How to Answer: Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Target job interview.
14. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer.
How to Answer
At Target, customers always come first -- they expect excellent customer service. That's what 'Expect More. Pay Less.' is all about! Think about a time when you went beyond your base job responsibilities to provide a customer with a great experience. If you don't have retail experience, that's okay! Most jobs, internships, and volunteer work have elements of service that you can draw from.
Written by Jordan Henry on July 6th, 2018
1st Answer Example
"In my my past experience as a waiter at several restaurants, I've served my fair share of difficult customers. One customer in particular, a regular, was always a headache -- none of us ever wanted to serve him because he was rude and didn't tip well. One day, he was seated in my section, and I decided that I would really go above and beyond for him. I greeted him with extra enthusiasm, waited patiently as he asked lots of questions about the menu (which he was already familiar with), and met his various complaints with understanding and sympathy. Like usual, he sent his meal back more than once and complained regularly. But over the course of his meal, he began opening up to me as I served him patiently, and he ended up telling me that his wife had died earlier in the year. I began to understand him better, and he became a much more agreeable customer after that."
Written by Jordan Henry on July 6th, 2018
2nd Answer Example
"While I don't currently have retail experience, I do know what it means to go above and beyond serving someone. I volunteered one summer at a retirement home with some other students from my high school -- we washed windows, did some painting, and spent a little time with the residents. One day, one of the full-time employees couldn't make it in to work because of a family emergency, so I volunteered to take over some of her menial tasks, like emptying bedpans. It wasn't a glamorous job, but I learned so much about what it means to put someone's needs above my own."
Written by Jordan Henry on July 6th, 2018