when you first go put an application in or for an interview.

If it is getting close to a holiday, they may be looking for immediate help. If you land an interview, that is your opportunity to explain your record and let them know how much you’ve changed. Ask questions about the job you are applying for and about the company. This will show them you are interested.

Yes, Target does perform background checks. Like we reported in the beginning of this article, Target does believe it is still important to consider a person’s criminal conviction history when making hiring decisions. While this doesn’t necessarily disqualify you, it is something you should be aware of.

Here’s what you need to know about background checks:

Some states don’t even look at offenses that are more than seven years ago. If you are on that sixth year, you may want to wait a year before applying. These states don’t look at your record if it’s been seven years since your conviction:

• California
• Colorado*
• Kansas*
• Maryland*
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire*
• New York*
• Texas*
• Washington*

*sometimes certain pay or salary bracket positions require one.

Guess what? There are some states that do not even show court cases where you were found not guilty. Eight states are currently on this list:

• Alaska
• California
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New York

However, there are still many states that look at your whole record, even the cases where you were found not guilty. If you live in one of these states, that they will see everything:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• DC
• Delaware
• Florida
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Company ratings

Because Target is such a large company, they have thousands of reviews on the site glassdoor.com. Target has a 3.4 score out of a possible 5 and 63% of respondents say they would recommend working at Target to a friend.

Most of the comments from former employees were positive. The negative comments, however, revolve mostly around what you would expect from a large store: very busy, some bad supervisors and the pay is a little low.

What felonies Target will not hire

We don’t have any direct “no” responses from the company about records that will make them turn an applicant away. Read on for more.

What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?

Does Target hire felons? Yes, but do they hire someone with your type of felony? There are some felonies that will stop you from getting hired. Remember earlier when we said that Target looks at each individual’s case? Here are some cases where your record may make it harder for you to get hired:

• Theft convictions. Most employers will be hesitant to hire someone with a theft conviction to work around money or products.
• Sex crime convictions. Because Target stores draw many customers and want to maintain a family friendly environment, they will likely be hesitant to hire those who have been convicted of a sex crime, particularly if your crime involved a minor.

Be aware of your convictions when you apply for certain positions. You’ll more than likely be able to find work in an area where you don’t have a conflict. They may hire you for their warehouse or some other area that lets you get a second chance so you can work on rebuilding your life with a reputable company.

Does Target hire sex offenders?

Again, this is one of those questions the company hasn’t made clear. We’re simply not sure, but online responses suggest this kind of background will make it harder for you to get the job.

Does Target drug test?

We could not find a specific policy related to drug testing. However, in our research, we found they typically do not drug test regular employees. It seems that they will for managers, however.

Have you applied for a job or worked here before? Share your experiences!

We want to hear your experiences, specifically on how to get hired at Target. If you’ve gotten a job there with a felony or misdemeanor conviction, tell us how you did it and what the hiring process was like.

Thanks for stopping by and good luck with your job search!