How do I get out of my comfort zone and finally leave this job?

[lottasugar]

I've been working at Target, the same store, for nearly 11 years. It'll be exactly 11 years in September. I started working here when I was 18 and I didn't think that I'd be here for so long, but I got a little too comfortable and...yeah. Now I'm a 29 year old Team Member who works both Inbound/GM and Presentation. I've had two separate attempts at promoting to a TL, but they both fell flat on their face and after the second attempt, I just decided that promoting wasn't meant to me and I decided to settle on being a regular TM.

But I've ultimately been thinking about how I'm almost 30 (my birthday is in November) and I have nothing to show for myself in terms of career prospects. My parents don't respect retail or acknowledge it as a "real job" and I recently went on a date with a girl that didn't work out because she was clearly unimpressed with where I'm at in life in terms of my job. I rent an apartment with a roommate and I'm doing well financially, along with having a good work/life balance, but I'm really starting to get serious looking about for something better. I do have actual career goals, but they're a complete longshot and I have to keep open the strong possibility that they won't work out and I'd like a more attainable "real job" that can be seen as respectable for a young man entering his 30s.

I honestly have some weird form of anxiety about leaving this job. Part of it is because I don't know where else to turn as someone with no college degree and who's only had this one job his entire young adult life. I also have a lot of nerves about leaving my comfort zone in general, so that's also something to unpack. I could go on and on about why I'm extremely hesitant about trying for one more shot at promoting at Target, but that's neither here nor there. I could just really use some advice on finally getting out of that Bullseye life. I just feel so lost right now.

 

[Captain Orca]

Never sell yourself short. Listen to the Captain. You present yourself very well. I wish I could P/M you with some HR tricks and treats and I will not share my experiences on line. What I would say would light fires very quickly. Let's leave it at that for now.

 

[rd123]

I would say utilize Target’s education benefits and get some degree in a field you are interested in . May be then you can find a better job . I don’t think any job is little or unworthy . But you still have a long way ahead of you . So stay with Target and build your skills and look for a job that’s “
appreciated “ by the society ! Till then continue to work hard and try to be positive about it .

 

[buliSBI]

I was in your shoes back in the 2000s. I worked at Target starting in college. After doing a post-bachelors internship, I then got into a low wage TV producation job while working at Target. After exhausting hours and stress, I concentrated just on Target (better pay/benefits ) to try to move up thru the stores to Corp. But soon to realize new management only liked a select group of brown-nosers.

After thousands of applications, I upgraded myself to a state govt job in forensics. And now I am in IT Security for a big financial company. For those looking for a financial planner, always ask for a copy of their browser history...SPICY.


I have applied for jobs and talked my way into additional interviews but asked for closer work locations. But ultimately turned down offers because I didn't like the location.

My wife was somewhat the same, she started out in a county school teaching animal science. Then went into state govt entry jobs dealing agricultural animals and later healh services. Then she got into Medical Laboratory Science at a hospital and know teaches it at our local comm college.



If you have a degree, apply at applicable companies or state agencies. If you have another field of interest, apply for jobs that may lead to something else. Heck apply for jobs that you like no matter the background.

And forget the concept of a 1 page Resume. Go with a detailed multi-page CV explaining your entire education and experience background. Put yourself on LinkedIn and job search sites.

As of right now, IT and IT Security are big. Some companies like degrees, some like certs, some like the willingness to learn.

 

[Zxy123456]

Never sell yourself short. Listen to the Captain. You present yourself very well. I wish I could P/M you with some HR tricks and treats and I will not share my experiences on line. What I would say would light fires very quickly. Let's leave it at that for now.

I've been working at Target, the same store, for nearly 11 years. It'll be exactly 11 years in September. I started working here when I was 18 and I didn't think that I'd be here for so long, but I got a little too comfortable and...yeah. Now I'm a 29 year old Team Member who works both Inbound/GM and Presentation. I've had two separate attempts at promoting to a TL, but they both fell flat on their face and after the second attempt, I just decided that promoting wasn't meant to me and I decided to settle on being a regular TM.

But I've ultimately been thinking about how I'm almost 30 (my birthday is in November) and I have nothing to show for myself in terms of career prospects. My parents don't respect retail or acknowledge it as a "real job" and I recently went on a date with a girl that didn't work out because she was clearly unimpressed with where I'm at in life in terms of my job. I rent an apartment with a roommate and I'm doing well financially, along with having a good work/life balance, but I'm really starting to get serious looking about for something better. I do have actual career goals, but they're a complete longshot and I have to keep open the strong possibility that they won't work out and I'd like a more attainable "real job" that can be seen as respectable for a young man entering his 30s.

I honestly have some weird form of anxiety about leaving this job. Part of it is because I don't know where else to turn as someone with no college degree and who's only had this one job his entire young adult life. I also have a lot of nerves about leaving my comfort zone in general, so that's also something to unpack. I could go on and on about why I'm extremely hesitant about trying for one more shot at promoting at Target, but that's neither here nor there. I could just really use some advice on finally getting out of that Bullseye life. I just feel so lost right now.

