I know that there's no actual way to know, but there is a reason for everything.

Here are the factors:

1. I told them that I could work any time (including holidays) that they need me.

2. I'm pretty sure I gave good answers to the questions

3. I agreed to everything they said

4. I dressed nice for the interview

5. I looked the manager in the eye and smiled

6. I don't think anything was wrong with my answers

7. I don't have a criminal background

But...

The job was for Target (just stocking shelves and cashier, but seasonal) and I have no retail experience. I don't understand why most jobs need experienced people. How do you gain experience if everything requires it?

When they decided not to hire me, they had to have a reason. What causes do jobs have for not wanting people to work for them? And why are they so picky? I didn't do anything wrong, there is no reason I couldn't work there. I would do everything just fine.

So why?

I've seen all kinds of different people working places. So how did they get the job? Why are they better than me?

I cannot find a job anywhere.

[Little Lulu]

I am sorry this did not work out for you. It sounds like you met the requirements with the exception of experience. Have you checked with Goodwill? I know someone who is doing temp work through Goodwill and has because of this has a job interview this week in the private sector. You have to start somewhere ... I hope you find your way.

[SubliminalThoughts]

Everyone I know that had an interview with Target including me, didn't get the job. I think you didn't get the job there because they might have some secret hiring process or something and they only interview others for equal opportunity stuff. I think at most places you're probably going to need to know someone that works there so they can give you a good word.

[music junkie]

Sorry you didn't get the job. I also applied at Target, did everything right (so I think!), & didn't get hired. Even got a 2nd interview, but still no job. Oh well.

[Crazy Hitch]

I don't think that you necessarily did anything wrong in the interview or the application process.

I think it's simply a case of demand vs supply.

I would imagine a large store like that gets hundreds upon hundreds of applications.

And out of all of those applications you got an interview.

That must count for something.

[Verity81]

I would suggest to add experience to your cv by voluntary work such as a charity shop. It's still retail!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cool09]

A lot of retail places don't need previous experience. Try Bestbuy, Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, etc. And restaurants as well but that is difficult very repetitive work.

[gayleggg]

I wish I new the answer to that question myself. After I lost my last job, I applied for many jobs but wasn't even called for an interview. I dress nice, I am very organized and punctual. I work hard and have a nice friendly demeanor. But I couldn't even get and interview and I have experience in the fields I applied for. I really blame it on age discrimination, because I don't think anyone wants to hire someone close to retirement age. And while they don't ask your age they do ask when you graduated high school, well duh, that pretty much tells them your age.

My husband used to be a retail manager and you sound like what he was looking for. You don't state your age and I know that he looked for employees that weren't too young, because they hadn't developed a work ethic yet, but that may not be the issue. Sometimes I think it is the fact that they have so many people to choose from and so few jobs that it leaves a lot of us falling through the cracks.

Keep trying. I read that the more applications you fill out the better your odds are at finding a job.

[hvert]

A lot of it is just random luck. Don't take it personally, even though it feels personal. Another candidate may have done everything right like you did, plus had experience at a Target in another state. Who knows?

[-jimi-]

Sometimes it's just hard to know.

I once had to apply for jobs to get benefits, and I'd rather would not work (it was the beginning of my physical disability but I hadn't yet understood how sick I was, so I told myself I was trying to cheat the system when in fact I tried to spare my body but I didn't want to admit to not being well).

For a cleaning gig I wrote something in lines with I like working on my own because I simply don't like people and I have done the type of work before but can't prove it because I have no idea where I put those documents. I plain said I'm good at the job and you can just take my words for it.

I got the job.

Seriously??? LOL.

[IceCreamKid]

Getting hired can seem very random.

I remember interviewing for a position and the interviewer harped on the fact that I didn't know a piece of software that was specific to their organization. She could not wrap her head around the fact that I knew, and had learned, 20 other programs, including some similar to what she was going on about. I mentally wished her good luck re-hiring a former employee.

I've seen an awful lot of people get hired because they knew someone. In those cases, their lack of skills was immaterial.

Places of business still discriminate: against African Americans, Asians, young people, women, foreign-born … the list goes on and on. Just because it is illegal doesn't mean it isn't rampant. If you fall into a group that is discriminated against you will want to pay particular attention to companies who seem to hire the most people in your group. But still try at other companies!

Keep trying and try to network as best you can.

I have also gotten permanent work through an initially-temporary job. Many retail places hire seasonal employees. This will give you some experience, and for every person you impress at a temporary job, a good reference or networking contact.

Whenever anyone emails me for job openings, I always take the time to reply and I keep their emails, in case I do have openings. Further I try to help them by telling them about potential openings elsewhere in our organization. If and when you are ever in a position to do this -- please take the time to do it. That kind of consideration gives people an emotional boost to keep trying.

You sound like a good hire to me!

