Hey there my old favorite forum! For those of you that don't know me, it's been a while. It was good to see that my login was still active. I was once very active on this site and was promoted to moderator before the great re-boot. I'm so glad this site is still up and running, as it was an amazing resource through the entirety of my Target tenure. Sorry if this is a long post. After I started, I got way more into it than I thought I would. I just liked the idea of this happy trails section and thought I'd share my story.
I wanted to check in and share a couple things. First, it was interesting to see this "Happy Trails" section. I'm not sure that speaks well for the company or recent changes, but I'm glad it's here none the less. If you are on the fence about staying with Target, new to the company, or die hard red blooded, use this amazing resource to your advantage. Seriously. I learned more from this site in my first 90 days with Target than a STL knows after years of working in a store. This is a Target textbook, and I encourage you to read as much as you can here.
Second, if you aren't excited about the idea of staying with Target, I really hope that you don't feel stuck there. Since we have this venue, I guess I'll share my story. To give you the quick version of my Target career, in hindsight, I was in and out fairly quickly, but it felt like years because of how active I was here. I bled red, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I came into the company with experience as an Assistant Store Manager at Wal-Mart. I began as a LOG-TL in the backroom and impressed my STL quickly with the dedication I showed and the knowledge I seemed to pick up so fast out of nowhere (thanks thebreakroom.org). I was soon promoted to Sr.TL. and kept my position in logistics. I had a great time, was a rockstar in the store, and was rated as "outstanding" by my STL on my review. Things couldn't be better.
Then everything changed. I got a new STL and I was the black sheep. I didn't fit in to the sorority she was building. She was impulsive, emotional, overreacted to small things, missed easy opportunities to show the team she cared about them, which told everyone she didn't, and worst of all lacked respect, which is the base that loyalty is built on. I made a poor impression from the beginning with her. Within her first month, my position was changed. She didn't like having a Sr. in the back room. I was moved to hardlines. She never understood that dealing with freight until 11-12 three days a week was better than 120 sales planners every week, but I -digress... The biggest thing that frustrated me with the company was the constant hiring of the inexperienced as ETLs/STLs. It was simply insane with the turnover and silly things they would pull. They just weren't professionals.
I made the decision to leave after I was issued my first CA for a "security oversight" as she put it. Let's just say everyone can make a mistake and miss the roof hatch lock being unlocked or the dock door no one ever uses after their 4th close in a row. Usually the leadership team has each other's backs, and those types of things are handled in secret, but when it goes down on paper, the writing is on the wall.
I had the luxury of time, and found a position as a Department Manager at Lowe's. I gave my 2 weeks, and the rest was history. All of that flew by in the span of 18-20 months. Managing a department at Lowe's pays better than Sr.TL, definitely better than a regular TL, and the duties are similar. It's very common for DMs at Lowe's to make in the $17-21/hr range depending on the experience you bring to the table. The experience was fun and the environment and culture is far more relaxed and enjoyable.
I gave Lowe's my same level of commitment. Although I frequent a forum dedicated to the company, it doesn't share nearly the info that this site does, so I didn't have that to catch me up to the others. One way or another, I figured out how to be successful there quickly with my own personality. I didn't have to put up with sorority girls or frat guys (I once was one, but I've grown up a bit) and there were real experienced managers there that learned how to lead over YEARS on the job not SEMESTERS in the classroom.
Don't mean to give too much info, but some appreciate specifics, and I don't mind sharing. Over the past 27 months (holy cow, I can't believe it's been that long) I went from Department Manager (9 months) at $19/hr to Assistant Store Manager (18 months) at $$56K plus a $16K bonus, to the regional bench for Store Manager. I'm extremely excited, about my latest opportunity, and although I could end up anywhere in the region (144 stores) any day now, it's going to be a great experience.
Moral of the story, even if you feel stuck, there is a company out there that will appreciate your experience and treat you right. I wish I could convince my mother of this. She unfortunately still works for Target in the Pharmacy. Even with her (supposedly full time Pharm Tech position) hours being cut, having to pick up random 4 hour shifts some days, being forced to work 6 days per week to get over 32-35hrs, and now having to work in the cash office to get anywhere over 20 hrs, she remains loyal. It's truly sad. I don't know what's going on with scheduling there, but it's not right for the full time staff. I can't imagine if I had stayed and was trying to support my family with those changes happening.
