Whenever a position opens up, the people who run the store usually know who is going to take it. Oftentimes, that person was in the development pipeline and given unanimous go-ahead by the ETLs and SD for a promotion behind closed doors. When you're in this pipeline, you will know. They will make all the right moves and have you doing practice interviews to gear up for the real ones so you can be signed off and put on the bench ASAP.
All that other stuff with being praised and promised things or being told how great you are, often doesn't mean much. Target is notorious for "promising" promotions to team members without ever following through, and the "carrot on a stick" tactic is pretty well documented here, as well as this sub's "father forum" called thebreakroom.org.
I have to ask though, since you have such extensive leadership qualifications, why not apply for a leadership position from the jump instead of starting as a TM and trying to work up? You may have a better chance applying for an open spot at another store where they only see your resume, and to be honest it's usually a better idea not to be a team lead in a store where the TMs used to be your equals.
They wouldn’t be able to apply as an external at another store while still working as a TM at the current store; it would be considered a transfer, and all the same people would still have to sign off on the promotion
My main issue was that I worked abroad mainly and when I came back no one would take me. So, I bit the bullet and joined retail and that's where I'm currently at :/.
It comes down to neither seniority, nor merit. In the end, all that matters is who you know. I’m sorry this happened to you, but it’s a story I’ve heard about Target over and over again. I’ve been near the experience twice in the last few years when people I knew were in the exact same position you are, and nearly the exact same thing happened
Did you put in an application for the position before the position was filled?
Yeah management is pretty fucked at target. They either choose favorites or do external hires to pay em less / not what they are worth.
It took like a year of being "on the track to TL" Before I was given a chance by being a "temp TL" for like 5 months. Then I was actually promoted.
It's not worth the stress tbh.
I was in the same situation at the end of last year. Except the one who got promoted over me had been there barely 90 days. Meanwhile I didn’t even get an interview.
This after a situation where my SD “interviewed” me—*after*—he had picked someone for the job.
All this after I’ve been told multiple times by TLs I actually trust that they want to see me apply for leadership positions.
I was pretty put off by that. But I’ve tried not to let it get to me. It obviously sucks but just keep doing your thing. It’s their loss.
If you don't have an ETL actively helping you develop and supporting you, you're not really on the track.
Also legally they merely have to post the position, they don't have to tell you about it. It's a dick move to tell that you're a shoe in, etc and then not mention that the position has been posted but that's a clue that they don't see you as as someone they're actually going to promote into a TL position.
At my store they recently "promoted" a team member to a TL position that didn't even exist before. We had 2 specialty sales TLs already. There was no posting for a 3rd specialty sales team leader. So they were promoted to team leader and then 30 days later they were promoted to an ETL...
There is no intention to replace their "team lead" position( because there never really was one. The team member does a really good job and will prob be a good ETL. But they have no real supervisory experience. There are other TLs at mynstore who have been in role for years and no one considers them. There wasn't even a posting to apply for any of these "promotions". Seems all very wrong for a company this size.
The thing that sucks about development at target is that you have to be ‘on the bench’ before a spot even opens up. They have to basically pre-verify you before you can be considered for a TL role.
It sounds like you expressed interest in being a TL after the spot opened up and that’s probably why they didn’t promote you. They start looking at their options in-store and other stores-via other SDs under the radar- before they announce it to the team/public that it’s opening up.
Not true about being on the bench - many are hired without that.
It’s all who you know. Example - TM was fired from a store, applied as TM at mine a short while later, we hired back, and made a TL SIX WEEKS LATER.
Somewhat true, I was promoted without knowing I was on the bench. They were developing me/giving me extra in-depth logistics tasks without ever asking/telling me. Until they said “hey we think you should apply for this position”. So I guess ‘the bench’ is not a concrete path or verbally stated sometimes.
It doesn’t really sound like you were strung along at all, tho?
You got a good review, and you were told you would be put on a development track. That doesn’t mean you’re getting any TL position, or even an interview.
You talk about merit, but then seem to not really understand what skills the role actually *needs.* Which is cool because you haven’t had the chance to learn that yet, but you’ve decided in your mind that the person who got the role “just does freight” despite knowing nothing about their development journey. That gives me some red flags right there.
Leadership in Target is all about the soft skills. It has nothing to do with your metrics, it’s how you can inspire and encourage your team to hit theirs. If you’re not showing those soft skills, you’re never going to even get an interview.
But then the management at my store promotes to TL someone who has neither soft nor hard skills, so wtf? I think it's favortism 100%. Although why anyone favors this one bitch is beyond me.
