Team leader at a supermarket
Discussion
Evening PH.
I've been asked how I feel about becoming a team leader within the department I'm currently at (home delivery for a supermarket). If I'm honest, I'm not 100% sure what to do.
I've been at the company for nearly six years, and its only since last August that I've looked forward (as much as you can) to going into work. I love the driving side of the job.
If I was to go for it, it would mean a lot less driving, the current team leader only does it if there is no cover needed, I can count on one hand the times I know of. The hours aren't that appealing either, either 1300/1400 to 2300 Monday to Friday, it means no social life of an evening, and possibly not seeing my younger brother/sisters for a couple of weeks at a time.
It would also mean possibly having to cut down on the number of hours I do as a Special, which I love. It could be two or three shifts a month, compared to the seven or eight I currently do. This is something that is very important to me, and having just worked it out, I'm fairly sure what my answer is going to be now!
However, the pros from what I can see. Full time hours, I'm currently on 31.5 a week, which I can get by on, but of course extra money is always nice. I'll also get an extra £0.80/£1.00 a hour. The experience I could gain to help my application with the Police could be useful, however I know I could get it from the Specials also.
I also like going in when I'm on the rota for, and leaving on time, or if I stay on, getting overtime for it. I know team leaders and managers who stay on a few hours a day for free.
It also seems a little boring if I'm honest, I'm not 100% sure what the current team leader does (going to have a chat with him on Monday, maybe see if I can shadow him for a day), but apart from rotas, making sure training is done, I'm not sure if there is anything else (seeing as by 0830/0930 all the drivers are out until 1200/1300, then back out again at 1400/1500 until 1730/1830).
Am I perhaps missing something that could make it worth while? Any advice from anyone would be great.
Thanks
.
I've been asked how I feel about becoming a team leader within the department I'm currently at (home delivery for a supermarket). If I'm honest, I'm not 100% sure what to do.
I've been at the company for nearly six years, and its only since last August that I've looked forward (as much as you can) to going into work. I love the driving side of the job.
If I was to go for it, it would mean a lot less driving, the current team leader only does it if there is no cover needed, I can count on one hand the times I know of. The hours aren't that appealing either, either 1300/1400 to 2300 Monday to Friday, it means no social life of an evening, and possibly not seeing my younger brother/sisters for a couple of weeks at a time.
It would also mean possibly having to cut down on the number of hours I do as a Special, which I love. It could be two or three shifts a month, compared to the seven or eight I currently do. This is something that is very important to me, and having just worked it out, I'm fairly sure what my answer is going to be now!
However, the pros from what I can see. Full time hours, I'm currently on 31.5 a week, which I can get by on, but of course extra money is always nice. I'll also get an extra £0.80/£1.00 a hour. The experience I could gain to help my application with the Police could be useful, however I know I could get it from the Specials also.
I also like going in when I'm on the rota for, and leaving on time, or if I stay on, getting overtime for it. I know team leaders and managers who stay on a few hours a day for free.
It also seems a little boring if I'm honest, I'm not 100% sure what the current team leader does (going to have a chat with him on Monday, maybe see if I can shadow him for a day), but apart from rotas, making sure training is done, I'm not sure if there is anything else (seeing as by 0830/0930 all the drivers are out until 1200/1300, then back out again at 1400/1500 until 1730/1830).
Am I perhaps missing something that could make it worth while? Any advice from anyone would be great.
Thanks
.I wouldn't do it if I was you.
You seem to enjoy the job you've got now and it is a ball ache for little reward.
I suppose it depends on what the management team are like around you and if team leaders are expected to be like 'mini managers' I know when I was there that's what was expected of them.
On dot com I imagine you'd be responsible as you say for training, holidays, welcome backs etc but also to take over when your managers not in (supervising pick rate, ensuring all orders are picked, enough drivers and vans and that all shopping is delivered etc etc.
The only good thing I can see about your hours is that I doubt you'd be expected to stay after work as you'd be finishing late and night crew would take over unlike finishing early when there are still jobs to do instore.
Honestly ignore advice from people who haven't worked in retail (the ones that sit in an office all day on their fat arses) they haven't got a clue what it's like to work in that kind of environment.
You seem to enjoy the job you've got now and it is a ball ache for little reward.
I suppose it depends on what the management team are like around you and if team leaders are expected to be like 'mini managers' I know when I was there that's what was expected of them.
On dot com I imagine you'd be responsible as you say for training, holidays, welcome backs etc but also to take over when your managers not in (supervising pick rate, ensuring all orders are picked, enough drivers and vans and that all shopping is delivered etc etc.
The only good thing I can see about your hours is that I doubt you'd be expected to stay after work as you'd be finishing late and night crew would take over unlike finishing early when there are still jobs to do instore.
Honestly ignore advice from people who haven't worked in retail (the ones that sit in an office all day on their fat arses) they haven't got a clue what it's like to work in that kind of environment.
