New and Have Questions Not Answered in Orientation

[Gadget]

Hi, everyone!

As a new Target employee, I have a couple of questions not answered yet, that I'm wondering if you could help answer:

1. I have 12 years retail experience in many department store areas, such as clothing, housewares, produce, meat, etc., but was hired for consumables, only. We were told our store is perpetually short-staffed. So, once I get my initial training down in food/grocery, is it better just to focus on that? Or, will I be more valuable if I'm cross-trained in other areas, too. Is it worth it to be cross-trained?

2. I am interested in volunteering locally on a day off work. I thought that was "encouraged" at Target, but the Giving link (in my Workday account) doesn't go anywhere. Maybe the link only works after you've been here 90 days. Does Target not encourage volunteering any more? I'll make my own decision on volunteering on my day off, but I'm curious if now, employees can only donate cash, and Target doesn't care if you volunteer.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

 

[OneGoodEar]

Hi, everyone!

As a new Target employee, I have a couple of questions not answered yet, that I'm wondering if you could help answer:

1. I have 12 years retail experience in many department store areas, such as clothing, housewares, produce, meat, etc., but was hired for consumables, only. We were told our store is perpetually short-staffed. So, once I get my initial training down in food/grocery, is it better just to focus on that? Or, will I be more valuable if I'm cross-trained in other areas, too. Is it worth it to be cross-trained?

2. I am interested in volunteering locally on a day off work. I thought that was "encouraged" at Target, but the Giving link (in my Workday account) doesn't go anywhere. Maybe the link only works after you've been here 90 days. Does Target not encourage volunteering any more? I'll make my own decision on volunteering on my day off, but I'm curious if now, employees can only donate cash, and Target doesn't care if you volunteer.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

I never was encouraged to volunteer. It was posted but no one was told to do it.

 

[jenna]

Target encourages team members to volunteer so that *Target* can take credit for having workers that volunteer in the community.

It's good optics. Good Public Relations.

 

[ION the Prize]

Hello, Gadget!

Here are my two cents:

I can't think of a single Consumables TM at my store who also works in a different area (not counting OPU or cashier back up). They're short-handed a lot, so General Merchandise TMs (like me) will get sent over to help them.

So far as volunteer opportunities, my store might post a sign up sheet for an event maybe once a year. They're not popular with TMs.

 

[jackandcat]

Welcome to Target! One thing you will learn from here, and from other sites like the Target Reddit, is the acronym ASANTS -- All Stores Are Not The Same.

During your first 90 days, listen carefully to your immediate Team Leader (Target's name for a supervisor) and Executive Team Leader (Target's name for a manager). As most of our stores have a rather high turnover rate during the first few weeks of a new Team Member's employment, be kind to yourself when you feel like the expectations are more than you can possibly accomplish. As much as you can, look at each workday as a chance to cultivate your inner self-confidence regardless of the stress points and frustrations which WILL occur.

For the most part, Target instills in TLs and ETLs a certain level of patience with new hires while you are learning the job. More importantly, even when TLs and ETLs get impatient, they all have already experienced the even worse experience of losing a new TM who quits prematurely because they don't understand that getting instructions and feedback doesn't mean you are failing. Just about any workplace you will get hired at, now or in the future, will involve a fairly steep learning curve.

I've had my share of unhappy experiences at times when working at Target. Keep in mind that all of your bosses have also had unhappy or unpleasant experiences at work as well. None of us "walks on water", we are all expendable to some extent, but don't get intimidated or start beating up on yourself. The positive interactions you can have with some co-workers, some guests and even some bosses usually far outnumber the periodic disappointments.

Don't feel badly when the store is "chronically understaffed" and you feel like the bosses have crazy expectations. Those aren't things you can control. You can learn to strengthen your inner resiliency, and if you think things are miserable be wary of "Greener Pastures Syndrome". If you can make it past the 90 days, and hang in there and demonstrate your commitment to doing the best you can, Target is a fairly decent workplace. If you hang on for a year and then still think it's not where you'd like to stay, then start applying for jobs either within Target or in another company or industry where you could thrive in part because of what you learned and accomplished during a year or more of working at Target.

