Archived VM TL

[cobycord]

My VML is a close friend to my ETL HR. Wtf.

That's what's happening at my store. The external I'm going up against is best friends with the ETLHR.

 

[signingminion]

That's what's happening at my store. The external I'm going up against is best friends with the ETLHR.

Fuck. Good luck. Lost the aptl to or etl-hl's old college buddy. We waited six months for that piece of crap. He lasted about a year.

 

[qmosqueen]

vml hard at work , lol

 

[LadyCynide]

vml hard at work , lol

I'd like our VM-TL a hell of a lot more if I saw this throughout the store.

 

[signingminion]

So the updated hiring list still had the vml but both vmtm positions are no longer listed...wtf?

 

[Coqui]

I bet the new VMLs aren't getting much description on their job because the stores themselves probably are having a hard time figuring it out.

 

[tanner6116]

I heard the national official" launch" date of the vml pisiyion is oct 11th?

 

[sher]

I wish they did Halloween themed mannequin looks! I've thought about it because I usually end up building my costumes from tgt clothes anyway lol. Fluffy white GOM robe for my Cruella coat last year. I had an xhil lbd, but it was too cold and I'm not freezing for a costume so I wore jeans and a combat boot.

I think it could've been a good look to do Halloween mannequins because half our guests are looking for pieces for costumes. They're still hung up on minions and I think we still have overalls... For example.

Sorry back to the topic...

 

[pfreshdude]

I bet the new VMLs aren't getting much description on their job because the stores themselves probably are having a hard time figuring it out.

I still dont understand why this position is getting paid so much more when most of the work seems to be stuff we ALLREADY do just maybe broken up here and there..Cut CTLS everywhere when we actually need them yet add this..doesnt make any sense

 

[tanner6116]

To bring all stores to a " brand rite" level of execution to attract the affluent millenial baby boomers - p fresh(aka H&M- ZAHARA- RED 21)It is imperative the culture at stores moves from " operational" to " aspirational" to be competative

 

[iprettify]

Okay so I've recently started the application process for this and have gone through my first two interviews over the past week or so and have my (assumed?) final in a couple of days but have a few questions based on how these interviews went. For a little background on myself, I have no degree and yes, I am external but have a great amount of experience as a visual merchandiser, and supervisory/management experience at a few high end retailers. My interviews went fairly quickly and smoothly as far as interviews can go but I have a few questions and thoughts about things I've perceived throughout the process.

1. My first interview with the ETL was actually a pretty easy interview but there were two red flags. One was the the interviewer didn't seem to confidently know what my daily duties were outside of helping with the new Home, constantly replacing and merching sold through product in that department just doesn't seem like it is as hard as he was making it out to be or take up an entire shift of my time. Secondly when I remarked about how my experience made me appropriate for the role and slyly asked him about my future at the store (aka internal promoting and development to an Assistant Store Manager) he simply talked around in circles telling me over and over about how my pay would match the SrTL and how great the pay was but didn't give me an actual answer about development, I didn't once ask him about pay or even mention how much I was going to be paid. Which I took as him telling me I would never be able to go past SrTL but I should be happy they are even paying me that much.


2. The next interview with the Store Manager seemed to go a bit better. They had a far better grasp on my daily duties but even then still seemed confused about some of the in's and out's of the position such as who I would report to, what branch of the company I fall under etc, how big of a team I have (Developing and managing is huge to me, it's one of my favorite parts of what I do at my current work and the direction I want to continue to take in the future). They couldn't tell me exactly what type of communication or exposure I would have with other TL's. They basically couldn't seem to coherently put into words exactly what the position and me (even though I was sure to let them know how capable and qualified I am) actually adds to the store.


I have my third interview coming up but at this point from someone looking in I am scared of continuing or wasting the DM's time because I'm not sure at all if I'm going to accept this job, but I'm also scared of passing up a great opportunity since this does pay more than my current employer and would diversify my resume some since my big goal is district level store management. Being completely honest I never thought about working about Target but it does seem to be trying some cool things when it comes to style and pricing of home product etc, but the store management just seemed worryingly confused about what my actual job would be. Is this the current state of things everywhere because of the company restructuring? Should I look at just applying to another store in my area that maybe has it more together? Sorry for the wall of text but I happened upon this site while researching the company and it seemed like the only place to get out my thoughts.

 

[VMLwhatsthat]

To bring all stores to a " brand rite" level of execution to attract the affluent millenial baby boomers - p fresh(aka H&M- ZAHARA- RED 21)It is imperative the culture at stores moves from " operational" to " aspirational" to be competative

Target is the new Pinterest, essentially.

 

[tanner6116]

So vml- i start the position next week- i was a visual merchandiser for another company for 14 yrs- while my current co is moving from aspirational to operational- target seems to be moving up the aspirational scale- im a little nervous- lol - did i make the right move

 

[Bosch]

@iprettify you won't go beyond SRTL without a degree. Well maybe in 10yrs, that is the only way I have seen anyone without a degree move beyond TL without a degree.