[hannabee]

I have heard that Target has people "volunteer" with them!! Probably those people get the jobs after working for free for whatever the time limit is!!! I'm actually thinking of not shopping there after hearing this. what the heck???

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by cool09

A lot of retail places don't need previous experience. Try Bestbuy, Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, etc. And restaurants as well but that is difficult very repetitive work.

I've found the opposite. Many demand previous retail experience. Also, you have to be able to work flexible and changing shifts every week, and include nights, weekends, and holidays. I don't know when you're supposed to recharge or sleep, esp. since they also demand you stay perky, energetic, and friendly all the time. THIS, in addition to being able to stand/walk/stoop all day, plus being able to lift up to 50 pounds. All that, and for low pay.

Originally Posted by hannabee

I have heard that Target has people "volunteer" with them!! Probably those people get the jobs after working for free for whatever the time limit is!!! I'm actually thinking of not shopping there after hearing this. what the heck???

What the heck is right! Or WTF, LOL. I haven't heard of the volunteering thing, but their online application discriminates against older workers. They ask, "Are you at least 18 but under 40?" So, it will weed out over 40 workers. This must be illegal, but I honestly don't have the energy to complain to the right government agency.

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

I don't know how it is in other cultures but hereabouts unsuccessful candidates can ask for feedback on how they came across at interview, with a view to doing better in future. As an interviewer I don't mind this at all, it takes some guts and if my feedback can help, well then I will.

It can be a bit fraught when people ask why they did not get the job, but there is no other legal answer than there was someone better suited.

Even if I wanted to, I would find it very difficult to hire anyone but the best person for the job - that is often the law and certainly company policy, and there are procedures in place to make sure that this happens and to keep an objective record

[Lady Lindsey]

Google 64 hardest interview questions. I hire 200+ seasonal associates every year. When some one asks me what I look for in an interview I refer them to this. Everypne who has read and practiced all 64 questions has gotten the job they interviewed for

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

Originally Posted by Lady Lindsey

Google 64 hardest interview questions. I hire 200+ seasonal associates every year. When some one asks me what I look for in an interview I refer them to this. Everypne who has read and practiced all 64 questions has gotten the job they interviewed for

Excellent advice - there are also competency questions much in style recently in this region. Maybe it is just me but I find these tough: Competency Based Interviews and Questions - Understand Competency Based Interviews and Questions

[IceCreamKid]

Originally Posted by ManOfConstantSorrow

I don't know how it is in other cultures but hereabouts unsuccessful candidates can ask for feedback on how they came across at interview, with a view to doing better in future. As an interviewer I don't mind this at all, it takes some guts and if my feedback can help, well then I will.

It can be a bit fraught when people ask why they did not get the job, but there is no other legal answer than there was someone better suited.

Even if I wanted to, I would find it very difficult to hire anyone but the best person for the job - that is often the law and certainly company policy, and there are procedures in place to make sure that this happens and to keep an objective record

For some jobs in the United States, some places have applicants apply by computer, either over the Internet or at a kiosk at the store. That may be as far as it goes. Many places here never give any feedback whatsoever. More and more places, even when they do offer some sort of public relations-flavored feedback, are obviously instructing workers to choose canned responses from a pick list that sometimes are ridiculously unrelated to the original inquiry.

Also here in the United States, people hire for a variety of reasons. And "the best person for the job" is subjective. Someone, somewhere had to set up the checklist that equals "best" in your company. Here, the reality is that what some organizations and companies think is the 'best' person might be the one who will work for the lowest pay, or put up with the worst hours. Or be the whitest. Or be related to the boss. Not everyone is protected in the United States. And every place I have ever worked has had people who have found ways to get around what laws do exist. Is that reprehensible? Absolutely.

However, the fact that some people are unkind or crooks or just shortsighted when it comes to hiring shouldn't stop people from continuing to look for work.

[Perna]

Often I think it depends on the number of people applying. It could just be as simple as someone with a little more experience or background or enthusiasm, etc. It's not like a paper and pencil test where there are "right" and "wrong" answers. I decided once when I was only doing par-time/temp jobs to send a resume out that was "me" so I put my bird in the top left corner?



It was smaller, of course, and just the all black, but I love him and think he is funny. My thinking was that I did not want to work for people who did not enjoy him (and by default, "Me") and were too stuck up or whatever to call me in for an interview. The job I got was one of the best/most useful to me I ever had. It goes two ways, getting hired. It is not just them accepting/rejecting you but you should be doing the same for them and the job. I was always surprised when I went on a lot of interviews and was disappointed I did not get a job -- the job I did end up getting was always a much better fit for me than the previous interviews would have been.

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

The computerised selection tests are clearly a transatlantic piece of inanity:

The British labour market is a puzzle. On the one hand, it’s a low-wage economy that needs to import sandwich-makers from Hungary because nobody in Northamptonshire wants the job. On the other, to work in a shop that sells the selfsame sandwiches, the jobseeker needs to pass an exam that might give pause to a fellow of All Souls.