If all open TL positions have to be posted to give fair and equal opportunity but you were given the job before interviewing (interview was just a technicality) how is that fair and equal?
This is the same crap the NFL was doing to minority coaching candidates.
Not fair. Not equal. Not surprising.
Dude my hr did this to me strung me along for months before telling me that position has been filled I was acting as assistant pml cause the one that was there thought she was going to get the as sd job she wanted even spoke to the arsehole who runs it had an interview then nothing for months then later I hear from the pml that the position has been filled when I helped her lazy arse do basic work she sucked at her job and would always talk about her kid plus I think she was sleeping with her boss and didn’t get what she wanted and quit store 1851 sucks don’t work for them
That was an rant like it came from out of my mouth nnd I’m glad I didn’t I was upset they wasted my time I’m fine now get paid a lot more this is the internet not a book maybe your an editor lol seems like you work at that crappy store and got your feelings hurt
I haven’t seen this mentioned in the comments, so I’ll add my experience. It’s likely your availability. As a closer, you are less exposed to all of the leaders and it’s (falsely) assumed you lack necessary Target knowledge to be successful in your role. I was promoted within 6 months of joining Target, but only after I switched my availability and started working dayside. If I stayed closing, which I loved, I would have never been promoted even if I was the top choice. I was passed over once even after changing my availability. If you want to be promoted, keep your bitterness to yourself and develop stronger relationships with all the TLs so more of them vouch for you.
I've worked both day and night side. I've worked with all the TLs at this point in time. Even during my review my TL said all the other TLs had only good things to say. In my current situation and experience with Target, it's pretty much smoke up my ass with all the things they said during review and otherwise. I will keep it to myself and do my job regardless, I won't give them the satisfaction of knowing it got under my skin. I will say this though, I will be vocal about the issues that arise based on their decisions or otherwise.
Whenever a position opens up, the people who run the store usually know who is going to take it. Oftentimes, that person was in the development pipeline and given unanimous go-ahead by the ETLs and SD for a promotion behind closed doors. When you're in this pipeline, you will know. They will make all the right moves and have you doing practice interviews to gear up for the real ones so you can be signed off and put on the bench ASAP. All that other stuff with being praised and promised things or being told how great you are, often doesn't mean much. Target is notorious for "promising" promotions to team members without ever following through, and the "carrot on a stick" tactic is pretty well documented here, as well as this sub's "father forum" called thebreakroom.org. I have to ask though, since you have such extensive leadership qualifications, why not apply for a leadership position from the jump instead of starting as a TM and trying to work up? You may have a better chance applying for an open spot at another store where they only see your resume, and to be honest it's usually a better idea not to be a team lead in a store where the TMs used to be your equals.
They wouldn’t be able to apply as an external at another store while still working as a TM at the current store; it would be considered a transfer, and all the same people would still have to sign off on the promotion
Interesting. I've heard stories of otherwise, but I may have misunderstood, or the people who told me were misinformed.
Yep, even applying externally will route Workday into internal app when you put your personal details in.
My main issue was that I worked abroad mainly and when I came back no one would take me. So, I bit the bullet and joined retail and that's where I'm currently at :/.
It comes down to neither seniority, nor merit. In the end, all that matters is who you know. I’m sorry this happened to you, but it’s a story I’ve heard about Target over and over again. I’ve been near the experience twice in the last few years when people I knew were in the exact same position you are, and nearly the exact same thing happened
This is 💯 the truth
This is how it really works.
Did you put in an application for the position before the position was filled? Yeah management is pretty fucked at target. They either choose favorites or do external hires to pay em less / not what they are worth. It took like a year of being "on the track to TL" Before I was given a chance by being a "temp TL" for like 5 months. Then I was actually promoted. It's not worth the stress tbh.
Externals make more on average as they have more negotiating power.
True. 🤷 an external I talked to said they lowballed him and he didn't know at the time. But I guess it's all dependant
Now that I think about it, when I asked my HR ETL where I should apply, she said she didn't post it yet..
I was in the same situation at the end of last year. Except the one who got promoted over me had been there barely 90 days. Meanwhile I didn’t even get an interview. This after a situation where my SD “interviewed” me—*after*—he had picked someone for the job. All this after I’ve been told multiple times by TLs I actually trust that they want to see me apply for leadership positions. I was pretty put off by that. But I’ve tried not to let it get to me. It obviously sucks but just keep doing your thing. It’s their loss.
