Target HireVue Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Some Target business areas screen candidates with a recorded video interview on HireVue, with no retakes. These are the questions Target publishes and the ones candidates report, grouped by type, with how to answer them.

Practise a HireVue-style interview

Your first session is free with a free account. After that, Interview Access is £5 once for up to 20 sessions, with no subscription.

How the Target HireVue works

Where it sits

An early screen for the business areas that use it. A recruiter or hiring manager watches your answers and is meant to reply within five business days.

Programmes

Target says some business areas use it, without naming them. Candidates report it for store roles, where a question checks you can do the guest service and product handling duties.

Length

Target says to plan for about 30 minutes in all.

Questions

Not published. Reported as six.

Thinking time

Not published. Reported as two minutes per question.

Answer time

Not published. Reported as three minutes per question.

Retakes

None. Target does not allow retakes on recorded video interviews.

Practice questions

Yes, with no limit. Target highly recommends doing a practice question first.

Device

Any smartphone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone. Google Chrome is recommended on a computer.

Target HireVue questions candidates report

15 questions from Target HireVue interviews. Prepare a story for each type rather than a script for each question.

Example questions Target publishes

Talk to us about your background, prior work, training or other experiences that have prepared you for this job.
Job knowledge
Describe how you work with people who think differently than you do.
Inclusivity
Describe a time you were confronted with a problem and had to help find a solution.
Problem-solving
Describe how you partner and communicate with others to create strong working relationships.
Connection
Describe how you make sure your work is impactful or successful.
Drive

Motivation and availability

Tell us why you’re interested in this position and describe your relevant knowledge and experiences.
Describe your availability and flexibility with scheduling.
Positions in Target stores include guest service and product handling duties as essential functions of the job. Are you able to fulfil these?
Stores

Guests and selling

Describe a time you provided excellent customer service.
Tell me about a time you were able to keep a friendly demeanour with someone who was upset or angry.
Tell me about a time you tried to sell a customer, teammate or someone else on an idea, product or service.

Teamwork and adapting

Tell us about a time you had to work as part of a team to achieve a goal.
Tell me about a time you had to work with someone else to achieve a goal with multiple tasks while you were under a tight deadline.
Describe how you learn and adjust when an experience doesn’t go as planned.
Tell me about a time you were able to understand someone else’s viewpoint that differed from your own.

How to answer Target HireVue questions

Know what each question is testing

Target’s own guide labels its example questions by what they assess: job knowledge, inclusivity, problem-solving, connection and drive. Prepare one story for each of those five, and most reported questions (a team goal, an upset guest, a plan that went wrong) can be answered with the story that fits best.

Answer to the skills in the job post

Target advises you to share responses related to the required skills and values in each question. Read the job post again before recording and use its words: if it asks for guest service and teamwork, those are the stories to lead with.

Show the steps you took on a problem

Target’s guide asks for a story about problem-solving and the steps you took to overcome the problem. For the problem and “didn’t go as planned” questions, walk through what you noticed, what you tried first, what you changed and what happened in the end.

Make the differing views answer about listening

Two reported questions and one of Target’s own ask how you work with people who think differently. Describe one real disagreement, what you learned from the other person’s view and how the work ended up better for it. Avoid a story where you simply won.

Be specific and honest about availability

For store roles, candidates report a question on scheduling and one asking whether you can do the guest service and product handling duties. Give the days and shifts you can actually work, and a plain yes with any limits stated clearly.

Use your own words

Target says responses must reflect your personal understanding and judgement, without reliance on AI-generated help. Practise out loud until your stories come naturally, rather than reading a script.

Tips for recording your answers

There are no retakes, so use the practice question as many times as you like first. Target sets no limit.
Search your inbox, spam and promotions folders for “Target Careers” and “HireVue” if the invitation has not arrived.
Use Google Chrome on a computer, or a charged phone or tablet on a strong connection.
Choose a well-lit, comfortable space free from distractions, as Target suggests.
Allow about 30 minutes for the whole interview, and complete it promptly so you stay in consideration.
Use the thinking time to note three words: the situation, what you did and the result.

Frequently asked questions

Does Target use HireVue?

Yes. Some Target business areas use a recorded video interview on the HireVue platform. The invitation is reported to come from a HireVue address.

Can you retake the Target video interview?

No. Target does not allow retakes on recorded video interviews, but you can do the practice question as often as you like.

How many questions are in the Target HireVue interview?

Target does not publish a number. Candidates report six questions, with two minutes to prepare and three minutes to answer each.

How long does Target take to respond after the video interview?

Target says a recruiter will respond within five business days of receiving your video. If more than ten days pass, contact your recruiter or the Target location.

How long is the Target video interview?

Target says to plan for about 30 minutes in total.

Practise for the Target HireVue

Our AI interview practice uses the same one-way format: five questions on screen, 60 seconds to prepare, then up to a minute to answer on camera. Choose the finance focus and the questions lean towards finance, with feedback on relevance, clarity and structure and on what finance assessors look for, such as commercial awareness and integrity. You also get a model answer to your weakest question.

The questions are ours, not Target’s. Start answering before the 60 seconds are up to match a shorter thinking time, and since practice lets you re-record, do one session in a single take.