If you’ve found yourself wondering, how old do you have to be to work at target, there’s a very good chance you are interested in applying for a job. Maybe you are in the process or just considering your options.
Whatever the situation, it is completely understandable why one would want to apply with one of the world’s largest retail chains.
Target can be viewed as a simple steppingstone, or it can be viewed as an opportunity. There are plenty of equal opportunity investments within the company. Stay long enough and you could rise to great places.
Just check out some of the company’s biggest success stories, and you’ll see exactly what this means. However, before you get started on your way to greatness, you must secure the job.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Target: The Complete Guide
You can spend all day compiling a list of reasons why you should and shouldn’t apply for a position with Target. However, it really comes down to money. The only reason anyone works is that they need that paycheck.
The all-mighty dollar does make the world go around. With that out of the way, there are several other reasons that can quickly rise to the top of your list of reasons to apply.
Target is truly an equal opportunity employer, it will be a great learning experience, and it’ll be a place to start building a workforce profile while establishing some references, and Target is very versatile. Target has proven time and time again that they are open to working with younger individuals.
Whether it be classes or extracurricular activities that you need to build your work schedule around, Target will be more than open and fair in working with you.
Although it is never recommended to view Target as a permanent means of employment, there are a lot of opportunities for quick advancement. Along with 401k and employee discounts, Target also offers scholarship opportunities to the right applicants.
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Exploring The Minimum Hiring Age Requirements
Now that you have an entire page full of reasons to apply for a position at Target, you must get down to actually applying. Unfortunately, working at Target is out of the question for some individuals.
If you are below the age of 16, you will not be able to get a position at Target. Even with a work permit, you will not be considered.
This doesn’t mean that the employer won’t hold your application until you are over the legal working age. Target human resources are more than understanding and always willing to work will applicants interested in entering the workforce.
With this in mind, there are rules and guidelines in place. Target makes sure all its stores follow these rules and policies.
Therefore, you will not be able to secure a position with Target until you are 16 years old. There are some positions in which, you will need to be 18.
The Opportunities Available For Employees
In the grand scheme of things, there are tons of diverse employment opportunities available at Target for the right applicants. Everything from stockboy to cashier or networking engineer positions can be acquired within the Target workforce.
However, some of the positions will require applicants to meet or succeed in specific requirements. You might need a GED or high school diploma to score a position within management. You might need a computer science degree to get an IT job with Target.
As far as positions for younger employees, everything is pretty straightforward. You won’t even need a GED or high school diploma to score a position as a cashier. Cashier positions, cart attendants, and team member positions will be accessible and available to all 16-year-olds and above.
Cashier – While self-checkouts are growing increasingly popular and widely used, many retailers still offer cashier checkouts. Target is one of these employers, and such positions are open to 16-year-olds.
As a cashier, it will be your responsibility to handle money, credit cards, and checks while helping consumers with their purchases. You’ll be responsible for scanning, inputting codes, bagging items, answering questions, and greeting entering and exiting customers.
Cart Attendant – At 16 years of age, Target can also legally hire you to handle their carts outside. It goes without saying that this position will be a bit more demanding than working inside because of exposure to outdoor elements.
Attendants are required to collect, arrange, and organize carts for shoppers. You might also be responsible for setting the bad carts aside and notifying someone of their needed repairs.
With COVID on the forefront of everyone’s minds, sanitizing and wiping down carts might also now be an added responsibility for cart attendants. It should be noted that attendants are usually rewarded with higher pay because of their exposure to the elements.
Team Member – As a Target team member, you could be assigned any number of job tasks and responsibilities on any number of days. One day you might find yourself stocking shelves in the dairy aisle.
The next day you might find yourself cleaning the bathrooms. It is the responsibility of the team members to work throughout the store while tackling any number of tasks assigned to them.
When you are first hired it is likely that you will only be trained for one position. As you grow within the company, you might be cross-trained for any number of job responsibilities.
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Knowing And Understanding The Job Requirements For Target
Just because you are the legal working age of 16 years old, it does not mean you will be simply handed a job with Target. No, that is just one of the many requirements. Some positions might even have more requirements than others.
Whatever the situation, it should be noted that although an equal opportunity employer, Target is a stickler for the rules and guidelines of the workforce.
Your references and background will be checked to make sure you are who you say you are as well as if you properly qualify for the position in question.
