I'm in my first role so I cant really compare as always, I will offer a pros and cons list.
HR Pros: probably the best career role because you can parlay it into an HR role outside of Target. Most hrbps are former etl hrs. You generally get less LOD shifts than your peers.
Cons: hr at Target is not true hr. You are not coordinating benefits (Where the real money is). Our rules for firing rarely match state laws. You're usually the first person blamed when hours go to hell.
Etl log/replenishment pros: good logs are often promoted to stl. A good etl log can leave Target and probably thrive somewhere else with much better resources. ETLs logs are more likely to promote to pmbp rather than a pmt as backwards as that sounds. Most pptls are self sufficient team leads so my etl log has absolutely nothing to do with plano.
Log cons: the hours can suck. Especially if you're at an overnight or 4am store. Targets log process is broken as hell. You better be able to jump in and help your team. Log ETLs get too much blame for said broken processes.
Etl ap pros: definitely a job no one would call boring . Target pays well for loss prevention. For now they still allow apprehensions.
Ap cons: paperwork. Some stores have awful camera coverage. Number one con according to mine is his LOD shifts taking away from ap focus. If you are in a risk 8, 9 or 10 store you get to avoid LOD shifts. I can't think of many etl aps who made it to stl, once in Ap that's your path.
Etl hardlines
Pros: you're able to have such a huge impact on comps and sales for your areas. You have so many end caps that you can work with to drive sales. Most stores still have the flow team push hardlines.
Cons: hardlines hours are awful compared to softlines. Even market is getting more than hardlines in an e2e store. Most good hardlines team members are stolen by higher paying/more consistent hour teams such as plano, electronics or market. Hardlines just took over instocks this year which sucks because our company OOS rate is over 2% of goal.
Etl style or softlines
Pros: Options outside of target, clothing stores will never fully go away thanks to women. Right now softlines is getting a lot of hours. Pretty easy to stand out on a visit if you have a team that can zone and a good vm.
Cons: targets hiring is whack. All our girls who were fast and efficient got moved to flow team because they weren't "style experts". You need a balance of both process and guest oriented people. Most softlines teams in my experience have a lot of drama between team members
Etl ge
Pros: the position is almost all talent management. Through hiring you can really shape your team. Speaking for my store many of our 10 plus year team members are older cashier's who will never leave us for greener pastures.
Cons: the stereotype they put weak ETLs in this role. Red cards and NPS Scores are fickle. My current ge sends these condescending emails when we get bad surveys but no one takes her seriously.
Etl food or etl ops
Some High volume P fresh stores still have an etl ops who oversee food.
Pros: your team leads make or break your department.
Cons: your team leads make or break your department. Having to deal with Steritech.
Senior etl pays about 5k-10k more a year. That's probably the best etl position.
