Target Resume Example & Writing Guide

With nearly 2,000 stores across the country, Target is one of America’s most well-known and beloved retailers. With a wide range of products including home goods, food, clothing, and electronics, most Americans have made a “Target run” at some point. If you’re ready to explore the other side of things as an employee, you’ll need a solid Target resume detailing your retail experience and commitment to customer service.

Luckily, we’re here to help. With 300+ resume examples and job-specific guides, Resume.io is an expert resource for job seekers across industries and at all stages of their careers. Here’s what we’ll cover in this resume guide, along with the corresponding Target resume example:

• What does a Target employee do?
• How to write a Target resume (tips and tricks)
• The best format for a Target resume
• Advice on each section of your resume for Target (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional resume layout and design hints.

What does a Target employee do?

Target is ranked as America’s 32nd largest retailer according to Forbes. As such, the company employs people in numerous sectors including finance, IT, marketing, logistics, merchandising, and more. For this guide, we’ll focus on the most common entry-level position at Target, the hourly associate. This retail position requires a basic set of skills that are easy to learn on the job. Here are some of the duties that may be asked of you:

• Stocking products and reorganizing shelves and displays
• Setting up seasonal marketing materials
• Moving products to various areas of the store
• Organizing the clothing section and keeping fitting rooms tidy
• Handling customer transactions at the register
• Processing returns or customer complaints at the service desk
• Answering customer questions and helping them find products

How to write a Target employee resume

The very first step in writing your Target resume is understanding what sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Target managers are used to hiring students and young people who are just getting their professional start. They are prepared to train new employees, as long as you show that you are reliable and hardworking. These “soft skills” are essential for virtually every retail job and should be the primary consideration as you write your Target resume.

If you have worked in retail before, then it’s also a good idea to pepper in a few “hard skills” or technical knowledge that might be useful for the job. At Target, this could include knowledge of POS (point-of-sale) systems, strong math skills for processing register transactions, or merchandising knowledge.  

Choosing the best resume format for a Target applicant

Applicants for jobs at Target have a few different options when it comes to choosing the best resume formats. If you have some prior retail experience or formal jobs, we recommend the reverse chronological resume format. This structure centers on the employment history section where you can list your previous positions from most recent to oldest. This is the format that both hiring managers and resume-scanning algorithms (ATS) expect to see, so it’s the best choice for experienced candidates.

Other options include the functional or hybrid formats which place more emphasis on a candidate’s skills or educational experiences. These options are best suited for first-time job seekers, students, people making a career change, or those entering the workforce after a long break.

Resume summary example

The summary of your resume is the first section found below the header. These 3-4 sentences serve as a short introduction to you, your top skills, and most relevant experiences. The goal is to encourage a busy hiring manager to keep reading the rest of your resume. You should also add a touch of personality here to distinguish yourself from other candidates. If you’re a fan of Target, don’t be afraid to say so! See our adaptable summary resume example below.

Employment history sample

The employment history section of your Target resume allows you to list all previous jobs relevant to the Target position. Start by creating subheadings with your job title, employer name, dates worked, and location. Then add bullet points underneath detailing your key responsibilities, skills used, and achievements. If the job is not in retail, make sure to focus on transferable skills like customer service, a strong work ethic, and team collaboration to demonstrate how you’d fit in at Target. See our adaptable employment history sample below for more inspiration.

CV skills example

The skills section of your Target CV helps to convey your best personality traits and retail skills at a glance. Before writing this section, comb through the job description once more to make note of the key skills the Target hiring manager is looking for. Aim for about six skills with at least one or two hard skills that are relevant to the job. While it might be tempting to include hobbies here, make sure to focus solely on information that shows why you’re the right fit for the Target job. Check out our adaptable skills resume sample below.

Target resume education example

Target is one of the places students can land their first job, meaning there may be no education requirements to apply. However, the education section is still one of the foundational resume sections so make sure to include it somewhere on your resume. Students may choose to place it at the top, while older job seekers should list it towards the bottom. As with your work history, make sure to list your education experience starting from most recent to oldest. If you have a college degree, you can remove your high school. Make sure to add the school name, degree obtained, dates attended, and location. Additional information like GPA or coursework is only relevant if you are a current student. See our adaptable education resume example below.

Resume layout and design

When creating your resume for Target, don’t forget to consider the layout and design. While you won’t need to create a complicated, flashy resume, a simple, well-organized structure is essential for catching the hiring manager’s attention. To be taken seriously, make sure to use consistent font styles and sizes throughout your resume and stick with one, professional accent color. It is not necessary to add a photo to your header, but you should include your name, phone number, email address, and a LinkedIn profile if you have one. A resume template can make it easy to quickly create an attractive header.

Key takeaways for a Target resume

1. Target currently employs hundreds of thousands of people across sectors and regions. Now is a great time to land a job with the retail giant.
2. When creating a resume for Target focus on your teachability and the traits that make you a good coworker like teamwork and adaptability.
3. List your employment history in reverse chronological order starting with your current or most recent position.
4. Create a strong layout that shows you are a serious candidate. Get started with our adaptable Target resume sample.