Target will hire up to 1,600 for Oahu, Maui stores

Retailer Target announced plans in December to hire up to 1,200 employees for its two Oahu stores that are slated to open in March 2009. A four-day hiring event – a combined application and personal interview process – was held from Dec. 18 to 21 at the Hawaii Convention Center for positions ranging from shift managers to cashiers and stock clerks who will likely start work in mid-January.

"We've got the application process down to an art, and ideally we would like to fill all 1,200 positions in those four days," said Rob Parke, district team lead for Target. "We plan to make on-the-spot job offers every day." Target offers competitive wages, starting between $10 to $12 an hour for general positions, and starting at $15 for supervisory positions, he said.

The jobs include full medical benefits for those who work 20 hours or more, 401(k)s, holidays and vacations, depending on time of service. The store has already hired 30 managers over the last two years who have been training on the mainland.

Target will hold a similar hiring event in Kona in May for up to 400 positions there. The Kapolei and Salt Lake stores are expected to open in March, while the Kona store is expected to open in July of next year.