Archived The slow season

[Tangent]

I’m grateful for a permanent job and the hourly it offers compared to other retail choices... but I was forwarned that hours would drop in January and February.
I am a softlines worker that’s crosstrained in hardlines and as a cashier. I can pick up any shift someone drops on the board. But that may not be enough if there’s an hour shortage and no one is dropping them.

Any other tips and tricks to pulling in the hours? I need at least 30 to get by, but ideally 36 to the full 40.

 

[HRZone]

That is pretty much it.

I highly recommend talking to HR and letting them know they can call you when they are in a pinch. There is a poster here who hustled 40 hours by keeping a pair of target clothes in his trunk.

Best practice is to spread hours evenly based on availability so some weeks for hardlines and softlines no one gets scheduled more than 30 hours at my store.

I know Jan wk3 to wk4 my store is dropping from 450 softlines hours to 200 so letting the hardlines and cashier schedule writer to keep you in mind isn't a bad idea.

 

[Times Up]

You basically need to become 'the' TM that is HRs go to person. The one that they can call and and yes, you can be there in an hour, yes, you will come in to take that closing shift, yes, yes, yes! My store's HR likes to make as few calls as possible, so her call list is pretty short.

BTW, almost no one gets upwards of 30 hours after the holidays other than key positions and TLs in my store.

 

[HRZone]

BTW, almost no one gets upwards of 30 hours after the holidays other than key positions and TLs in my store.

Yeah this is why everyone wants to get on the Plano team at my store. HR, Plano, receiver, signing, pricing, gsa - at my store the majority of those positions have a set schedule.

Salesfloor. Cashier and logistics hours though can vary a lot for a newcomer.

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

How to get more hours:
Secrets To Getting As Many Hours As Possible:

1. Don't call out unless absolutely necessary.
2. Show up for your shift on time and stay your entire shift.
3. Take only 15 minute breaks and 30 minute lunch breaks.
4. Ask to cross train in as many areas as possible.
5. Make it known no job is below you.
6. Do your tasks accurately, quickly, and cleanly.
7. Be friendly and helpful to all guests, TMs, and leadership.
8. Bring problems and other questionable situations to the attention of leadership, and, when possible, suggest solutions.
9. When on the clock, stay off your cell phone, unless you are using it to help a guest.
10. Always be moving on the sales floor or in the backroom.
11. Don't stand around talking with other TMs or your friends who come into the store unless it is relevant to Target business.
12. Volunteer to help train new TMs.
13. Actively participate during store huddles.
14. If the front end calls for backup, be the first to respond on the walkie and the first to get to a register.
15. Open up your availability as much as you can.
16. While at work don't bitch and moan about your job, its tasks, your hours, leadership, fellow TM, guests, or, Target in general. Also, keep complaints about your personal life to a minimum.

Following the above as much as possible, may not get you as many hours as you would like, but will get you as many hours as possible.
Thanks
@BoxCutter

 

[Kartman]

That could also be called "How To Be An Excellent Team Member!"

 

[qmosqueen]

Never slow in market we sell so much food. Not sure why most food team members are cut 16 hours. So that makes it difficult to finish the truck push.

 

[redeye58]

To add to the above list:
Keep your phone on & a change of red & khaki in your car.
Always answer your phone or call back quickly, even if you can't take the shift.
Avoid politics & drama; when hearing trash talk answer with either "Isn't that nice!" or "That's too bad."
This helps you build store cred.

 

[can't touch this]

My favorite 40D chess move is to find someone who keeps getting scheduled for days they don't want (which is apparently pretty common) and talk them out of changing their availability so I can keep picking up those unwanted days every week. I even plotted with a guy last year to rig his availability in a way that would have them scheduling him for unavailable days on the same days that I usually had off and after swapping I was one of the few getting 40 hours when the rest of flow was 12-16. Checkmate capitalists!!