Archived Did anyone have to train themselves?

[TLTurbo]

I've worked at target for about 10 month on the sales floor ,and I've never been officially trained at anything...but then i turned into a TL after 3 month's

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

Welcome! No learning plan was done? How did you learn do sales planners, read labels, set the ad & do register? Someone had to train you on register at least.

 

[TLTurbo]

My register training was like a two 45sec pep talks...my gstl did two transactions one with cash and one with checks and said you got ...my head was spinning

 

[RightArm]

I think the biggest problem right now at my store is that there isn't time to train all the new people on all the specialties. We get them zone trained and reshop trained and operator trained in SL then don't have enough time to teach them how to do salesplanners or adjacencies or what "brand" is or how to do MIRs. The end result is that there are currently only two of us in softlines who know how to do these things. So you can imagine how that affects hours. Some things may be possible to train yourself on but when it comes to the equipment and the processes involved I don't think that's an easy thing to do. So if you've managed all that on your own then you must be pretty amazing. 🙂

 

[OffYaPhone]

*raises hands* I received very minimal training as cashier. I've had to learn this as I went. Heck, one guest taught ME how to do a rebate check. Hmm...

 

[TLTurbo]

At my target for my hardline team,My STL just worries about the zone being 100% so the night team can take care of the go backs...but when i train someone i have them with me the entire day on the third side ...because its better telling them what to do then checking on them asking are you good....but idk target is weird sometimes

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

From our guide section under Salesfloor:

Zoning
- Look at every item, working top to bottom (or vice versa) and do it on a per section (usually four feet) basis
- Cover all diamonds
- Turn all labels to face out
- Use grey dots (if you see one, the item in the location might not be correct)
- Don't move strays/foreign/re-shop to the appropriate aisle every time -- use your cart and leave items on the floor until you finish the aisle (some ETLs might not like this, maybe only do it after the store is closed)
- Organize your cart! Example: bottom tier = backstock, middle tier = strays and empty packages, hand basket = defectives, top tier = re-shop for your current department (this should be worked every time you change aisles if the items are within a five-aisle radius)
- Check multiple locations on the same aisle, don't leave holes if you have product on the shelf above/below
- Pegs are easy to zone, just use the grey dots
- You shouldn't need a PDA to tell if a product is in the wrong spot (most of the time the last five numbers are on the bottom left of the label, the assortment number near the UPC will be on the top right of label, and Target brands have DPCIs near the UPCs and sometimes on the front of the package)
- Know the department - zone where it gets shopped more first (if you have time to come back later) or last (if you only have enough time to get to each aisle once) - Example: Toys then Sporting Goods then Toys if you have time to go back
- Check empty endcaps for backroom locations, if none then pull from home, if no product - flex the endcap with like items, starting with d-code or NOP
- Zone clearance, please, just do it
- Remove grey dots in locations that have the correct item
- Always pull more than one item forward (minimum two, typically 3-4) - if everyone does this, the zone is maintained A LOT longer while being shopped
- Inventory control clips (round rubber things) on pegs should be pulled forward if there are few items on the peg - this greatly improves the look of a peg-heavy aisle

Returns/Re-shop/Strays
- If at all possible, get a PDA
- If you have a PDA, use RF Apps (NOP + toggle to Pricing, LOC, SUBT, etc.) - if you don't know why, you haven't used it
- Put the items in your cart yourself - you know how your thought process works more than other people, so you can work through the merchandise quicker (this is critical in HBA or Toys)
- If you don't have a PDA, park your cart near a price check machine (assuming you have the new ones that SF schemetics)
- Park your cart on an endcap, work all of the items within a five-aisle radius (three before, two after)
- Ask CIHYFS - chances are this isn't your first time working returns/re-shop, so you should be able to show guests where most items are
- Remove grey dots from empty locations that you are filling (some stores may not remove the dots if there is only one item, check with your Instocks or Hardlines Team Leaders)

CAF Push
- Fill your vehicle - if there are other vehicles with merchandise in nearby areas (or only a few items) you should grab them, you will save yourself time and effort
- Use the smart labels (that might not be the official term) that is on every single box - it tells you the DPCI, SF schematic, and item name
- Push your vehicle, don't pull it
- Don't stack your vehicle too high, running over a guest is a bad thing
- Learn your backroom (where different departments get backstocked, where to keep empty vehicles, etc.) - this makes backroom TMs' lives a lot easier
- Combine your backstock with nearby backstock vehicles, don't just throw a pink clip on it and walk away
- Keep your vehicle organized - separate backstock as you work, break down boxes, put trash (see: C/D blocks) in an empty box
- Don't overstock - the accumulator isn't perfect, please don't make it worse
- Remove grey dots from empty locations that you are filling

That's everything I have for now, Hardlinesmaster feel free to use any/all of it.

