- What should your Target resume include?
- How can you create a professional summary?
- How should you describe your work experience on a Target resume?
- Include a fitting Target resume education and certifications section
- Which key skills are relevant for a Target resume?
- How to select the most impactful Target resume template
- Copyable Target resume example
- Key takeaways for writing an Target resume
Target is a major retail enterprise with nearly 2,000 stores and over 400,000 employees across the U.S. They have many job openings, numerous opportunities for advancement, and generous benefits packages. But to get your foot in the door, you’ll need a great resume. That’s where we come in!
This resume guide will cover the following topics:
What should a Target resume include
Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education)
Adding relevant key skills to your resume
Choosing the right resume template for Target
What should your Target resume include?
When you’re applying for a job with Target, it’s important to show that you have the specific skills and experience required to thrive in the job opening and are invested in the company. You'll also want to display your customer-centric outlook, strong work ethic, and team-focused approach. Target’s ethos is
“don’t just work somewhere, work somewhere you love.” So, it’s all about showcasing your skills, experience, and achievements, and doing this in a passionate way.
Your Target resume should contain the following elements:
The resume header with your contact information
The resume branding statement and summary
The employment history section
The resume skills section
The education section
How can you create a professional summary?
Start your resume with an introduction that summarizes your top-notch skills and qualifications. This is your first chance to grab the recruiters attention and make them want to keep reading. If you lose them in the introduction, you’re doomed. To keep your resume out of the recycle bin, put some high-value keywords in your summary. To find keywords, go back to the job description that you’re applying for and search for any words related to skills or abilities. Look for anything that is repeated or emphasized as important, so you can demonstrate that you’re the perfect fit for the Target role.
One way to ensure a strong start to your resume is by including a resume branding statement to headline your professional summary. This short statement tells recruiters the unique qualities and value you can bring to the job opening and company. Our example shows you how to do this perfectly, by outlining your level of experience and achievements in a short, punchy, and impactful sentence.
See our adaptable Target resume summary below.
Accomplished, skilled Retail Management Professional with 10 years of continually progressive experience in high-volume store sales strategy, training design, team engagement, and customer service excellence. Results-oriented sales leader with a rich foundation in retail store operations and the distinct ability to blend a consultative leadership style with an understanding of team needs to produce results. Dynamic communicator recognized for developing future store leaders and consistently exceeding sales goals in support of organizational success.
How should you describe your work experience on a Target resume?
Hiring managers are interested in your work experience and how this relates to the job opening they are trying to fill. Your goal should be to show off your assets quickly and efficiently so the Target recruiter is compelled to move you forward in the hiring process. Keep each job description short, around 4 to 6 lines, to detail your core duties and responsibilities that are most relevant to the Target job opening. Following the paragraph descriptions, use bullet points to highlight relevant achievements in each role.
While the most impactful results are ones you can measure (with the all-important numbers), you should still include accomplishments you can’t quantify. For example, you might describe how you recommended a new process to improve customer service delivery, or how your supervisor selected you to train new staff members following your strong performance.
Here are two examples of how to highlight your contributions with quantifiable information and without:
Achieved 6% sales growth within five months in position, and met both sales and payroll goals.
Served as the Region 200 Operations Trainer within the Western Region and Northern California Operations Certified Trainer.
Take a look at the adaptable Target resume employment history section below.
Store Team Leader at Target Corporation, Various Locations 2001 - Present
Successfully lead an eight-person executive team in managing distinct store departments while administering payroll and store cost centers.
Simultaneously operate San Francisco store financials while managing the San Bruno location.
Closely maintain product and merchandise selection through innovative store presentation
Guided 300-member staff to surpass holiday retail seasonal goals, which represented a 2% sales increase over the previous year.
Achieved 6% sales growth within five months in position, and met both sales and payroll goals.
Served as the Region 200 Operations Trainer within the Western Region and Northern California Operations Certified Trainer.
Improved the customer survey score by 18 points within 21 days in order to complete the Green desired outcome, and by 28 points overall.
