Four Dream Companies

Target  – Corporate Side
Location : 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
https://corporate.target.com/about/locations/Target-in-the-Twin-Cities
Phone Number :  612.304.6073
Employer Contact : Target Careers at 1.800.440.0680

I have wanted to work at Target Headquarters as a part of their marketing, and or graphic design team since I had the pleasure of listening to a local presentation with one of their head creative directors, Allan Peters back in 2013. Allan discussed at length Targets culture, philanthropy, and mission. At the time when I got to listen to his presentation, I was already working for Target as a team member. I worked there for 3 years, and while the monotony of working with people wore me down, the work culture and Targets philanthropy kept me inspired and happy to work for their brand. Allan’s creative work for Target was really inspiring and creative, and as a creative person myself, it’s hard to create inspiring work when you have a poor work environment. Now it’s been several years since I have worked there, and Allan himself has started his own company and no longer works for Target, but looking at their corporate website page, it’s clear that Target still values the communities that their stores are in, their employees and our planet. All things that I value in the companies that I work for. One thing I found interesting, but not surprising is that they had a page dedicated to their design approach, team and a link that linked directly to their careers page for this area. 

If I were to be contacted for an interview I would hope that the interviewer would ask questions that would make sure I would be a good culture fit, that my views on continuing a good working environment fit with already established employees. I would also hope that the interviewer asked questions on how I could help continue their brands philanthropy in whatever job I applied for – for example how I would continue their gender equality messages in their Target advertisements. I think to help show them that I am invested in their brand, I might discuss how I was inspired by Allan Peters and how his creative work for Target really progressed the Target brand for me. 

Maurices – Corporate Headquarters
Location : 425 W Superior Street Duluth, MN 55802
https://www.maurices.com/careers?ab=foot:company:careers
Phone Number : 1.866.977.1542

I work best when I am inspired by the place that I work for, whether it be the company, or the goods the company produces. That being said, I would love to work for a clothing company. Maurices is a Midwest clothing company draws me in graphically, and because their fashion choices fit mine. While I do not define my style country in any sense, I do find their clothes lean edgy sometimes, and so I love shopping there for this style, at an affordable, good quality price. I like that this company chooses to stay located in their original location in Duluth, Minnesota, and I love that their values are “People First, Be Authentic, Curious, Agile, Work Smart & Have Fun” I can see these values at work when I visit their store, review their branding choices, and interact with their employees. I also appreciate that their stores offered a wider range of sizes long before other apparel companies did so. Showing that inclusivity has always been a priority. When researching their company, I thought it was interesting that while they do have headquarters in Duluth, that they have a design studio located in New York. I also enjoyed learning about their founder who opened the first  Maurices during the great depression with his principles of good product, value and service. Principles that are still reflected in the Maurices brand.

If the interviewer were to call me for an interview I would hope that they ask me questions on their history. Since those principles are so important for their brand. I would also think that they would ask me about the charities they actively give back to and participate in as that was a big portion of their corporate website as well. I would also hope that they would ask me what my favorite Maurices clothing choices is and why. 

Penguin Random House Publishers
Location : 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019 
https://careers.penguinrandomhouse.com/entry-level/
Phone Number : 1.800.793.2665

When I began my research into publishers, I knew of Penguin right away because I have purchased lots of books published by them. However I did not realize that they had merged with so many other publishers. Which makes sense given the market has changed for the published word industry, but I didn’t realize it was to this extent. Penguin and Random House merged together, and together this company employs over 10,000 employees. Which was surprising to me, but also relieving that they seem to be doing well enough to employ that many people. Their website was pretty basic, which I would say was not unsurprising since they are a company based on the physically published word. However, it would forward thinking of them, if they were more adaptive in their online approach. Their websites didn’t elaborate much on their work culture or day in the life of an employee, leaving a physical visit to their location important to decide if their environment fits for you. I did however appreciate their breakdown of what each department did within their company. 

Just based off their website I’d guess that their questions would be pretty formal, but I would hope that they would ask some questions about their history, as they did create an interesting timeline page of their history, to make sure I have an interest in them. Check it out here.  I would even hope that they would go as far and ask me about books I may have purchased from them and maybe even how I prefer to read, either digitally or physically. 

Sephora – Corporate
Location : 525 Market St. Fl 32 San Francisco, CA 94105
https://jobs.sephora.com/USA/?locale=en_US
Phone Number : For larger companies like Sephora, it’s harder to locate a direct number that isn’t just for their customers. I imagine when they reach out to you, the HR person or whoever is in charge of interviewing you gives you a direct number to call them at. 

When I was thinking about companies that I wanted to work for, Sephora immediately came to mind because their brand embraces creativity, diversity, and inclusivity. Sephora also is exciting because it’s a worldwide brand, with stores in 35 countries. So personally when I think of working for a company that is established across the globe, my mind thinks I might be lucky enough to travel within the company. When researching deeper about Sephora as a company, I thought it was interesting that they commented how their store model was “revolutionary” as it broke makeup free from the counter. But then within the same paragraph they talked about how they were proud to be in 600 JC Penny stores. Which to me, seems like they are bringing makeup back to a counter – since JC Pennys is a department store. However I do love their mission which is to inspire fearlessness. Which their brand embraces flawlessly with their diversity hired within Sephora stores, and in their advertising. 

Since Sephora is a beauty brand, I would believe that the interviewer would ask what my makeup routine or skincare routine would look like, or what Sephora products I like using best. Because it would be important for their employees to not only love their brand but actively use their products as well. But I would also expect them to ask me deeper questions about their manifesto – Sephora Stands.