I’ve been Target 14 years. I can assure you it is a real job!!! Does it pay your bill? Does it feed you? Does it pay for gas, phone etc..? If the answer is yes than it is a real job. I have a college degree and still work at Target. Do you like your job? If the answer is yes then stay. If the answer is no than look elsewhere. Definitely stay with Target until you find something else. Do you want to be a leader? If you want to be a leader keep trying I know leaders who have tried multiple times before finally becoming a leader. Is your store a big one? Do you have a smaller store in your area sometimes, it’s easier to get a leader position at a smaller store. Don’t ever let family judging you dictate what you do.

 

[FlowTeamChick]

Maybe think about what YOU think about your job instead of what others think? I used to be in your shoes in a different way in that I worked a bunch of office jobs, answering phones and shuffling paper. Some of them had more responsibility (and more money and more stress) than others, but one guy I dated, when I was telling him about what the other people in my small office did, asked if it wasn't being "just a secretary." There's nothing wrong with clerical or secretarial work, but his view of it was really outdated and I realized later how demeaning his question was. But that's what HE thought about my job, not what I thought about it. He didn't last long after that.
Just like there are all kinds of smart, there are all kinds of success - being a well-adjusted, responsible, genuinely kind person is, imo, a pretty good way of being successful. There are lots of people who are successful in their careers and have horrible family lives, stress up the wazoo which they deal with unhealthy ways, and all kinds of problems. Having a "real job" does not solve those issues. Knowing who you are and adding value to the lives of others - that's the important stuff.
So do some thinking. Maybe take a class at a community college. Spend some time browsing the non-fiction shelves at the library. Talk to friends who work in totally different jobs. You don't have to jump into the deep end of the pool; dip in a toe instead.

 

[Captain Orca]

Don't give 2/3rds of a fuck what anyone thinks. I liked it and certainly considered it a real gig, it was just time to file a different flight plan and take off. You're young, situations change. Don't burn the bridge.

 

[lottasugar]

I’ve been Target 14 years. I can assure you it is a real job!!! Does it pay your bill? Does it feed you? Does it pay for gas, phone etc..? If the answer is yes than it is a real job. I have a college degree and still work at Target. Do you like your job? If the answer is yes then stay. If the answer is no than look elsewhere. Definitely stay with Target until you find something else. Do you want to be a leader? If you want to be a leader keep trying I know leaders who have tried multiple times before finally becoming a leader. Is your store a big one? Do you have a smaller store in your area sometimes, it’s easier to get a leader position at a smaller store. Don’t ever let family judging you dictate what you do.

I'm honestly not interested in leadership right now because my store is currently dealing with a mass exodus of leaders unlike anything I've ever seen before. We've already had two ETL's quit without notice and I can think of at least 3 TLs who have given two weeks notice. The word running through the grapevine is that all leadership is really unhappy with our new SD. Our departing fulfillment leader who just got promoted 2 months ago is the one leading the charge on badmouthing the SD and he's mentioned her saying something that came across as being extremely out of line and innapropriate during a status meeting. I'm thinking it's probably for the best if I don't promote at this store right now.

 

[MrT]

3 things come to mind to me.
1. Joining a union cam get you great pay and benefits after just a couple years of work but the labor jobs aren't for everyone.
2.Get your CDL A license, but truck driving pay is good but notexactly what it used to be. Can get this in just a few months in most cases.
3. Get work with one of the vendors that service your store. Pepsi, coke whoever. Will be similar to retail and may even see your people at your store from time to time. This job will get you some sales experience and open up other sales jobs
Edit: also consider talking to family or friends if they can get you a better job with there work especially in a bank or city/state job we're the lomg term benefits are better

 

[dannyy315]

Whatever you decide to do, do it because YOU want to, not because you think other people want you to.

As for your anxiety about leaving Target, I was in your shoes. I had a very similar trajectory, worked there almost 11 years until last June after I turned 30. I shared many of the same anxieties you’re having. I was terrified of change. But I applied for a new job, left Target, and I’m glad I took that risk. I’m on probation until June, so who knows, I might end up back at Target if things don’t work out. But they’ve said they would gladly take me back.

Don’t let your confidence hold you back. You need to take chances sometimes in life. Smart chances though. If you do leave Target, have something lined up first. But do whatever makes you happy.

 

[Zxy123456]

It irritates me when people say Target is not a real job. I work 35-40 hours every week. I make about $17 per hour. I have full benefits health 401k etc.. I have vacation and sick time. I am able to pay all my bills each month. Why is that not a real job.

 

[Captain Orca]

It's real and I learned quite a bit and most of the time enjoyed the work and some good folks. It was just my time, that's all.