Anyway, if you made it through, thanks for reading. Glad to stop by again, and I hope you all find your perfect niche.
I wanted to check in and share a couple things. First, it was interesting to see this "Happy Trails" section. I'm not sure that speaks well for the company or recent changes, but I'm glad it's here none the less. If you are on the fence about staying with Target, new to the company, or die hard red blooded, use this amazing resource to your advantage. Seriously. I learned more from this site in my first 90 days with Target than a STL knows after years of working in a store. This is a Target textbook, and I encourage you to read as much as you can here.
Second, if you aren't excited about the idea of staying with Target, I really hope that you don't feel stuck there. Since we have this venue, I guess I'll share my story. To give you the quick version of my Target career, in hindsight, I was in and out fairly quickly, but it felt like years because of how active I was here. I bled red, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I came into the company with experience as an Assistant Store Manager at Wal-Mart. I began as a LOG-TL in the backroom and impressed my STL quickly with the dedication I showed and the knowledge I seemed to pick up so fast out of nowhere (thanks thebreakroom.org). I was soon promoted to Sr.TL. and kept my position in logistics. I had a great time, was a rockstar in the store, and was rated as "outstanding" by my STL on my review. Things couldn't be better.
Then everything changed. I got a new STL and I was the black sheep. I didn't fit in to the sorority she was building. She was impulsive, emotional, overreacted to small things, missed easy opportunities to show the team she cared about them, which told everyone she didn't, and worst of all lacked respect, which is the base that loyalty is built on. I made a poor impression from the beginning with her. Within her first month, my position was changed. She didn't like having a Sr. in the back room. I was moved to hardlines. She never understood that dealing with freight until 11-12 three days a week was better than 120 sales planners every week, but I -digress... The biggest thing that frustrated me with the company was the constant hiring of the inexperienced as ETLs/STLs. It was simply insane with the turnover and silly things they would pull. They just weren't professionals.
I made the decision to leave after I was issued my first CA for a "security oversight" as she put it. Let's just say everyone can make a mistake and miss the roof hatch lock being unlocked or the dock door no one ever uses after their 4th close in a row. Usually the leadership team has each other's backs, and those types of things are handled in secret, but when it goes down on paper, the writing is on the wall.
I had the luxury of time, and found a position as a Department Manager at Lowe's. I gave my 2 weeks, and the rest was history. All of that flew by in the span of 18-20 months. Managing a department at Lowe's pays better than Sr.TL, definitely better than a regular TL, and the duties are similar. It's very common for DMs at Lowe's to make in the $17-21/hr range depending on the experience you bring to the table. The experience was fun and the environment and culture is far more relaxed and enjoyable.
I gave Lowe's my same level of commitment. Although I frequent a forum dedicated to the company, it doesn't share nearly the info that this site does, so I didn't have that to catch me up to the others. One way or another, I figured out how to be successful there quickly with my own personality. I didn't have to put up with sorority girls or frat guys (I once was one, but I've grown up a bit) and there were real experienced managers there that learned how to lead over YEARS on the job not SEMESTERS in the classroom.
Don't mean to give too much info, but some appreciate specifics, and I don't mind sharing. Over the past 27 months (holy cow, I can't believe it's been that long) I went from Department Manager (9 months) at $19/hr to Assistant Store Manager (18 months) at $$56K plus a $16K bonus, to the regional bench for Store Manager. I'm extremely excited, about my latest opportunity, and although I could end up anywhere in the region (144 stores) any day now, it's going to be a great experience.
Moral of the story, even if you feel stuck, there is a company out there that will appreciate your experience and treat you right. I wish I could convince my mother of this. She unfortunately still works for Target in the Pharmacy. Even with her (supposedly full time Pharm Tech position) hours being cut, having to pick up random 4 hour shifts some days, being forced to work 6 days per week to get over 32-35hrs, and now having to work in the cash office to get anywhere over 20 hrs, she remains loyal. It's truly sad. I don't know what's going on with scheduling there, but it's not right for the full time staff. I can't imagine if I had stayed and was trying to support my family with those changes happening.
Anyway, if you made it through, thanks for reading. Glad to stop by again, and I hope you all find your perfect niche.