I work in an office and sit on my fat arse all day but despite that I'd say you've given enough reasons not to take the other job. You spend a lot of your life at work so make sure you enjoy what you do.
The only reason I can see to take it is for management experience but that's not a good enough reason in my opinion.
The only reason I can see to take it is for management experience but that's not a good enough reason in my opinion.
Ki3r said:
The experience I could gain to help my application with the Police could be useful, however I know I could get it from the Specials also.
Play the long game. If joining plod is your goal, then do whatever you can to improve and enhance your chances. A bit of people-management skills goes a long way.Do it.
People look down on working for a supermarket but as you rise thru the ranks it can be a great career. A mate of mine is a manager of a v. large London supermarket and he earns circa £100K / year plus a C class Merc, private medical etc. And why shouldn't he, with £1m/week turnover and 250 staff.
Next step is area manager, heading up a group of managers.
If you leave the promotion and additional responsibility will look good for other employers, but if you progress further, you might just decide to stay.
When recession hits, people still need to eat.
People look down on working for a supermarket but as you rise thru the ranks it can be a great career. A mate of mine is a manager of a v. large London supermarket and he earns circa £100K / year plus a C class Merc, private medical etc. And why shouldn't he, with £1m/week turnover and 250 staff.
Next step is area manager, heading up a group of managers.
If you leave the promotion and additional responsibility will look good for other employers, but if you progress further, you might just decide to stay.
When recession hits, people still need to eat.
deeen said:
Check the wages vs. the hassle... Team leader is only worth it as a stepping stone to manager. If you want to be a manager soon, go for it! If not, don't bother. (IMHO)
^^^^ This, it's only worth it as a stepping stone and there's a long way to climb before the sh*t stops landing on you.TwigtheWonderkid said:
Do it.
People look down on working for a supermarket but as you rise thru the ranks it can be a great career. A mate of mine is a manager of a v. large London supermarket and he earns circa £100K / year plus a C class Merc, private medical etc. And why shouldn't he, with £1m/week turnover and 250 staff.
Next step is area manager, heading up a group of managers.
If you leave the promotion and additional responsibility will look good for other employers, but if you progress further, you might just decide to stay.
When recession hits, people still need to eat.
Working in a supermarket as long as I did and seeing so many managers come and go, the quality workers get promoted no further than assistant-assistant manager and then move on to bigger and better things. Personally, I promised to throw myself off a cliff if I ever though supermarket/McDonald's was my only career prospects.People look down on working for a supermarket but as you rise thru the ranks it can be a great career. A mate of mine is a manager of a v. large London supermarket and he earns circa £100K / year plus a C class Merc, private medical etc. And why shouldn't he, with £1m/week turnover and 250 staff.
Next step is area manager, heading up a group of managers.
If you leave the promotion and additional responsibility will look good for other employers, but if you progress further, you might just decide to stay.
When recession hits, people still need to eat.
I was the assistant manager for the bakery at the store I worked at for a bit (6 months) before I went to uni . As you say theres alot of form filling (rotas, timesheets, appraisals when the manager cant do them) but there is also alot of people management as well as people tend to trust you more than the manager as you tend to have worked there for longer. This means that they come to you to settle disputes etc.
Before I left I was offered the chance to be put on the management scheme (at only 18) for that company but decided that going to uni and doing engineering would be better for me. In the end I made the right choice but the experience I gained there during my stint was invaluable as I was able to deal with people and any issues they have as soon as I started working rather than learning as I went as with other grads who have no experience in management.
If i was you i'd take the opportunity as it would look much better on you as well giving you good experience.
Before I left I was offered the chance to be put on the management scheme (at only 18) for that company but decided that going to uni and doing engineering would be better for me. In the end I made the right choice but the experience I gained there during my stint was invaluable as I was able to deal with people and any issues they have as soon as I started working rather than learning as I went as with other grads who have no experience in management.
If i was you i'd take the opportunity as it would look much better on you as well giving you good experience.
fiatpower said:
I was the assistant manager for the bakery at the store I worked at for a bit (6 months) before I went to uni . As you say theres alot of form filling (rotas, timesheets, appraisals when the manager cant do them) but there is also alot of people management as well as people tend to trust you more than the manager as you tend to have worked there for longer. This means that they come to you to settle disputes etc.
Before I left I was offered the chance to be put on the management scheme (at only 18)
I've never worked in retail but I know people that do, with respect an 18 year old thinking they can man manage and appraise grown ups is seen as a joke on the shop floor. In a lot of cases management training schemes are just a ploy to heap a lot of crap/unsociable hours on people without having to pay the proper rate for the job.Before I left I was offered the chance to be put on the management scheme (at only 18)
blade7 said:
I've never worked in retail but I know people that do, with respect an 18 year old thinking they can man manage and appraise grown ups is seen as a joke on the shop floor. In a lot of cases management training schemes are just a ploy to heap a lot of crap/unsociable hours on people without having to pay the proper rate for the job.
