Archived Team Lead as stepping stone for ETL?

Status
Not open for further replies.

ISign

Target Guest
Joined
Oct 14, 2013
Messages
133
Ok, so currently I do not work for Target. I did previously for two years, started as hardlines then moved to signing specialist or team member as they began calling it.. anyways I'm now a junior and will be a senior this spring at a university and I'm wondering, if I have an interest in becoming an ETL should I possibly pursue team lead positions within the company now? Do you all feel having that target leadership experience would help? I currently have no management positions held, currently in a position that's sort of accounting related (my major) but it's only two days a week...

Or should I just try to intern my senior year then step into an ETL spot that way? I know Target recruits from my university every semester.
Thanks for the input!
 
Greetings and salutations.
Welcome to The Break Room.

Go for the internship.
 
Last edited:
Agreed - try for intern. I think going from team lead or senior team lead to ETL is difficult. They're more likely to hire interns as new ETLs.
 
Hey ISign!

Go for intern.

I was an intern over the summer (now a GSTL) and will move into an ETL position once I graduate in May.

However, there is a TL "on-the-bench" at my store, who really wants to move up into ETL once he is done with school next year. He wants to go for the intern position, but I guess there is an extra process and paperwork for him to do so. My advice: don't do it.

You can intern as a junior and then become an "advanced" intern as a senior. I was in a store with an advanced intern, and she was given much more responsibility and projects since she was a 2nd year intern. If you are looking for work between the summers, some stores (like mine) will take you on as an extended intern or move you into a TL position (like me).

Apply now and if your school has a job fair and Target recruits there... GO. If you get interviewed, be fully prepared to explain why you left Target and why you want to go back. One of my other friends applied for an ETL at the job fair at my school few weeks ago. He was a former Tm and was declined after the first interview... The interviewer asked many questions about why he left, etc. If you left because of performance issues, again, be fully prepared to explain.

If you have any further questions, let me know.

Edit:
And remember this, the internship is intended for those without previous managerial experience. While I did have some supervisory and retail experience (worked with another retailer since I was 17!), most of the interns did not.

And as an accounting major, you may want the accounting experience in the future in case you don't like the retail world. So stick with your current job, go for internship, and go from there.

And hey, that internship looks good on a resume anyways... Especially with the community service opportunities they give you. I've actually had a couple companies reach out to me via LinkedIn about opportunities more in-line with my a major!
 
Last edited:
I think bullseye nailed it. You should know that the stores internship is different than how it was even just a couple years ago. You will pretty much train for a specific ETL position, but be trained so that you have general knowledge of overall store operations. After a week or two of training, you will spend most of your time with your ETL trainer for your sepcific area. Then the last couple weeks or so you are pretty much supposed to be running that workcenter. This is a much more realistic internship experience than it used to be. Target used to have their interns be kind of a cohort/servant for the ETLs/STL and then work on a project for most of the summer and present it at the district office.

One thing to keep in mind is that since you're getting a technical degree like accounting, you may be better off seeking internships and job opportunities in firms or companies more geared toward accounting. If there's a Target HQ accounting internship then go for that! I just don't think that a retail management internship would be very beneficial for your career path if you want to be an accountant or work in accounting.
 
I think bullseye nailed it. You should know that the stores internship is different than how it was even just a couple years ago. You will pretty much train for a specific ETL position, but be trained so that you have general knowledge of overall store operations. After a week or two of training, you will spend most of your time with your ETL trainer for your sepcific area. Then the last couple weeks or so you are pretty much supposed to be running that workcenter. This is a much more realistic internship experience than it used to be. Target used to have their interns be kind of a cohort/servant for the ETLs/STL and then work on a project for most of the summer and present it at the district office.

One thing to keep in mind is that since you're getting a technical degree like accounting, you may be better off seeking internships and job opportunities in firms or companies more geared toward accounting. If there's a Target HQ accounting internship then go for that! I just don't think that a retail management internship would be very beneficial for your career path if you want to be an accountant or work in accounting.

Yeah I know, I'm having second thoughts of accounting due to the hours/ not having a life at all (its worse than the 50or so hours ETL's work) for around similar pay. I actually feel I would like retail management (with the possibility of becoming STL and higher) If for some reason I don't feel like it is working out for me I would pursue my Master's degree in Accounting which is required to get anywhere in Public accounting (and to get CPA sort of... 150 Credits which is equivalent to a Master's)... I actually had the idea in my head back when I first started at Target of becoming and ETL and that was before I started school. But I'm keeping my options open, I feel like the Internship would be a great test to see how I feel about it and again if I don't I could continue my accounting studies with my Master's... I just don't want to jump straight into Master's due to my already high amount of student debt and the fact that Master's is much higher tuition if I'm not sure I want to continue with accounting. And private accounting typically requires several years public experience first. *edit* Is there a reason this 'quick reply' showed up instantly but my other reply (question) for bullseye has not?
 
