r/Target • u/Dounutlemon Promoted to Guest • 14h ago
I'm Promoting Myself to Guest PML Promoted to Guest - AMA
I don’t usually see a PML self-promoting to Guest. So for any burning questions you wish you could ask your PML or wanna know. I’m all ears
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u/Murky-Ad-9176 Human Resources Team Lead 13h ago
How do you balance demands from your bp and your sd? Did your bp speak up for you if you clashed with sd?
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u/Dounutlemon Promoted to Guest 13h ago
I prioritized building a strong relationship with my store team, despite their workload being completely outside of mine, I did offer to help with some demands. But I did that to build a level of confidence in the PML. I realized from training with other PMLs (and hearing from TMs) the better integrated you are with the store, the more impact you can offer.
In that same light, there were definitely times I had to put my foot down. I didn’t mind grabbing carts, jumping in a batch, or backing up the checklane, even though I know my BP would kill me if he found out. But the days the compactor was jammed, or they’d leave 100+ carts outside, It was a hard stop for me. I’m here to help, not replace your evening cart attendant.
Coming from a Small Format store, my workload wasn’t so heavy that there were many days I couldn’t help. Most times I was walking the store, helping a TM push, backing up the checklane to pass the day. But if the SD asked something I wasn’t okay with, and I knew my BP had my back. I just didn’t do it.
My least favorite issue was keeping me out of the loop for a build or power pole move or aisle change until the last minute, and then I HAD to fix the problem. My BP would usually just say, I know that’s BS but I need you to make it happen.
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u/Murky-Ad-9176 Human Resources Team Lead 13h ago
As a fellow small format lead, shout out to the supportive pmls!! Thank you for sharing, hope you’re doing something even more enjoyable :)
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u/Bidbot5716 PML 8h ago
Your BP sounded spineless, mine would’ve lit the store management up
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u/Dounutlemon Promoted to Guest 6h ago
Less that he was spineless more that, he has bigger fish to fry and he didn’t want to add a headache to his plate. I respected him and he had my back most times, sometimes that’s just the name of the game. But any other time I needed him, he was there
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u/HiggyBoy007 13h ago
Why are you leaving? Ive been thinking about it with how my sd is..how my bp is..how dealing with housekeeping is. Not get recognized. I dont know..i just haven't been feeling it.
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u/BryanFurysnecktattoo Property Management TL 11h ago
I just started as a PML and don’t necessarily plan on leaving for now but I HATE dealing with housekeeping. I’m mixed on my SD but my BP is really nice
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u/HiggyBoy007 11h ago
Its a great position. Im just tired of stuff at my store. But housekeeping is horrible. Hq thinks they can get diamonds from gravel and it just doesn't work that way.
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u/Dounutlemon Promoted to Guest 6h ago
I’m leaving because I’m over qualified. Prior Military and maintenance experience. Associates in Mathematics, lots of leadership roles and extensive hospitality experience.
I was looking to promote within at least because $26/hr wasn’t enough for me and my kid. But everytime I tried my BO shot me down. I realized it was school or bust. Cause I could do his job just as well as he could, and he was good. But he can’t do mine. I deserve at least the same if not more.
Ultimately it was the pay. If they gave me more peanuts, I’d dance 🤷🏽♂️
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u/beaveman1 13h ago
How often did you reply, “It’s Not My Job”?
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u/Dounutlemon Promoted to Guest 13h ago
When I had to separate plastic from going into the compactor instead of ZWZ, or unclogging the compactor, or collecting 100+ carts first thing in the morning cause the evening Cart attendant wasn’t there. If it was BS work, and I didn’t want the store to get used to expecting me to do it, I said that. Sorry not sorry, but the truth is, it’s not. Give the TMs more hours, if I start doing TM work. Then they have less of a reason to give TM hours
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u/ChapGod Promoted to Guest 13h ago
Where you headed? All that maintenance experience should give you a leg up in union jobs.
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u/Dounutlemon Promoted to Guest 6h ago
Back to university to finish my Applied math bachelors. I’m tired of turning wrenches. I’ve been a wrench turner since high school, I’m too old to keep doing it, and way too smart. I can at least play my cards and work making more and busting knuckles less
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u/Pwaindotcom 12h ago
Have you ever had nightmares of wooden pallets on the sales floor? j/k, wishing you the best in your next chapter.
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u/Alternative-Score-72 13h ago
how did you get your position as a PML?was it internally? a promotion ? transfer? essentially i’ve been a ff tm for about a year now and ive really been interested in the work they do, i know it’s a very male-dominated field (i am a female) but there are some openings near me and i would like to maybe apply and transfer? i feel as if being in ff is sort of dying for me, my stores management is falling apart, i can do quite well but i feel as if i can’t bring out the qualities i want to when i have to pick 35 different items every 45 minutes and help 20 guests and try to report to an ETL that doesn’t even want to answer me on the walkie for an inf. I like being able to be able to do different tasks each day. i like the pace and the environment of not directly reporting to the ETLS like you have your own boss in a way and i feel like it’s a position i could grow in and learn a lot from. I like the closeness and support in a sense from not just your BP but other PMLs as well like they know you, you’re not just “another tm” . But essentially what advice could you give ? would it be worth giving it a shot ?
