I began my interview process in January of 2011, with an email to set up a time to speak with a recruiter. The time was scheduled for my next off day at 11:00 am. At 10:52 am, the recruiter called and asked to reschedule for 4:00pm, I agreed. She never called. The next day, she left a voicemail apologizing, and rescheduled. On the rescheduled day, she called 45 minutes late. The interview was all behavioral...tell me about a time when..., tell me how you would..... It was a 35 minute phone interview. Congratulations! I made it to the next step, speak with a senior HR partner. She gives me feedback regarding my last interview, and asks 35 minutes more of behavioral questions. She thanked me for my time and told me they would let me know if I was moving on to the next step within the next few days. Congratulations!!! Two weeks later, I am invited to the next step, a 1 on 1 interview with a store team leader. I arrived at the store 15 minutes early, and was greeted one hour later by a store manager..not the store manager I was supposed to meet with. By this time, three other applicants had arrived. We were all sitting in the snack bar area, getting more and more agitated. I was the oldest of the group. I interviewed, this time only 3 behavioral questions, and a walk to the snack bar...where he said we will be in touch in a week or less. Congratulations!!!! I made it to the next step. This time I speak with the original recruiter, who offers more feedback regarding my interviews. She asked me to show more of a range of authority in my answers. I was not sure exactly how I could do that, since at the time I had complete accountability for all store operations, with a staff of 65 people. I began to think I should have created a story where a led an army of thousands, clad in red, to the battlefield. I was aggravated at this point and had written Target off. Congratulations!!! I made it to the next step. I met with a district manager, who walked in the door 15 minutes after my interview was scheduled. This was almost a hilarious situation now. There were 5 applicants behind me this time, all armed in suits and with a smile, once again all much younger. This interview lasted 20 minutes, all behavioral again, asked the same questions as the original interviewer asked( I assume they are looking for consistent answers). I responded the same way as I did the first time, and used the feedback my recruiter gave me. I was thanked for my time, and told I would hear something by early next week. After two weeks elapsed, I was ready for an answer. Target had verified my education(the university called to allow permission), they had checked my credit(LexisNexus was listed as an inquiry). I sent an email to my original recruiter, looking for an answer. Within 2 minutes, I received a form letter back stating they were pursuing other candidates. I responded with another message and thanked them for their time. I honestly feel, although everyone was very friendly and accomodating, this was the most ridiculous interview process I have ever been through. There is nothing in my academic background, credit history, or criminal background that would have eliminated me. My salary was never discussed. I brought a positive attitude to every interview. Many of the questions were geared to people with no experience, and I feel that may be what they are seeking. An army of clones that they can influence their young minds and use as needed. By the way, I am only 39. The average applicant that I saw interviewing was about 25.