There was the odd arse who thought that the age mattered but the reality was they were the ones who had been there years and kept getting passed over in my experience. TwigtheWonderkid said:
Do it.
People look down on working for a supermarket but as you rise thru the ranks it can be a great career. A mate of mine is a manager of a v. large London supermarket and he earns circa £100K / year plus a C class Merc, private medical etc. And why shouldn't he, with £1m/week turnover and 250 staff.
Next step is area manager, heading up a group of managers.
If you leave the promotion and additional responsibility will look good for other employers, but if you progress further, you might just decide to stay.
When recession hits, people still need to eat.
If I'm honest, the money side of things isn't important to me. I would much rather have a job earning £20k a year, than a job earning £100k a year in a job I hate. People look down on working for a supermarket but as you rise thru the ranks it can be a great career. A mate of mine is a manager of a v. large London supermarket and he earns circa £100K / year plus a C class Merc, private medical etc. And why shouldn't he, with £1m/week turnover and 250 staff.
Next step is area manager, heading up a group of managers.
If you leave the promotion and additional responsibility will look good for other employers, but if you progress further, you might just decide to stay.
When recession hits, people still need to eat.
Regiment said:
Working in a supermarket as long as I did and seeing so many managers come and go, the quality workers get promoted no further than assistant-assistant manager and then move on to bigger and better things. Personally, I promised to throw myself off a cliff if I ever though supermarket/McDonald's was my only career prospects.
Similar thing has happened at the store I'm at, there are constantly new managers appearing, coming for a bit and leaving. There are only a handful of managers that have stayed at the store. blade7 said:
I've never worked in retail but I know people that do, with respect an 18 year old thinking they can man manage and appraise grown ups is seen as a joke on the shop floor. In a lot of cases management training schemes are just a ploy to heap a lot of crap/unsociable hours on people without having to pay the proper rate for the job.
Thats what I was thinking, my team leader has just covered the mangers role for two weeks as she was on holiday, he was on the same pay as what he gets as a team leader. Basically they got a manager for free. And as I've said before, the hours are s
t.I think as I've come up for a reason to all of the 'positives', says that I don't want it lol.
I worked at a supermarket from ages 16-23. They asked me to be a team leader one summer when I was at university (3 month summer holidays). It was good experience but it was a lot work for financial little reward. I don't regret doing though it as I learnt a lot of transferable skills which I still use today.
When I graduated I dropped back down (just worked weekends) and I went temping in an office. Here I discovered Monday-Friday 9-5 office work and I had handed in my notice to the supermarket within 3 months.
When I graduated I dropped back down (just worked weekends) and I went temping in an office. Here I discovered Monday-Friday 9-5 office work and I had handed in my notice to the supermarket within 3 months.
Would it really help you get in the police though?
A colleagues son has graduated with his degree in criminology, having left he's worked in a care center for people with learning disability, worked in a half way house for criminals and has only now managed to get a civilian job at the local police station.
What he has gained though is a lot of experience of dealing with people who he'd normally of never met.
A colleagues son has graduated with his degree in criminology, having left he's worked in a care center for people with learning disability, worked in a half way house for criminals and has only now managed to get a civilian job at the local police station.
What he has gained though is a lot of experience of dealing with people who he'd normally of never met.
egor110 said:
Would it really help you get in the police though?
A colleagues son has graduated with his degree in criminology, having left he's worked in a care center for people with learning disability, worked in a half way house for criminals and has only now managed to get a civilian job at the local police station.
What he has gained though is a lot of experience of dealing with people who he'd normally of never met.
Honestly I don't know at the moment. The way things are going, it looks like I'll need a degree of some sort to get in as well!A colleagues son has graduated with his degree in criminology, having left he's worked in a care center for people with learning disability, worked in a half way house for criminals and has only now managed to get a civilian job at the local police station.
What he has gained though is a lot of experience of dealing with people who he'd normally of never met.
The skills I have learnt as a Special should be enough, as I'm already doing the job, but for free! But, on my application I'm not sure if 'On duty as a Special, I...' would be good for all the competency questions.
I can get some at work as it is, but its tricky, I spend minutes with customers, team work is a minium (loading each others vans is as far as it goes to be honest, nothing else really needs doing, covering shifts if needed maybe).
One of the things I also don't want is to get used to the money, and then possibly have to take a pay cut to join, and then be stuck there for longer.
deeen said:
Check the wages vs. the hassle... Team leader is only worth it as a stepping stone to manager. If you want to be a manager soon, go for it! If not, don't bother. (IMHO)
Someone else has said "This" already but I also will.I work for another supermarket (in deliveries as well strangely) and like it there and want to make a career out of it. I am always looking for new things to do like training, applying for promotions etc.
However I would only ever go to being team leader if your goal is to move into management eventually. It's simply a stepping stone to being a manager in my eyes, the money vs. hassle for being a team leader isn't worth it.
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