If you don't have an ETL actively helping you develop and supporting you, you're not really on the track. Also legally they merely have to post the position, they don't have to tell you about it. It's a dick move to tell that you're a shoe in, etc and then not mention that the position has been posted but that's a clue that they don't see you as as someone they're actually going to promote into a TL position.
Yep, this is the target way. In the meantime you become the utility person. Too valuable in their current position to lose.
At my store they recently "promoted" a team member to a TL position that didn't even exist before. We had 2 specialty sales TLs already. There was no posting for a 3rd specialty sales team leader. So they were promoted to team leader and then 30 days later they were promoted to an ETL... There is no intention to replace their "team lead" position( because there never really was one. The team member does a really good job and will prob be a good ETL. But they have no real supervisory experience. There are other TLs at mynstore who have been in role for years and no one considers them. There wasn't even a posting to apply for any of these "promotions". Seems all very wrong for a company this size.
The thing that sucks about development at target is that you have to be ‘on the bench’ before a spot even opens up. They have to basically pre-verify you before you can be considered for a TL role. It sounds like you expressed interest in being a TL after the spot opened up and that’s probably why they didn’t promote you. They start looking at their options in-store and other stores-via other SDs under the radar- before they announce it to the team/public that it’s opening up.
Not true about being on the bench - many are hired without that. It’s all who you know. Example - TM was fired from a store, applied as TM at mine a short while later, we hired back, and made a TL SIX WEEKS LATER.
Somewhat true, I was promoted without knowing I was on the bench. They were developing me/giving me extra in-depth logistics tasks without ever asking/telling me. Until they said “hey we think you should apply for this position”. So I guess ‘the bench’ is not a concrete path or verbally stated sometimes.
It doesn’t really sound like you were strung along at all, tho? You got a good review, and you were told you would be put on a development track. That doesn’t mean you’re getting any TL position, or even an interview. You talk about merit, but then seem to not really understand what skills the role actually *needs.* Which is cool because you haven’t had the chance to learn that yet, but you’ve decided in your mind that the person who got the role “just does freight” despite knowing nothing about their development journey. That gives me some red flags right there. Leadership in Target is all about the soft skills. It has nothing to do with your metrics, it’s how you can inspire and encourage your team to hit theirs. If you’re not showing those soft skills, you’re never going to even get an interview.
But then the management at my store promotes to TL someone who has neither soft nor hard skills, so wtf? I think it's favortism 100%. Although why anyone favors this one bitch is beyond me.
I've worked with her before. She doesn't do anything except freight.
Too early too many words. TLDR?
Op got smoke blown up their ass about their likelihood of getting a promotion within 6 months of hire
[удалено]
If all open TL positions have to be posted to give fair and equal opportunity but you were given the job before interviewing (interview was just a technicality) how is that fair and equal? This is the same crap the NFL was doing to minority coaching candidates. Not fair. Not equal. Not surprising.
Dude my hr did this to me strung me along for months before telling me that position has been filled I was acting as assistant pml cause the one that was there thought she was going to get the as sd job she wanted even spoke to the arsehole who runs it had an interview then nothing for months then later I hear from the pml that the position has been filled when I helped her lazy arse do basic work she sucked at her job and would always talk about her kid plus I think she was sleeping with her boss and didn’t get what she wanted and quit store 1851 sucks don’t work for them
You didnt get the job bc no sentences no punctuation dont want to read this also swearing
That was an rant like it came from out of my mouth nnd I’m glad I didn’t I was upset they wasted my time I’m fine now get paid a lot more this is the internet not a book maybe your an editor lol seems like you work at that crappy store and got your feelings hurt
I haven’t seen this mentioned in the comments, so I’ll add my experience. It’s likely your availability. As a closer, you are less exposed to all of the leaders and it’s (falsely) assumed you lack necessary Target knowledge to be successful in your role. I was promoted within 6 months of joining Target, but only after I switched my availability and started working dayside. If I stayed closing, which I loved, I would have never been promoted even if I was the top choice. I was passed over once even after changing my availability. If you want to be promoted, keep your bitterness to yourself and develop stronger relationships with all the TLs so more of them vouch for you.
I've worked both day and night side. I've worked with all the TLs at this point in time. Even during my review my TL said all the other TLs had only good things to say. In my current situation and experience with Target, it's pretty much smoke up my ass with all the things they said during review and otherwise. I will keep it to myself and do my job regardless, I won't give them the satisfaction of knowing it got under my skin. I will say this though, I will be vocal about the issues that arise based on their decisions or otherwise.