Archived Should I become my stores Signing TM?

[Shmoople]

Yesterday I was informed by the Plano TL that the position is open because our last Signing TM of 9 years left the company, and I was told that I should apply for it if it's something I'd be interested in. He said that my trainer from a year ago recommended me for the position, even though I only trained for Plano for 1 day before I was taken off the team to help with the early morning flow so I pretty much know diddley squat about Plano... I don't think I can put enough emphasis on that, lol. I normally work Bulk off the truck for the early morning logistics team, and I'm cross-trained in receiving to cover our receivers vacations and weekends, so it would definitely be very different for me...

With that said, I just have a few questions:

How bad are the hours? Our last TM mainly left because his hours were cut significantly and there was no wiggle room.

Is the pay any different? I was told that the job was previously considered to be a "level 2" position, so I assume there would be a pay increase to go along with a title like that.

How many training days are allocated to learning this position? I received 4 1/2 days total to learn receiving.

If you're a signing TM, do you like doing the job? What kind of person does it take to get it done? I'm used to working alone in receiving but also having a team to get help from if I get stuck on something, so picking up a position where I'm the only person who does the job is kind of nerveracking. I did it with receiving and managed to make it through, but I was able to text our main receiver if I needed help and I was able to find the answers to most of my problems through RedWire.

The Plano TL also told me it was a step towards leadership if I was interested in that career path because it was a specialty position, but I'm not totally convinced of that because our last Signing TM did it for 9 years straight and he didn't seem to particularly love doing his job. Maybe he was fed up with it when I saw him, IDK, but it doesn't seem like there's a whole lot of room for growth in a specialty position because it's only one person doing it and it's harder to find the right person to train for so you get stuck doing it. Also, I can only imagine that Signing would look good if you were interested in become a Plano TL, and I've only ever really been in logistics so I don't see how that would benefit me.

That's all I can think of at the moment. Probably going to come up with some more questions as the day goes on. I should point out that I'm comfortable where I'm at. I like the people I'm surrounded by, and I have a very solid routine and set of priorities down to get things done, but... I also really like being versatile and learning how the store operates because it really helps break the monotony.

 

[anathema]

It depends on your store, but if you're cross-trained, getting 40 shouldn't be hard anyway.

If you're interested in developing, it's a good step. The last signing TM was probably reliable, but either didn't want to be TL or wasn't viewed as leadership material but the PPTL. That might've been their reason for leaving, who knows? Don't be concerned with taking the position and being stuck to Plano TL, if you were close to interviews they'll likely ask what workcenter you'd like to be in (although no guarantee where you'd end up). I went from APS to BRTL, they'll try to stick to your preference.

 

[commiecorvus]

You are asking good questions, some of which like training are going to be ASANTS ( I would fight to be sent to another store for at least a week, so you might get three days).
Pay, you might get a little bump but not much.
The reason your last Signing Ninja was so grumpy is he was around when the job really was a Specialist position, now you are a TM with specialist duties.
Because the fact is there is no one else in the store who does what you do or is as global as you are.
You had better be able to multi-task like a sonofabitch, put up with having a dozen bosses, as well as being a master of logistics and jury rigging.

 

[Backroomgirl]

I think signing tm, receiver and pmt are the three best gigs in the store. You work alone, but are constantly interacting with people. No one knows what you know, which can set you up for leadership, and it would be a 50 cent raise from flow. That Might depend on your state plus your shift diff pay if you are coming from overnight.

Definetly think about if you want to take on the challenge or not, but you could easily pick up hours in receiving still, and flow, probably even by working split shifts. I wouldn't worry about the hours part.

Overwhelming at first, but you will pick it up and after that it's all the same year after year after year.

Go for it. if it sucks, wait it out for a little while, then tell them you want back to flow.

 

[unknown]

I'd say do it. I've been signing for 10 years. My biggest, biggest problem is I constantly get pulled to do other work. Everything can't be a top priority. Guests come first. Product on the floor second. Signing comes way down on that list. So with every new exec, STL, etc., I have to have "the talk."

I tell them .... if you pull me to cashier, get carts, set POGs (when I'm not scheduled for it) push cafs, some signing will not get done or fixed. And then I'm in a no win position. I either let it sit until some one two weeks later asks me why it isn't done or pitch it.

You'll have to develop a tough exterior. It's only gotten worse in the last two years. But I'm a tough cookie. You can be too!

 

[Shmoople]

Thanks for all the responses. I ended up applying for the position.

Can anyone clue me in on what the interview process is like? Is it just situational questions again? How many people should I expect to be interviewing with?

 

[aspiringETL]

Thanks for all the responses. I ended up applying for the position.

Can anyone clue me in on what the interview process is like? Is it just situational questions again? How many people should I expect to be interviewing with?

Exactly like any other position. 2 interviews.

 

[CsideMaster]

Wow I didn't even know you could apply for it. I kind of got put on signing against my will lol and now I do it every Saturday from 10pm-7am. But in November of last year, I was told I would be getting "a couple" of signing shifts...9 months later and I'm still doing it. I like it. It gives a break from the usual stocking and I'm less supervised. Not really supervised at all actually so I don't feel any pressure.

