Why I Love Working at Target: Two Recent

Grad Executive Team Leaders

By Elias Da Silva-Powell

Jacqueline MacIntyre was thrilled when she heard that Target was opening stores in

Canada. “I was a recent graduate and I was keen on pursuing a rewarding career,” she

explains.

After graduating from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Education,

Jacqueline recognized a promising opportunity before her.

“Target was not only my favourite US retailer for shopping with style and design-

savvy products,” she says. “I knew Target was a company I wanted to begin my

career with. It was an opportunity to learn from the best.”

Julie Nguyen also graduated in 2012, completing a political science degree at the

University of British Columbia. She’s a long-time Target customer too.

“I have been a loyal guest at Target for many years, and I was very excited for

Target’s debut in Canada,” she says. “I was intent on establishing a career, not just a

job, and Target seemed like a great fit.”

Like Jacqueline, Julie saw career potential at Target. “I wanted to represent an

industry-leading brand and be part of a historical retail expansion in communities

across Canada.”

Today, both Jacqueline and Julie are Executive Team Leaders at Target and they’re

thrilled to discuss the careers they’ve started.

Being an Executive Team Leader

“A typical day as an Executive Team Leader starts with a quick morning check-in

with our team members,” says Jacqueline. “We circle the sales floor, greet our team

and discuss what our goals are for the day.”

Team huddles take place several times a day providing management and the team

with an opportunity to recognize team members who have gone over and above their

position, communicate about store goals and objectives and overall ensure the lines of

communication are open with the team.

Target ensures that Executive Team Leaders have the tools they need to get the job

done and keep things running smoothly. “Very rarely do we have a typical day at

Target, but we have routines to ensure that our teams are set up for success,” says

Julie.

“Working at Target is a great opportunity to gain real-life experience running a large

business.”

- Julie Nguyen, Executive Team Leader

“Target has provided me with comprehensive training and they have extensive store

resources and partners to guide me through the processes.”

Teamwork at Target

As Executive Team Leaders, both Jacqueline and Julie strive to ensure excellent

service. “Our most important focus is providing our guests with the true Target brand

shopping experience,” explains Jacqueline.

It’s a responsibility that calls for a lot of collaboration, she says.

“Teamwork is the key to success in any situation. I coach, train and give feedback to

team members while keeping in mind the operational needs of the business.”

Julie agrees. “The most challenging part of my job is operating a multi-faceted

business with a dynamic team,” she says.

“I’ve learned the importance of setting great expectations and managing performance,

whether it be following up with a team, assessing talent, providing feedback, or even

challenging peers and team members.”

It’s rewarding to help others learn and grow, she adds.

“The most satisfying part of my job is being actively involved in developing talent

and helping my team and my peers move to the next level of their careers at Target.”

Leading a Target team also provides great opportunities for personal growth, says

Jacqueline.

“We want our team members to be their best and we’re not afraid to have a little fun

along the way.”

- Jacqueline MacIntyre, Executive Team Leader

“We learn from each other, give one another feedback and work towards a common

goal,” she explains. “At the end of the day, I go home knowing that Target team

members have taught me valuable life lessons for which I am extremely grateful.”

Your Target career

These Executive Team Leaders have great insight into what makes Target a top

employer for a student or recent grad.

“Target supports and believes in their campus hires and they are invested in team

growth and development,” says Julie. “Working at Target is a great opportunity to

gain real-life experience running a large business.”

Jacqueline adds that Target offers a lot of room to grow. “Target is always focused on

your development and challenging you with new and exciting opportunities,” she

says. “Target is there to support you along the way and help you grow into a better

leader than you were yesterday.”

They’re both eager to explore the future opportunities available to them at Target.

“I look forward to embracing the new challenges that come my way,” says Jacqueline.

“I have a passion for store operations, teamwork, training and development and I feel

confident Target is providing me with all the right skillsets to get there.”

“I feel that leaders at all levels have a stake in my personal growth and my career

growth,” agrees Julie. “My leaders are candid about my career opportunities at Target

and they provide meaningful feedback and recognition to drive my development.”

Target’s emphasis on support and growth also offers plenty of room for your unique

skills to shine.

“Fostering an inclusive culture is a core value that’s integrated into every aspect of

our job,” says Jacqueline. “We enable all of our team members to leverage their

individual talents and high performance standards to drive innovation and success.”

“We want our team members to be their best and we’re not afraid to have a little fun

along the way.”

Are you ready to hatch your career? Start exploring Target’s opportunities for

students and recent grads!

Written by Elias Da Silva-Powell

Elias Da Silva-Powell is a Content, Marketing and Community Specialist at

TalentEgg, as well as a two-time graduate of Queen's University. An avid bow-titan,

he has been trying to bring whimsical neck wear back into the mainstream since 2008.

He's around on Twitter: @EDSPowell and you can check out his profile on LinkedIn,

and even G+. https://talentegg.ca/incubator/2014/03/17/love-working-target-grad-executive-team-leaders/