With that in mind, there honestly is much required of you for the positions mentioned above. A GED or high school diploma is not required, but you will need to be at least 16 or older.
You will also need to be able to provide proof of your citizenship and a permanent address. Target will also probably inquire about your driving capabilities.
You will not necessarily be disqualified from a position if you don’t have a driver’s license. You just need to ensure the company that you have reliable transportation to and from work.
Starting Payment
Target wages are going to vary from position to position and state to state. However, it should be noted that you should not be paid less than minimum wage.
Every person working at Target is at least guaranteed minimum wage, regardless of their position or the number of hours they work each week or every day.
Make sure you know and understand the minimum wage in your area because you are at least guaranteed this. Anything less would be considered illegal.
You should make a quick note that Target has made it a point to guarantee their employees in many areas at least $15 an hour.
There are some positions within the company that even go as high as $24 an hour. Target is known for paying its employees 20% more than the national minimum wage requirements.
Knowing And Understanding Worker Benefits
In addition to offering higher than normal minimum wage, Target is also known for its excellent employee benefits. Target does its best to take care of its team members and their families.
They are more than dedicated to helping support the health and financial well-being of their workforce. This is just one of the many ways that they can show just how much they appreciate and care for their employees.
With that in mind, it is crucial to understand what benefits are available to you as a Target employee. Before you delve into the benefits it must be noted that you will be required to maintain your position of employment for a specific amount of time before these benefits kick in.
This means you’ll likely have to work there for 3 months or 90 days before you can get your 10 percent discount or vision insurance.
Target offers its employees a wide range of health, financial, and career benefits. Along with standard dental and vision, you will also be offered life insurance and options to 401K. However, it should be noted that there might be specific requirements you need to meet before you receive these benefits.
You might need to be a full-time employee and work a specific number of hours a week before you can claim these benefits.
These are all things you’ll learn during your orientation. These are benefits that are legally granted to you, so make sure you completely understand them and if and how you can apply.
Increase Your Chances Of Getting Hired
As with just about any job today, the process begins with an application. More than likely, this application will need to be filled out online.
So, you’ll likely need a computer with an Internet connection or a smartphone with connectivity capabilities. You’ll also need an e-mail address, which is a pretty standard requirement in today’s world.
Although things are mostly handled online these days, that doesn’t mean you can’t increase your chance of getting hired.
One of the best ways to do such is by visiting the store and speaking with human resources or the hiring department. Make sure you visit during the slower hours of the day and speak to the right individuals.
FAQs on what age does Target hire
Can I Work At Target At 14?
While Target is a huge retailer and greatly believes in equal opportunity for everyone, you must be at least 16-years-of-age to apply for a job. And then, you will likely need a work permit to go along with the application.
What Can A 14 Year Old Do At Target?
No, at 14-years-of-age, you cannot secure a job with Target. You need to be at least 16 years old, and you still might need a work permit at that.
Can you Work At Target 15 With A Work Permit?
15 is close enough to 16, right? Unfortunately, that is not the way the law will see this.
Workforce laws are growing more and more stringent every year. Workforce authorities are becoming more sticklers, and they aren’t letting anything slide. Any 15-year-old will not be able to score a job with the retailer.
You can apply at 15 and have them hold your application until you are 16, but anyway you look at it, you must be 16 years old before Target will hire you. This is the case with or without a legal work permit.
What Retail Can You Work At 15?
In the grand scheme of things, it is good to see more young men and women get out there in the workforce. There is never anything wrong with the drive and desire to work. However, quick fast-food, retail jobs should not be viewed as just a quick payday.
Sure, they are fairly easy and a dime a dozen for the right individuals, but they can be viewed wrongly. These opportunities should never be used as an excuse to not continue with higher education.
With that in mind, young men and women today can enter the workforce as early as 15 years of age. Of course, as you can see, not every employer will hire you at this age even with a work permit. However, some employers will hire at this age.
Kroger is the perfect example. Winn-Dixie and Giant Eagle are two other popular retailers taking on 15-year-old employees. Just remember that at the age of 15, working might come with more requirements and stipulations.
For instance, you may only be able to work a defined number of hours on defined days. You might also not be allowed to work on specific days or after certain times. A lot of retailers and fast-food chains cannot work minors past 10 or 11 pm.
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