This is from a high volume store, other stores may function differently.

Edit: added a few more items.

 

[Flabbergasted]

I trained myself on the sales floor the one day they gave me a hardlines shift. Also mostly trained myself at electronics, when I was thrown back there to cover a lunch and my trainer only went over things for 3 minutes before claiming he would hit compliance if he didn't leave right away. Turns out he had a full hour more before he'd be in violation, he more than likely just didn't want to deal with the training. That's always nice.

 

[toredandkhaki]

Trained myself on how to close food ave (was given position, promised training that never materialized), and sales floor, and how to pull and backstock, and POG setting. .always would be told I would be trained when they had enough people in my department. .

 

[Stubio]

I got good training as a cart attendant, but they haven't trained me with anything else, 3 weeks into the job and I still don't know how to work guest service or cash register. My TL told me to shadow my CA trainer as he does transactions but we haven't had shifts together since the first week.
Oh and I was shown what the "wave" machine is.... but haven't been shown how to use it. 😕

 

[Patty]

I was entirely trained by TBR! Guides, how -tos,practical advice and friendly support. It wasnt until after Black Friday that I learned this was not an official Target site. I would never have lasted without you a . Cant thank you enough. This is still where I go when I have questions.

 

[evilSF]

People are supposed to be trained? ?

My training had been only a few minutes in each department. I had to ask lots of questions or figure it out on my own. Because of that, I make sure to help new comers. At times I train others and other times I get in to their business and ask them if they're having trouble with anything. I remember how it feels like to feel lost, so I don't want any newcomers to have to wing it.

 

[HLGuy]

I basically trained myself on the register. I had about 10 minutes to shadow another cashier, then I was on a lane ringing up guests. It went pretty well since I had previous cashier experience and lurked on TBR before my shift.

Hardlines training was much better. I learned a lot from my trainer throughout my first few training shifts. What I didn't learn from him, I learned from here.

 

[semantics]

I think the biggest problem right now at my store is that there isn't time to train all the new people on all the specialties. We get them zone trained and reshop trained and operator trained in SL then don't have enough time to teach them how to do salesplanners or adjacencies or what "brand" is or how to do MIRs. The end result is that there are currently only two of us in softlines who know how to do these things. So you can imagine how that affects hours. Some things may be possible to train yourself on but when it comes to the equipment and the processes involved I don't think that's an easy thing to do. So if you've managed all that on your own then you must be pretty amazing. 🙂

Pretty much the reason why he got TL, I was recommended for TL for similar reasons had to ask around about best practices but pretty much self taught myself how to operate everything/do things all over logistics. Really I'm surprised how little spot puts into training. Conversely our backroom is heavily trained even if there aren't hours allocated for training we'll give you all day to mess around to make sure you know exactly how everything should be before we let you actually work a backroom shift. Strong TLs back there both agree on rather have competent TMs than sloppy work done. I still have to talk people up on how things should be outside of the backroom, specifically on mistakes they are doing which they aren't doing because it's a shortcut they just don't know any better and are too afraid to ask. Taught a ton of people little things about the mydevices so they can do their job on them and free up the PDA for the few jobs that actually still require them.

I trained myself on the sales floor the one day they gave me a hardlines shift. Also mostly trained myself at electronics, when I was thrown back there to cover a lunch and my trainer only went over things for 3 minutes before claiming he would hit compliance if he didn't leave right away. Turns out he had a full hour more before he'd be in violation, he more than likely just didn't want to deal with the training. That's always nice.

I hope he at least went over security practices with you coming from a high theft store it irks me when they shove random people to cover electronics.

 

[sher]

I think the biggest problem right now at my store is that there isn't time to train all the new people on all the specialties. We get them zone trained and reshop trained and operator trained in SL then don't have enough time to teach them how to do salesplanners or adjacencies or what "brand" is or how to do MIRs. The end result is that there are currently only two of us in softlines who know how to do these things. So you can imagine how that affects hours. Some things may be possible to train yourself on but when it comes to the equipment and the processes involved I don't think that's an easy thing to do. So if you've managed all that on your own then you must be pretty amazing. 🙂

I honestly don't know what some of that stuff is and I'll have been with target for three years this August lol. Idk what mir is, but I know adjacencies and sales planners are left to the team leads and "specialists" at my store. I still have no clue about the difference between plano and adjacencies? I was sorta trained, but I had to come to tbr to figure out a lot of things. And some stuff I learned from pushing stuff on the PDAs. That's how I learned to print labels (labels with barcodes, shelf labels, online items, clearance stickers). Sometimes when I ask people how to do things they just do them for me without showing me how to, so I have to make people show me things sometimes. Training just doesn't seem to be a focus at target.

