Summer’s in full swing, and at Target headquarters in Minneapolis, our summer interns are deep in their projects, learning the retail ropes with the help of their teammates, mentors and managers. Many joined us from outside the state, and are discovering all the fun the Twin Cities has to offer in summertime. Meet two of our interns and their Target managers, and hear about what they’ve been up to—both on the job and out on the town.
Fabiola L., Target Technology Services Intern, Digital Content. From: Orange County, Calif.
Soham D., Director Engineer on the Target Technology Services Marketing Digital Content team. From: Minneapolis
You both originally came from outside of Minnesota, so what surprised you most when you got here?
Fabiola: How active everyone is! There’s always something to do around Minneapolis. With all of the sporting events, festivals and outdoor activities, it’s clear that nobody here takes summer for granted. As a computer science student living right by Silicon Valley, flying out to the Midwest for an internship was the last thing anyone expected from me. I love California, but I was also really excited to explore a new place.
Soham: Same here—I moved here from Mumbai, India, in 1993, and I was surprised by the number of things to do here all year round. Even in the winter there’s sledding, biking with fat tires, and visiting Theodore Wirth Regional Park for all kinds of sports.
What’s one important thing you’ve learned from each other on the job this summer?
Fabiola: Almost everything I know about web development. I came into this internship with plenty of coding experience but little knowledge about web dev. Within the first week, we’d produced our first web app from end to end. It’s been great learning to be a full stack engineer from such a knowledgeable, passionate and experienced mentor. He’s shown us that software engineering isn’t only about building something that will make someone’s life easier, but also about using your own talents and interests to benefit the company.
Soham: Working on the project with Fabiola has been fun and gratifying. She keeps pushing for more challenges and reminding me that each intern learns at their own pace.
Best eats in the Twin Cities. And, go:
Soham: Mocha Monkey in Saint Bonifacius, Minn.,—my new favorite coffee place. Besides the gazillion coffee choices, baked goodies and soups, I enjoy the quiet of the early morning sitting at a table outside the shop.
Fabiola: Ooh, I’m writing that one down. So far, Burger Jones by Lake Calhoun has been my favorite. Can’t go wrong with their creative burger options and a nice shake.
Fill in the blank: On the weekend, you’ll probably find me …
Fabiola: Playing beach volleyball. A group of interns goes out to play at least once a week, and it’s a lot of fun! Things get pretty funny when we have 20-plus people on the court playing at once.
Soham: At the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. There’s so much to do in its beautiful landscape of gardens, walking trails and exhibits—one of the best places for nature photography. We also take the kids to Valleyfair amusement park or Lake Calhoun for some biking, boating or rollerblading.
Brad A., Senior Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis on Target’s Marketing Finance team. From: Minneapolis
Brian R., Intern in Target’s Finance & Accounting Development Program. From: Mishawaka, Ind.
So Brian—first impressions of life in Minnesota? Any big surprises?
Brian: I grew up in a small town near the University of Notre Dame and briefly lived in London while I studied abroad, so I’ve experienced big city and small town life. Minneapolis really has it all: a fun and vibrant downtown, lakes and recreation, and even the University of Minnesota. The city’s incredibly versatile with a wide range of urban and cosmopolitan to suburban lifestyles.
Brad: For the record, I was born and raised in Plymouth, Minn., so nothing surprises me anymore—this is all I’ve ever known!
What are you working on, and how are you helping each other out along the way?
Brian: Brad made me feel welcome on the team from day one, gave me guidance and showed me around Target HQ. My project involves taking deep dives into marketing data and making sense of it by segmenting it into its component parts, and he’s been flexible and willing to help me solve problems. We also talk a lot about my future career and think beyond about what I want to do long-term.
Say you get off work and it’s a beautiful, sunny afternoon. Where’s the first place you go?
Brad: Team happy hour! Minnesota has lots of good pubs and restaurants with outdoor seating and patios. My favorite restaurant is Maynard’s in Excelsior, Minn.,—it’s right on the wharf of Lake Minnetonka, so the view is beautiful. I also like Birch’s on The Lake—a restaurant and brewery on Long Lake.
Brian: Brad’s right, the restaurants here are great—Cowboy Jack’s has never let me down, although most who know me know I’m quite loyal to the very delicious, very local Chipotle. I was lucky to make lots of Target friends this summer, and we’ve had plenty of free time to explore the area, go to festivals and other events. We also like hanging out and grilling in our apartment courtyard next to the U of M campus.
How about on the weekend—what’s your favorite way to relax?
Brad: The best is being out on the lake with family and friends. I have a cabin on Rice Lake in Eden Valley, Minn.— it’s peaceful and quiet and brings back a ton of great childhood memories.
Brian: Yeah, I enjoy anything on the water too, like swimming or kayaking … but I enjoy sleeping next to the water on the beach even more!
Look like fun? Check out more of what our interns have been doing this summer.
Want more info about Target’s internship programs? Check out our Careers resources for College Students. Interested in learning more about what life is like at Target? Explore Careers and meet more of our team members on The Pulse blog.
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