Enhanced store sales and financial results by introducing a team-lead-team model.
Oversaw the delivery of six trucks each week and resolved issues related to the fixed-store logistics merchandise push and unload process.
Executive of Operations at Target Corporation, San Francisco 2014 - 2018
Promoted to spearhead store financials and profitability as the Assistant Store Manager, which represented a seamless transition from loss prevention to store management.
Managed and mentored a team of 12 executives in the absence of the Store Manager.
Responsible for Logistics and Receiving day-to-day process; managed store payroll.
Closely monitored and organized store sales data and financial results.
Analyzed monthly financial data in order to communicate key store financial issues to more than 200 employees.
Conceptualized and launched aggressive sales strategy, which directly led to sales and profitability growth.
Appointed to serve as both the Western Region Operations Trainer and Northern California Operations Trainer.
Led the hiring process; designed and delivered training to more than 200 new employees, including 20 direct reports.
Recognized for earning the highest company score on the Company Headquarters Assessment.
Played an integral role in designing and implementing daytime replenishment and reverse logistics processes.
Met store sales and financial goals within the first year of store operations, representing $63M in annual revenue.
Assets Protection & Loss Prevention at Target Corporation, Daly City, CA 2012 - 2014
Promoted to oversee internal investigations and overall loss prevention, while serving as the G290 AP Trainer and Business College Trainer.
Recognized for closing more internal investigations than any other store in the region.
Minimized stock shortage by $618K within 18 months in position.
Expert Tip
Companies are always impressed by candidates that are passionate about their values
Demonstrating that company values resonate with you, as well as providing examples of how you’ve applied these values in your career to date, is one way to stand out in the candidate pool. Your resume is your first opportunity to send this message to the hiring manager. Target has the following core values:
Inclusivity: We value diverse voices and approaches. We act with authenticity and respect. We create equitable experiences for all.
Connection: We build trusted relationships. We collaborate across business functions. We recognize and celebrate progress.
Drive: We do what is right for Target, our team and guests. We deliver results that matter. We continually learn by valuing progress over perfection.
Our resume example shows exactly how you can highlight your commitment to inclusivity, collaborative approach, and drive to deliver results that matter across your professional summary, core expertise, and career experience sections.
Include a fitting Target resume education and certifications section
You may think that including an education and certifications section isn’t that critical on a Target resume, but it’s actually pretty important. Recruiters will view your education as an asset and value your commitment to continued professional development. When crafting your education section consider:
List your education in reverse order with the highest degree first. If you haven’t completed a college degree, just focus on your job-related training (a high school diploma does not need to be included).
List any certifications you’ve completed or are working towards. Just make sure they are relevant to the specific job opening, such as customer service, team leadership, merchandising, supply chain etc.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration at California State University, Hayward
Which key skills are relevant for a Target resume?
Target hiring managers will be searching for job candidates with a specific skill set, and this will vary broadly depending on the role you’re applying for. Scrutinize the job description for keyword inspiration, in particular any specific skills or experience that are emphasized or repeated. You can then include these skills directly.
Sprinkle these keywords across the resume, but make sure you incorporate keywords specific to each job opportunity in the areas of expertise section. This will ensure that the resume performs well not only when reviewed by a human, but also when parsed by the applicant tracking system that Target uses to screen incoming resumes. (To learn more about conquering the ATS, check out our article Resume ATS optimization.)
Consider including the following skills if they apply to your job experience:
Customer service
Administrative support
Supply chain
Retail store management
Logistics, operations & merchandising
Team management
Financial & sales growth
Retail Store Management & Leadership
Asset Protection & Loss Prevention
Team Management & Training
Customer Service Excellence
Financial & Sales Growth
Logistics, Operations & Merchandising
Store Payroll & Cost Centers
Financial Data Analysis & Reporting
How to select the most impactful Target resume template
The best format to use is a clean and organized resume template, with clear sections to maximize readability for the hiring manager. When you only have mere seconds to impress a recruiter (and ATS!), presenting the essential information in a clear format is vital.