 

[NitroKing2110]

I honestly don't know what some of that stuff is and I'll have been with target for three years this August lol. Idk what mir is, but I know adjacencies and sales planners are left to the team leads and "specialists" at my store. I still have no clue about the difference between plano and adjacencies? I was sorta trained, but I had to come to tbr to figure out a lot of things. And some stuff I learned from pushing stuff on the PDAs. That's how I learned to print labels (labels with barcodes, shelf labels, online items, clearance stickers). Sometimes when I ask people how to do things they just do them for me without showing me how to, so I have to make people show me things sometimes. Training just doesn't seem to be a focus at target.

The way it seems to be handled is "give you the minimum training so as to not make everything totally screwed beyond hope, because its cheaper for them to let you make minor mistakes and coach then train everyone outright because not everyone will make the mistake.

Most TMs will not need to worry about salesplanners (planograms for endcaps), MIRs (merchant initiated return, basically "you have this, I want it back"), and planograms versus adjacencies. As far as I know the difference is softlines doesn't have planograms they have adjacencies. Logic does not apply in the training process.

 

[FlowChick]

2 days of training.....

 

[signingminion]

I've been lucky. Cashier was quick, but I didn't need much. I got training in softlines, a bit in hardlines and electronics before moving to market. There I got three days of training. And another when I started doing the food truck intake. A full week of instocks. Two days of pricing. My stl taught me Plano and zoning. Many of those training hours weren't actually scheduled as training, but I asked questions non-stop and took notes. I also dig around on workbench for best practice and information all the time.

 

[sher]

The way it seems to be handled is "give you the minimum training so as to not make everything totally screwed beyond hope, because its cheaper for them to let you make minor mistakes and coach then train everyone outright because not everyone will make the mistake.

Most TMs will not need to worry about salesplanners (planograms for endcaps), MIRs (merchant initiated return, basically "you have this, I want it back"), and planograms versus adjacencies. As far as I know the difference is softlines doesn't have planograms they have adjacencies. Logic does not apply in the training process.

My understanding was that Plano was the like gondolas/shoes/stuff on peghooks and the visual adjacency is like where racks go and what goes on em or something lol.

 

[MarketGirl]

I was thrown from salesfloor into market with no training. My training was pretty much reading any of the guides I could get my hands on. Whenever I asked for help from my TL they were surprised that I hadn't learned said thing already. I pretty much learned backroom sto/pull stuff by playing with a PDA and finding a backroom TM who was willing to help me out. I'm actually supposed to be backroom certified for my position but no one really bothered because I had figured out most everything on my own. Oh well.

 

[whippingboy]

I've worked at target for about 10 month on the sales floor ,and I've never been officially trained at anything...but then i turned into a TL after 3 month's

You're saying you're now a TL? Do you know how to train other people? I hope they at the very least, taught you how to train others, meaning, filling out Learning Plans and accessing appropriate content on Workbench. If not, your store has some serious issues.

 

[RedMan]

Cashier: 30 minutes training, then I went solo.
Service Desk: Watch Jane and do what she does.
GSA: Shadow Dave for one shift.
GSTL: Here are your keys. I think you can figure it out.

I've been at Target (different stores) for a little over three years. I learned everything I know by reading WorkBench on my breaks and lunches. And the DTL told me that I'm the best GSTL in the District. I've trained GSTLs from five stores over the past three months.

My training was a joke from the start. I'm trying to make it better in our District but MyTime fights me.

 

[OrangeFire]

At my old store, the only thing I was officially trained on was carts. I figured out cashiering through being called for backup, and then I finally just went ahead and picked up a cashier shift to figure out the rest. I learned service desk though trial and reading guides on here.

 

[Sickofspot]

Honestly, every position I had worked at in a Target had minimal to no training. Pretty much, everything is sink or swim. It can be pretty tough. And, computer training doesn't help much at all.
I would partner with your ETL on your questions and their expectations.

 

[Retail Girl]

My electronics training was me saying, "hey, I heard you had a call out over there. Since you are desperate and have no one else, can I do it?" The LOD decided that I was literally better than no one. After that, they let me take shifts off the swap board and cover call outs, no questions asked.