Target has cut back on executive staffing and payroll in 2009. All stores lost at least one executive and two Team Leaders. As an STL, I supervised five executives and four Team Leaders because I have also responsibble for Guest Service. Our store will lose at least one more Team Leader in 2010. We had to improve team member productivity by 9% in 2009 to make the payroll plan. As a result, more and more work falls on the executives, especially in the lower volume stores where payroll is very tight. We often finish stocking the floor on truck days after we get the flow (logistics) team out at 8 A.M. We're doing a lot more physical tasks than Target wants us to do, but it's the only way to make payroll.
At Target, almost all store visits are unannounced. Your District Team Leader will visit at least twice a month. How well you lead the visit is very important to your career. If you're very outgoing and can think quickly on your feet, you'll do well here. They like executives that are very outgoing and bubbly.
It is difficult to get into Target unless you join them out of college because they mandate that 80% of executives be hired out of college. For those that are brought on board as "experienced" hires, it can be difficult to adjust to the culture. Most executives have been with Target they're entire career and know nothing else. Because of that, it can hard to earn their acceptance and respect because you're not "one of them." They say that the culture is Fast, Fun, and Friendly, but the reality is that your career is dependent on successful store visits from the Group staff. They make quick judgments on you based on a short visit.
All discussions with my supervisor were work related. Not once has he asked me about my family. Two thirds of the STLs in my district voiced concern about work/life balance during the annual Best Team survey. It's very difficult to obtain a balance. I am working 12 to 14 hours a day, six days a week in order to get everything done. You may be scheduled for 50 hours a week, but it's impossible to get everything done in that amount of time.
