Can someone walk me through how to get promoted at HQ? I have been here 4 years and can’t seem to figure out how to move up. Do you have to have a certain kind of personality?
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@sv In addition to uptalking, add talking over others and never apologizing, incessantly “leaning in” and take credit for your L4s work amongst many other things to shatter that glass ceiling.
Have lots of GTKYs with people 1-2 levels up, make some of them recurring quarterly statuses, then pray that a role opens up on their teams and they think of you.
You get promoted by having lots of GTKY’s and connects. Make sure you are an uptalker as the high up L’s think that’s really neat. In meetings, interrupt with stupid questions. Put together meaningless PowerPoint presentations. Make sure you organize potlucks. And, most importantly be an LMNOP or pretend you are.
You don't. As already stated you can only apply for open positions and go through the same interview process as external candidates. Target will preach this super detailed promotion process and encourage you to maintain a body of work but it is completely meaningless. Good luck.
It's really difficult to get promoted at Target in my opinion. I've taken additional work on to improve my skills and gain more visibility, but this has done nothing to actually getting promoted. There's only so many positions available and everyone at Target seems to be here for 20 years..
@et Maybe if you can automate part of your job, but I can’t manage a second job with what I’m currently doing. Mind if I ask what you do?
Our team is barely managing now. So many meetings, and new fires are popping up every day.
AI helps, but it doesn’t create enough free time to work an extra full-time jobs.
Getting a promotion means positions above you have to open up, which is a rarity these days. US roles have dried up. Everyone above me has been in role for at least 8 years with no movement. I’m an L5 and I can’t remember seeing an open L6 position to apply for in many, many years.
You have to apply and interview for an open role a level above your current role. In-role promotions basically do not exist. Because TGT is so flat (most people are L4, 5, or 6) it is more difficult to get promoted than it is at other companies. This is a big part of why people leave, unless they drink the red kool aid and want to stay.
why you looking to get promoted?? if you are still remote, get a second job... look up reddit overemployed board... and don't plug your mouse jiggler into the macbook, plug it into the wall instead... i frequently just move my meetings around as needed (l6)
promotion = $50k raise
2nd job = 6 figure raise
What’s your level? If you’re an L6 or up, good luck. Either someone else has to leave or you do.
If you’re L5 or under, that’s a little easier. Doing solid work helps, but unless you’re brilliant, promotions at Target won’t come on merit alone. If you have a leader that has been at the company for a while, you will have to check a few other boxes.
–Out in the open, Target is a “good vibes only” culture. You have to drink some Koolaid and be a cheerleader, since many leaders (especially Midwesterners) expect their reports to uphold the pretense that everything has been and continues to be great. Don’t deviate from the message.
–On a related note…You have be reliable, committed, and easy to work with. Establish yourself as the go-to person at your level. You want to be your leaders first choice, not a last resort. When they need something done and no one is raising their hand, volunteer and do it without a fuss. Use less-appealing work as an opportunity to show off.
–Always align with what your leaders are saying. There will be sticky moments to navigate, and the best thing you can do for your career is making sure you’re on the right side of whatever the issue is.
–Make yourself visible and talk in meetings, even if it’s only to restate and agree with what the prevailing thought is. Comment on Slack, be engaged and on camera for Zoom calls, and do the extracurricular enterprise stuff. Show up to team building events and get your picture taken. The only thing you want from this job is to be more invested in the “Target family.”
If you have a leader that doesn’t buy into the established culture, just be real, do great work, take on some responsibility and go the extra mile on occasion, and don’t create drama. A promotion will happen in 3-5 years.
If you haven't gotten a promotion by now your best bet is to just look for a better position either on a other team or another company.