Stick to reverse chronological order for your professional experience section, so your most recent and relevant work experience is more prominent. In terms of length, you want to be aiming for one or two pages as anything longer could result in the hiring manager zoning out and moving on to the next applicant. Jobs you held more than 10-15 years ago can be collapsed into a single line (like the Additional Experience section of the example).
When exploring our many resume templates in our resume builder, start by selecting the resume layout that fits your situation best. Find inspiration with our over 100 available resume examples.
Copyable Target resume example
Summary
Accomplished, skilled Retail Management Professional with 10 years of continually progressive experience in high-volume store sales strategy, training design, team engagement, and customer service excellence. Results-oriented sales leader with a rich foundation in retail store operations and the distinct ability to blend a consultative leadership style with an understanding of team needs to produce results. Dynamic communicator recognized for developing future store leaders and consistently exceeding sales goals in support of organizational success.
Employment history
Store Team Leader at Target Corporation, Various Locations 2001 - Present
Successfully lead an eight-person executive team in managing distinct store departments while administering payroll and store cost centers.
Simultaneously operate San Francisco store financials while managing the San Bruno location.
Closely maintain product and merchandise selection through innovative store presentation
Guided 300-member staff to surpass holiday retail seasonal goals, which represented a 2% sales increase over the previous year.
Achieved 6% sales growth within five months in position, and met both sales and payroll goals.
Served as the Region 200 Operations Trainer within the Western Region and Northern California Operations Certified Trainer.
Improved the customer survey score by 18 points within 21 days in order to complete the Green desired outcome, and by 28 points overall.
Enhanced store sales and financial results by introducing a team-lead-team model.
Oversaw the delivery of six trucks each week and resolved issues related to the fixed-store logistics merchandise push and unload process.
Executive of Operations at Target Corporation, San Francisco 2014 - 2018
Promoted to spearhead store financials and profitability as the Assistant Store Manager, which represented a seamless transition from loss prevention to store management.
Managed and mentored a team of 12 executives in the absence of the Store Manager.
Responsible for Logistics and Receiving day-to-day process; managed store payroll.
Closely monitored and organized store sales data and financial results.
Analyzed monthly financial data in order to communicate key store financial issues to more than 200 employees.
Conceptualized and launched aggressive sales strategy, which directly led to sales and profitability growth.
Appointed to serve as both the Western Region Operations Trainer and Northern California Operations Trainer.
Led the hiring process; designed and delivered training to more than 200 new employees, including 20 direct reports.
Recognized for earning the highest company score on the Company Headquarters Assessment.
Played an integral role in designing and implementing daytime replenishment and reverse logistics processes.
Met store sales and financial goals within the first year of store operations, representing $63M in annual revenue.
Assets Protection & Loss Prevention at Target Corporation, Daly City, CA 2012 - 2014
Promoted to oversee internal investigations and overall loss prevention, while serving as the G290 AP Trainer and Business College Trainer.
Recognized for closing more internal investigations than any other store in the region.
Minimized stock shortage by $618K within 18 months in position.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration at California State University, Hayward
Skills
Retail Store Management & Leadership
Asset Protection & Loss Prevention
Team Management & Training
Customer Service Excellence
Financial & Sales Growth
Logistics, Operations & Merchandising
Store Payroll & Cost Centers
Financial Data Analysis & Reporting
Key takeaways for writing an Target resume
Target receives thousands of resumes, so it’s vital to have a resume that showcases your skills, experience, and achievements in a succinct and straightforward way.
Focus on including examples and results in your resume. This could include achievements related to cost savings, efficiency improvements, recognition for strong performance etc., as this will be of strong interest to recruiters.
Target your Target resume! Using the job description as your guide, include keywords in your resume that will stand out to recruiters and applicant tracking systems.
Make your life easier by using our online resume builder to create your Target resume with adaptable templates and AI powered content.