 

[Jenny33]

I am interested in applying for the visual merchandising team leader. I am wondering about the hours though. I have small children and my husband works nights and most weekends. Does anyone know the types of hours this VM position requires? I hate to go through the interview process if the hours aren't feasible for my family.
Thanks!

 

[Sweets]

So I had my first interview today. I waited about 15 minutes before the AP TL came out to interview me. I thought it went okay. There was one question I am unsure of. After that I interviewed with the HRTL. I thought I did pretty well answering the questions. She did mention if I wasn't picked for the VML position if I was still opened to a job in Pfresh. I said I was up for it. I was suppose to meet the store manger but there was a lot going on and was unable to interview with him. I did however meet with the women in charge of Pfresh. It felt like they were really pushing the position for Pfresh....😳

One was the the interviewer didn't seem to confidently know what my daily duties were outside of helping with the new Home, constantly replacing and merching sold through product in that department just doesn't seem like it is as hard as he was making it out to be or take up an entire shift of my time.

I had the same feeling when I interviewed today. It is such a new position I believe people are still trying to figure it out store level.

 

[squirrely]

I am interested in applying for the visual merchandising team leader. I am wondering about the hours though. I have small children and my husband works nights and most weekends. Does anyone know the types of hours this VM position requires? I hate to go through the interview process if the hours aren't feasible for my family.
Thanks!

From what I was told, your hours will be like any other TL. You'll close at least one night a week and have every other weekend off. Some TLs work one night a week AND have their weekends be closing shifts as well. Some TLs work 9-5:30, some work 6-2:30, it just depends. Working at Target, I would never expect a consistent schedule, except for every other weekend off.

 

[BlueSide]

@iprettify I think your 3rd interview will we a lot different. You're applying for a completely new position for Target, and a lot of stores are still very uneducated about it. The DM will have answers for your questions. He/she will probably be excited if you show aspirations to promote. If you have a degree and you are willing to move around and promote, you have great potential in Target's eyes. Don't turn it down just yet, but it will not be exactly like your old job.

 

[RedistheNewBlack]

Hi everyone!
So I was recently hired for this vml position. I'm currently in training with a few other people hired in my district and nearby district. We're all from fashion forward merchandising backgrounds and super excited about this brand new opportunity. On the flip side there are a lot of uncertainties and unanswered questions that I feel like can only be answered and explained while the position is being roled out which is not easy to go with the flow of an unclear job description. To me it seems like we're taking the place of the soft lines tl (because let's face it, most of them don't really have an eye for style or merchandising). But it's also blurry in day to day activities because essentially we are our own "team" ... But we're only one person. I don't think this role was completely planned out because there really should be an executive or district vm to help guide us.

What I'm trying to say is- this is a really great idea for target to set it apart from let's say a Walmart but I really hope it gets developed better.

 

[Fashiongurl]

Ok what is this degree...I have NEVER heard of this specific degree..this is an actual thing? I imagine its at a specialized school?

I have a degree, I start in the vm tl position today. My degree is actually in fashion merchandising.. which is offered at basically every major university.

 

[tanner6116]

Wont the vmml be our district petson to answer to?

 

[sigma7]

Wont the vmml be our district petson to answer to?

Yeah, but they're more just your business partner. You'll still be aligned under the ETL over the sales floor, although you should be given a lot more autonomy to do as you see fit.

 

[LadyCynide]

Hi everyone!
So I was recently hired for this vml position. I'm currently in training with a few other people hired in my district and nearby district. We're all from fashion forward merchandising backgrounds and super excited about this brand new opportunity. On the flip side there are a lot of uncertainties and unanswered questions that I feel like can only be answered and explained while the position is being roled out which is not easy to go with the flow of an unclear job description. To me it seems like we're taking the place of the soft lines tl (because let's face it, most of them don't really have an eye for style or merchandising). But it's also blurry in day to day activities because essentially we are our own "team" ... But we're only one person. I don't think this role was completely planned out because there really should be an executive or district vm to help guide us.

What I'm trying to say is- this is a really great idea for target to set it apart from let's say a Walmart but I really hope it gets developed better.

*growls under breath* And THIS is why I dislike the idea of this position. Could it potentially help make things look nicer and make sales go up? Of course! But it's also bringing with it this attitude of "We're better than all of you."

You CAN NOT say that "most of them don't really have an eye for style" when you don't KNOW most of them. On top of THAT, you can't judge their merchandising skills because before now, the goal was just to keep everything presentable and easy to find, with the mannequins being set up based on limited options. They didn't NEED to merchandise anything because that was not the store's primary focus. I really hope you are able to lose that view before you actually start working at your store, because otherwise, you're going to wind up on the bottom of everybody's list.

 

[tanner6116]

Lady C- i pronise- as a new vml- my goal is soley to learn the target culture from you folks- and in return- show and help mentor associates on the floor to my 20+ years of experience in the visual and merchandising field

 

[LadyCynide]

Lady C- i pronise- as a new vml- my goal is soley to learn the target culture from you folks- and in return- show and help mentor associates on the floor to my 20+ years of experience in the visual and merchandising field

See, THAT'S what the position should be. It's more than just coming in and making things pretty.

Thank you for your soon to be efforts. I'm sure your store will appreciate all that you do.