There are times you will be "ambushed" by things which come up unexpectedly. For example, you will receive unexpected notices when you need to log in to the corporate network where you are ordered to select a new login password, it needs to be a certain combination of letters and numbers. This often happens when you are crushingly busy and can't stand time trying to select a password, writing it down, and committing it to memory. That also happens with passwords for the Zebra devices.

Be advised that all store employees are trained on cash register "checkout advocate" functions. That's because due to chronic understaffing of the checkout area -- called "Service and Engagement" -- at various times on various days people will receive a walkie announcement that backup cashiers are needed -- and needed NOW. Don't stress out too much on this, but just be aware that being pulled off your regular duties to perform a few minutes as a "backup cashier" will throw you off-balance and management still expects (throat clearing here) that you finish all of your assigned tasks in full and on time. (Umm-hmmmm).

Don't let this discourage you. Working at Target is a decent opportunity for you particularly if you've worked in retail before. Nobody knows for sure what Target's future will be -- if you'd asked me 20 years ago, I could not have imagined that once-dominant Sears would implode from the American scene - but for the immediate future I invite you to enjoy being part of our team. Above all, make sure you don't worry about the job when you are off work. It's only a job, do it well and hold your head high as you enter this phase of your life journey. Welcome!

 

[FlowTeamChick]

I'd suggest concentrating on Consumables for the first few months and then ask to be cross-trained so you can pick up other shifts. As we get closer to 4th quarter, most stores bulk up their Fulfillment teams to respond to the holiday uptick in ship and pick-up orders. Depending on your availability and desired hours, you could be scheduled for some of those shifts too.

As for volunteering, both @jenna and @ION the Prize are correct. So do whatever volunteering you like, but don't feel like there's any special reward within the Target universe for doing so. I once kept our HR TM informed about a regular volunteer activity I did and signed up for a couple of those volunteer opportunities Target sponsored. Would have done the independent activity anyway because I thought it was making a valuable contribution to my community. The Target-sponsored ones? Nope - a whole lot of time spent "team-building" (I guess?) and not a lot of time actually doing all that much. Wouldn't say they were worthless, just badly organized and poorly executed.

 

[Greenandred]

If you want to be full-time non management, then consumables is the place to be as there is always lots to do and we usually are understaffed. As for volunteering, it is highly encouraged. I volunteer at two places in my community and always let my HR know so she can record the hours. Yes, it’s a way so Target can look good as a company but there is a volunteer award that is given out each year in the store and a district award as well. I won the award for my store last year. Overall, I think
Target is one of the best retailers to work for. People who complain, generally just hate the grind of retail in general, but I think it is a great company with lots of good people.

 

[jenna]

If you want to be full-time non management, then consumables is the place to be as there is always lots to do and we usually are understaffed. As for volunteering, it is highly encouraged. I volunteer at two places in my community and always let my HR know so she can record the hours. Yes, it’s a way so Target can look good as a company but there is a volunteer award that is given out each year in the store and a district award as well. I won the award for my store last year. Overall, I think
Target is one of the best retailers to work for. People who complain, generally just hate the grind of retail in general, but I think it is a great company with lots of good people.

It varies from store to store. Those of us with terrible managers struggle with how things could/should be vs. reality at work.

 

[Greenandred]

It varies from store to store. Those of us with terrible managers struggle with how things could/should be vs. reality at work.

There definitely are some bad managers, but in my experience, they usually get heir comeuppance, either through the team survey or through store visits but it can take time.

 

[ION the Prize]

... there is a volunteer award that is given out each year in the store and a district award as well. I won the award for my store last year ...

Two kinds of "Wows!":

As in, "Wow! That's great!"

And, "Wow! I've never heard of such a thing!"

Truly, ASANTS.