Archived (Seasonal Hire) How to make sure I keep my job?

[foxtrot]

Hi guys!

So I've been working at Target for about 3 weeks now (it's my first job, I'm a jr in high school) and I absolutely love it. I also love my coworkers and TLs! I really want to be able to continue working at this store, but I know with seasonal hires there's no guarantee of a permanent position. When I first applied I was okay with that and figured if it didn't last I could just find something else, but now I honestly love working at this store!

I have not yet been late/missed a shift (in fact I always show up a good 10-15 minutes early) and I don't plan to as long as it's within my control. I also pick up an extra shift here and there and have already covered a shift for a coworker. Right now I just cashier, but I'm going to be training hardlines/softlines (not sure which yet, HR didn't say) after Thanksgiving week.

Like I said, I've befriended a lot of my coworkers and several TLs already. Staying at this store is really important to me and I'm trying very hard to make sure it shows! What else can I do to boost my chances of staying past the holidays? Thanks!

Sidenote: I know a lot of people tell horror stories about seasonal hires that slack off, but a lot of the other seasonal hires at my store seem pretty dedicated as well which is why I'm so worried about making the cut.

 

[Kartman]

Just be the person everyone wants on their shift.

 

[Pelon1071]

Just be on time, Don’t call out, do as you’re told. And if they see the potential in you, they’ll Keep you! Good luck!

 

[HRZone]

You seem to be doing fine, while a lot of seasonals are a joke I think every year we have several who are better than our regular team members.

In addition to what you're already doing ask your leaders for feedback. Things you can improve on. Taking initiative will show you are looking at a future in the company rather than simply grabbing a check for the holidays.

 

[Planosss]

If it gives you any comfort, I am TL that was hired as a seasonal. Anything is possible

 

[buliSBI]

Being seasonal, it will all depend on your store needs after the holidays. Just exceed in your duties. Make sure you promote the Red Card to EVERY GUEST. Limit any call outs. Call in ASAP if you need to. Pickup shifts.

 

[Planosss]

Dont worry too much about the red cards, they are overrated.

 

[StaticSun]

To be blunt with you, even if you're a rockstar there's still a good chance they will cut you. I was a rockstar seasonal hire that they cut, but I befriended the Photo Lab Specialist on my final shift and he convinced the ETL-GE to keep me for Photo Lab shifts. Your mileage may vary.

 

[pajamapants]

Same position. Called out only once, but had to. Hoping I'll be kept on despite that. Being cross-trained for both SL and HL makes me hopeful because none of the other SL seasonals have been.
Good luck to you.

 

[mammoth]

have a sense of urgency, some common sense, and ask questions, don't assume if you don't know.

 

[The lost Soul]

here's my lame short but boring story of being a seasonal hire, not my full story but the short version of it... I started as a seasonal hire too, (also my first job.. I was 18 when I started) just recently though; I was offered a position for ship to store/from store like 6 months ago. I was the only tm out of 35 others seasonal tms that was qualified for overtime (I worked 3 shifts a day, took 3 meals... and only had thursdays off but sometimes they had me come in for 2 shifts on my day off.) not to mention they knew I'm a full-time student.. I never called out and never skipped any overtime hours. Then after we were slowed with online orders, they let most of the people go and had a couple stay and help with hardlines and returns or cashier backups. After a couple weeks we got transferred to a remodel our local target, Just recently finished with remodel. All the "seasonal" tms were termd due to their mistakes and call outs. Of course, it being target... many tms are gossipers. had a incident were one f whom I've known since orientation started a she said he said bullcrap with me and backroom tl and my remodel etl. I switched to overnight to get away from the drama (it always seems to come from girls.) she switches too but karma is the best... she later gets fired for taking 2 and half hour lunch to go and screw a co-worker... and was also warned about her an excessive amount of breaks, lunch time.. anyways long short story. My over-night leader had me staying over my shift to fix peoples mistakes. That lead to firing almost everyone and keeping only 3 of us to continue 3 weeks worth of remodel still. I was the only one working with night-shift leader for 2 weeks, then an etl comes and talks to me, tells me that she heard nothing but positivity about me and that 4 tls want me on their team and so I had to choose what team I wanted to be in. We barely have hours now but they only kept me and someone else. not to mention I never take my breaks but now I'm being forced to because they literally call me out on the walkie and tell me to go on break (I sometimes ignore when I hear my name on the walkie forcing me to take breaks but they now send someone, preferably my tl to me and make me go on my 15s... They know that I clean peoples mistake and/or catch up on my work because my boss had me clean someones mistake.. eh. Now my friend that has called out more than I could count for has kissed idk whos ass and is staying after seasonal but with reallllllly low hours. __advise for newbies.. make yourself the most hardworking team-member or be-friend the Team-leaders and kiss their ass...----

 

[Anelmi]

So you have been kept on but are being asked to take your 15s and you are upset?