 

[Signduck]

Yesterday I was informed by the Plano TL that the position is open because our last Signing TM of 9 years left the company, and I was told that I should apply for it if it's something I'd be interested in. He said that my trainer from a year ago recommended me for the position, even though I only trained for Plano for 1 day before I was taken off the team to help with the early morning flow so I pretty much know diddley squat about Plano... I don't think I can put enough emphasis on that, lol. I normally work Bulk off the truck for the early morning logistics team, and I'm cross-trained in receiving to cover our receivers vacations and weekends, so it would definitely be very different for me...

With that said, I just have a few questions:

How bad are the hours? Our last TM mainly left because his hours were cut significantly and there was no wiggle room.

Is the pay any different? I was told that the job was previously considered to be a "level 2" position, so I assume there would be a pay increase to go along with a title like that.

How many training days are allocated to learning this position? I received 4 1/2 days total to learn receiving.

If you're a signing TM, do you like doing the job? What kind of person does it take to get it done? I'm used to working alone in receiving but also having a team to get help from if I get stuck on something, so picking up a position where I'm the only person who does the job is kind of nerveracking. I did it with receiving and managed to make it through, but I was able to text our main receiver if I needed help and I was able to find the answers to most of my problems through RedWire.

The Plano TL also told me it was a step towards leadership if I was interested in that career path because it was a specialty position, but I'm not totally convinced of that because our last Signing TM did it for 9 years straight and he didn't seem to particularly love doing his job. Maybe he was fed up with it when I saw him, IDK, but it doesn't seem like there's a whole lot of room for growth in a specialty position because it's only one person doing it and it's harder to find the right person to train for so you get stuck doing it. Also, I can only imagine that Signing would look good if you were interested in become a Plano TL, and I've only ever really been in logistics so I don't see how that would benefit me.

That's all I can think of at the moment. Probably going to come up with some more questions as the day goes on. I should point out that I'm comfortable where I'm at. I like the people I'm surrounded by, and I have a very solid routine and set of priorities down to get things done, but... I also really like being versatile and learning how the store operates because it really helps break the monotony.

There is an entire thread dedicated to this position. This give you a good insite to the position and its woes. It's most properly named. And it definitely takes an uhm certain personality. But you sound like A good fit. The pay grade is a N09 in most stores. MOST of us work around 28 hours because that is what corporate mandates for the position but you can pad that with picking up shifts. There is a hand full of us that have had ad prep made part of the position so it bumps us up to around 35. I can attest to most of what everyone else has said. It's a great position. You work with and alone all day. The only real problem I have is not having anyone to collaborate with when I need help. But I have all my buddies here, and that has been a godsend! And hardlinersmaster I think might secretly work for corporate because he always has the best answers!!! he is a wealth of help if you need answers!!!

 

[SFSFun]

Wow I didn't even know you could apply for it. I kind of got put on signing against my will lol and now I do it every Saturday from 10pm-7am. But in November of last year, I was told I would be getting "a couple" of signing shifts...9 months later and I'm still doing it. I like it. It gives a break from the usual stocking and I'm less supervised. Not really supervised at all actually so I don't feel any pressure.

That sounds like ad setup. Not the same thing as the signing TM.

I bet most TMs outside of POG don't even know who their store's signing TM is.

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

Hours are given, take them.

 

[CsideMaster]

That sounds like ad setup. Not the same thing as the signing TM.

I bet most TMs outside of POG don't even know who their store's signing TM is.

Ah okay, I didn't realize there was a difference. On my schedule it says "Signing" 10-7. So I thought that's what the OP was talking about.

 

[mrknownothing]

Ah okay, I didn't realize there was a difference. On my schedule it says "Signing" 10-7. So I thought that's what the OP was talking about.

Yeah, if it's Saturday overnight, then you're doing the ad signing. My store recently started scheduling TMs under Signing to do ad takedown (separate from the sales floor team).

 

[redstripes]

At my store signing has always been a pay grade below flow and plano, but again ASANTS.
best part was the guaranteed Monday to Friday early morning with the chance of picking up Plano hours when they had enough to share.

 

[Signduck]

At my store signing has always been a pay grade below flow and plano, but again ASANTS.
best part was the guaranteed Monday to Friday early morning with the chance of picking up Plano hours when they had enough to share.

Yeah that's what my schedule is but I'm not sure that's ASANTS I am pretty sure signing is N09 @Hardlinesmaster ? Could be wrong.

 

[OneGoodEar]

It's not for acrophobics.

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

Yeah that's what my schedule is but I'm not sure that's ASANTS I am pretty sure signing is N09 @Hardlinesmaster ? Could be wrong.

N07 for signing.

 

[redstripes]

Yeah that's what my schedule is but I'm not sure that's ASANTS I am pretty sure signing is N09 @Hardlinesmaster ? Could be wrong.

Back in the specialist days we had it as N09, but after that it was dropped to N05 as was receiving. The person before was grandfathered in at their rate. I was once asked about my interest in the position were it to open, but was encouraged to look at Plano as an option due to the pay grade difference.

 

[LUR99]

I did Ad set up for a few months and hated every minute of it BUT it helped me keep my hours up from Feb through May and it does pay 50 cents extra/hour. Honestly I would take any chance of cross training they offer you, once hours drop it gives you a chance to pick up hours easily.

 

[SFSFun]

Pretty sure signing is N09, same as a PA. A friend at another store went from Flex Fulfillment (N07) to Signing and he got a raise.