I'm definitely staying in school either route, but the idea is to finish Bachelor's start as an ETL if I absolutely hate it for some reason, then go back for Master's to pursue a career in accounting.
 
I don't know about the thread posting thing. Mods, some help over here!

I totally understand about accounting. I got through three of four years and just didn't want to do it anymore. Just carefully weigh your options. There is definitely money to be had in retail management, but you will always be working nights, weekends, and holidays as long as you are in a store. With the way the company is now, expect to be in the stores for a long time. District spots usually don't open up very often, other than business partners, and you will be expected to be an STL at more than one store first.

So whatever happens with TL or intern, if you get on as an ETL after graduation, you will be looking at something at least around 3-4.5 years as an ETL. Then at least another 3-6 years as an STL. Then maybe a move to district, if there are any DTL spots open around the country. And you'll still be working weekends and holidays from time to time. So somewhere between 6-10 years spent in the stores on average. And I've honestly not heard of but a few people that went corporate from the stores. That said, there is definitely money to be had in retail. And as long as you strive to maintain a work-life balance, than it probably won't be terrible. It is hard, thankless work many times though.

Good luck with everything. And this post is just my two cents. I'm kind of in the same boat. I know I could do retail management, but I just don't want to. Target is different now than it was a few years ago, and sadly most of the changes haven't been for the best. I'm getting an engineering degree and getting out as soon as I can. By next fall I'll be prime for internship opportunities, so at that point I'll be saying so long Target!
 
I'm going to go for an internship myself! Got the full backing of my HR who thinks I'd be a perfect candidate, and I'll be talking to them in a few days and hopefully interviewing soon after!
 
There is very little chance of internal promotion anymore with Target. Target wants fresh young people with no independent thinking. You have a better chance with an internship or attend a Target recruitment fair.

Salaried 40-80 hr weeks
 
District spots usually don't open up very often, other than business partners, and you will be expected to be an STL at more than one store first.

With some of the BP positions undergoing this "evolution" plan, I wouldn't bet on these positions being available in a couple years... At least only, just a couple available.

And I've honestly not heard of but a few people that went corporate from the stores.

This is a true statement. While it is possible for one to move between stores/DC, stores/HQ, etc, it is NOT common. My group HR emphasized this during a Q&A session for the interns this past summer. According to him, "we are training you stores, you will spent your time in stores, so most ETL's will spend their careers in stores.

Having said this, some retailers DO consider the store management positions as a "natural" progression to a corporate position. At my former workplace, Kmart, many of the HQ associates had been assistant managers and store managers. They placed a value on people with a store perspective... Which is kind of cool.

Of course, I wouldn't recommend working for Kmart/Sears. The place is falling apart quickly and will probably out be of business within a few years. However, if you are interested in retail, talk to other retailers. See what their progression from store to HQ is and how it works.
 
Bullseye did you get my private message? I asked a few more questions but it doesn't seem many of my posts/messages are going through... lol unless I use quick reply..
 
Bullseye did you get my private message? I asked a few more questions but it doesn't seem many of my posts/messages are going through... lol unless I use quick reply..

Sorry, been busy between work and school. I just replied! Please feel free (and anyone else!) to ask as many questions as you need!
 
Bullseye did you get my private message? I asked a few more questions but it doesn't seem many of my posts/messages are going through... lol unless I use quick reply..

Sorry, been busy between work and school. I just replied! Please feel free (and anyone else!) to ask as many questions as you need!

Thanks man! I definitely understand.. Got 3 exams I'm preparing for myself so I know what its like haha. I emailed you a couple small questions, no rush. I actually found out who the recruiter was for this area and contacted her as well as sent my resume so maybe I'll have an interview soon :).
 
Been working with the Sr Recruiter for my area. Found her on LinkedIn and have been emailing her. I have my first interview a week from tomorrow (10/30) it's a phone interview with her. :) Hopefully that goes well and I can focus on school and not have to worry about getting an internship for the summer. Will keep you all updated.. At this point I should probably change the title of the thread if that's possible?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top