 

[The lost Soul]

So you have been kept on but are being asked to take your 15s and you are upset?

yes, temporary doing reverse logistics and vendors come in like crazy at my spot. Our receiver is on vacation and no one is trained other than me. I'm still learning the concepts of rev log and can not train someone to cover in such little time...

 

[HRLady]

I never take my breaks but now I'm being forced to because they literally call me out on the walkie and tell me to go on break (I sometimes ignore when I hear my name on the walkie forcing me to take breaks but they now send someone, preferably my tl to me and make me go on my 15s...

You refusing to take the company-mandated (also legally mandated in many states) breaks can get you written up and eventually terminated. If your leaders allow you to skip breaks, they can also be terminated. No one wins in this situation so just don't do it.

If you don't believe me, here are some passages from the Team Member Handbook:

 

[The lost Soul]

On a more serious note, you refusing to take the company-mandated (also legally mandated in many states) breaks can get you written up and eventually terminated. If your leaders allow you to skip breaks, they can also be terminated. No one wins in this situation so just don't do it.

If you don't believe me, here are some passages from the Team Member Handbook:
View attachment 5172 View attachment 5173

never was to told it was required of us to take breaks during orientation but obviously i am not refusing to take them when they tell me too nor am I arguing. Thank you for that info though! Still learning new things everyday.

 

[Dog]

never was to told it was required of us to take breaks during orientation but obviously i am not refusing to take them when they tell me too nor am I arguing. Thank you for that info though! Still learning new things everyday.

Why don't you just take it upon yourself to take your breaks then instead of someone having to physically come after you to "force" you to take them? I would think that ignoring your TL over the walkie when he/she tells you it's time to take a break would be pretty close to refusal to do so. You seem to care about productivity but it's not really productive for someone to have to find you and tell you to take your break when you know better. Plus, not taking your breaks sets an unrealistic standard of what one person can do during their shift which hurts the rest of the team.

This thread isn't about breaks though - One of the things I did to try and make sure that I was kept on after the season was over was to try and learn as many areas of the store as possible in order to be valuable. Your leadership can either keep someone who is just cashier trained, or they can pick someone who was hired as a seasonal cashier but is also trained in guest service, can cover callouts/breaks at starbucks and do flex and sales floor when necessary - who do you think they might pick? (of course it all depends on availability, reliability, your leadership, etc.)

 

[The lost Soul]

Why don't you just take it upon yourself to take your breaks then instead of someone having to physically come after you to "force" you to take them? I would think that ignoring your TL over the walkie when he/she tells you it's time to take a break would be pretty close to refusal to do so. You seem to care about productivity but it's not really productive for someone to have to find you and tell you to take your break when you know better. Plus, not taking your breaks sets an unrealistic standard of what one person can do during their shift which hurts the rest of the team.

see, my tl never actually walkies me about my breaks. me and my tl clock in the same time, so he now tells me to take the breaks whenever its time. I get walkied by other tms (that strictly announce that I should be taking my break now..) that are not even under the same team as me.

 

[NKG]

see, my tl never actually walkies me about my breaks. me and my tl clock in the same time, so he now tells me to take the breaks whenever its time. I get walkied by other tms (that strictly announce that I should be taking my break now..) that are not even under the same team as me.

Every 2 hours you should take a break. I'd set an alarm and go before your told to take a break. Your not a child unless you want to be treated like one.

 

[HRLady]

never was to told it was required of us to take breaks during orientation

There should have been a paper form specifically about rest/meal break requirements that they had you sign during orientation.

Thank you for that info though! Still learning new things everyday.

No problem!

 

[Amanda Cantwell]

Your not a child unless you want to be treated like one.

Hey being a minor at target has it’s benefits #breaksafter5 #noclosing