Source: Sorry, would-be sandwich makers: you?ll find it much harder to get a job than I did | Ian Jack | Comment is free | The Guardian

[nonightowl]

Personally, I think the whole job hunting CRAP is a freaking GAME or stage. It's like that old saying that I think Shakespeare said: "All the world's stage and everyone is an actor." You can't be entirely honest in an interview, and neither is the interviewer (for the most part). Each is reciting his/her "lines" for the roles they are playing. Just like acting! Know your character, know your lines.

Each saying what the other wants to hear. I think if people (both interviewer and candidate) can be more honest, both would benefit.

****, there's an entire industry built around telling people what to say/not to say, what to wear, etc. Making money, all that money on telling people the right things to do. And yet some companies say they can tell when someone is just giving an answer read in a book.

And those stupid personality/psychological assessment questions. Stuff like, "I feel energized in a social gathering." WHAT gathering? Does it have people I know/like? Or is it mostly people I can't stand? If it's the former, yes-I'm energized. If it's the latter, it's my personal hell.

And rarely do those bloody tests have an option like "None of the above", "neutral" or "I don't know." You HAVE to pick an answer, and you can't skip any questions either. Sometimes there's a time limit too.

They claim there's no right or wrong answer, but if so, what's the point in giving the test in the first place?? Of course there's a right answer, and those are the people that get hired.

And just because someone interviews well, or the interviewer likes the candidate's personality/looks doesn't mean that person will do a good job. But it seems it's not always about that anyway, despite what companies claim. It's about whether they like you and you fit in.

I forgot to say in my earlier post that Target expects people to be available to work anytime between opening (I think 8am) and MIDNIGHT. And the hours you have change from week to week.

And how the **** am I supposed to REMEMBER the "right" answers to 64 questions????!!!!!!

[Hellion]

Before I got on SSI, I filled out quite a few physical applications and some online ones...got a couple interviews, one of them was kind of a disaster showed up for it and 'no one knew what I was talking about' so not sure if there was really mis-communication or if they where just messing with me(the person I dealt with was kinda rude and snobbish and so it upset me some and still makes me suspicious they where screwing with me to make me feel unwelcome)...eventually re-sceduled but then didn't want to bother since by then I felt quite unwelcome.

But yeah lots of the online applications asked something like 'can you thrive in a fast paced environment' seems like just about all of them. The only sort of job I will probably be able to get would be a low stress sort of job, but apparently those don't exist...

[avlady]

I hope yoh can get a good paying job too.

[CosmicRose]

Just because they didn't hire you doesn't mean you did something wrong. They have tons of people applying for the same job, this is the same anywhere you apply. It's just the luck of the draw. If you have 5 applicants who all gave great interviews, then no matter how good the other 4 were, only 1 person will get the job. It's really not personal.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

Just because they didn't hire you doesn't mean you did something wrong. They have tons of people applying for the same job, this is the same anywhere you apply. It's just the luck of the draw. If you have 5 applicants who all gave great interviews, then no matter how good the other 4 were, only 1 person will get the job. It's really not personal.

Luck of the draw.....try telling that to the most dedicated job seeker, doing/saying the "right" things and still not finding a job. The result: Losing one's home or apartment. Some "luck", and bad luck is an understatement.

Hence, the vicious cycle starts. Employers not only don't want to hire the unemployed, the homeless are even more unappealing. You have to have an address.

The point is that there are NOT enough jobs in this country (that pays a living wage) for everyone who wants/needs them. Whether they are teens in high school, seniors who can't live off their pension alone, college graduates who want to put all that education to use, etc. NOT ENOUGH growth, folks. I KNOW only one person can get the job. So there needs to be more jobs. Not saying I have answers, but it seems the politicians don't either. All they can say is "We need to create jobs. We need to increase our middle class again." And not just any kind of "job". Part-time, temporary jobs don't fly.

Add that to how employers treat employees: Like items that you periodically discard, like an old pair of shoes. They don't give you a second thought, whether you live check to check is not their concern.

Same with real estate. It exists to be profitable, so as long as their tenants pay rent, they can stay there. But that has its caveats too. They can find reasons to evict people or businesses, like they want to tear down that building to build (more profitable) something else.

[brainhi]

Most of the jobs I actually got were the ones that... I was referred to by others that knew me and put in a good word for me. Any where you have others around you - family, friends, support group, church.... someone knows your value - but they need to know you are looking. Also, when you are "in between" jobs - do something to add to your skills - youtube can teach you many things or go to the library or somewhere where they are offering free classes. Add that to your resume so they know you are working on yourself. Also, volunteering is an excellent way to see if you might like the job and if they like you.