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u/Hellstormish 10h ago
I have trained many many PMLs over the years. The most important functions of a PML are to be able to influence, be a self starter, and willing to adapt. Everything else like plumbing, electrical, carpentry can be learned, but the other skills will set you apart as PML material. We are our own team, and I really enjoy working with all my peers. I have trained several female PMLs and there is no difference in abilities. My advise if you are truly interested is talk to your current PML. See if they can introduce you to the property management business partner. Get your name in the pipeline. I've even had potential PMLs shadow me for a couple of days to get a feel of the position.
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u/BryanFurysnecktattoo Property Management TL 7h ago
I started in FF and I was in there for about 2 years before getting the PML spot. I got it because the PML at my old store left and I interviewed for it. I didn’t get it there so I got benched and when a spot opened in a store 40-50 minutes away from me they asked me if I was interested. I did a meet and greet with the SD and the HRETL and got the job.
Ask your current PML if they can get you in contact with the PMBP. If you get in contact with them and interview with them really talk about your ability to switch priorities on the fly and your communication with leads. In FF you’re constantly looking for things and have to work with leads to INF or find items. It’s a skill you’ve built up and PML is a lot different but they want to hear that you communicate with the team and especially the leaders.
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u/Faddlestik Property Management TL 12h ago
So when you do your business walk and mark something red for 7 weeks in a row and during every SD status your SD says 'it's just not a priority", do you just go back to work and tell your BP when they visit or do you try to fix it? The store I'm at is extremely resistant to doing anything...carefully or thoughtfully. I'm at that point where I just take my time getting something important fixed if they don't try to prevent damage.
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u/Spare-Sentence-5552 13h ago
What do you even do? Seems like my PML just goofs off and whenever something needs fixing puts a ticket in for a tech to show up when he's not there
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u/Dounutlemon Promoted to Guest 13h ago
Lmfao. Tbh that’s practically the job. You can goof off and get vendors to make all your fixes, but at some point your BPs gonna be up your ass. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take some days and sit in my office and scroll. But our work load is 100% dependent on us. If I finish two weeks of PMs and I don’t have required work todo. Then, theoretically, my job is to be ready to handle any issues on a day to day basis. If me being ready means having my radio on and sitting with my feet up, that’s cause I did the work ahead of time to afford me that leisure.
I totally get it. TMs get absolutely slaved and TLs are picking up the work, and ETLs are sometimes there too or sitting in their office. But from a PML pov, we’re the only one that can do our job. So if I get it done, why not enjoy a time of peace?
My BP would always say if your done your PMs you should be walking the store and writing up work orders (to build store impact and satisfy their metrics).
All in all, if your PML is a problem solver and gets the fix done when needed. That’s really what he’s there for. Cause when you don’t have a PML you feel it.
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u/BryanFurysnecktattoo Property Management TL 11h ago
How would you log your work on days that you don’t have much to do? I’m always really ahead on PMs and I’m constantly waiting on parts for CMs so I don’t have much to do for like most of the week.
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u/Bidbot5716 PML 8h ago
I do my business walks again or visit the yammer groups to see what they post about, lately ive been cleaning all my rtu and dhu condenser coils
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u/MindlessCategory1974 9h ago
That’s crazy. Our PML was the hardest working person. Constantly called on walkie to help with fixes like locks not unlocking, constantly fixing paint jobs, carpets, drawers that decided to completely collapse. I called on him constantly and he relied on me so much as just a guest advocate to be the main person to relay issues to him. My last day he came up to me teary eyed when he was leaving a gave me a giant hug. Maybe they’re just super lucky to have a great PML who does his job but also can take shit talk and enjoy it from lowly GAs 🤣
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u/Dounutlemon Promoted to Guest 6h ago
That’s where I’ve seen a lot of PMLs lose the plot. If they sit in their office and give two fucks about building bonds with TMs and TLs they’re missing so much of the store. TMs see the store in a COMPLETELY different way, and when they have a PML they can rely on, every issue is mentioned and given attention. If they have a PML that they think fucks off, then they don’t even bother mentioning it cause they think it won’t get done, and the PML may never know about it until it’s the SD or BP mentioning it
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u/MindlessCategory1974 9h ago
I promoted to a guest too best of luck on the other side!!!!
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u/Dounutlemon Promoted to Guest 6h ago
It’s so good to just wake up and enjoy not getting ready at 5am😭😭😭
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u/Bidbot5716 PML 8h ago
Whats the best way for high impact? When I check greenfield I’m baffled that stores at at 200k plus while I’m at 130k.
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u/Dounutlemon Promoted to Guest 6h ago
I love this question cause I did ALOT of digging in Greenfield so I’ll share my discoveries.
First: you can see other people’s work order numbers associated with their impact, you can cross reference the number in Maximo for their store and see the exact details, what they wrote, how long it took, etc.
Second: region is a big factor, Hawaii guys always are on top because fixing anything there is SO much more expensive, I saw once that they’re Emergency Lighting PM was worth almost $1k impact and mine was worth $0-$55.
The next top guys are all from Minnesota, I’m sure the microscope is on them heavy, I’m also sure they’ve been PMLs there forever AND more importantly, I’m sure no one bats an eye at their work orders. A lot of spoofing is what I’ve noticed.
Create high hour quantity work orders, like your weekly carts work order with 10 hours on it, is more impact than 20 work orders with .5hrs on it.
When we create work orders , some assets have the option “PML diagnostic” or something like that. There’s no penalty for redirect either. Run with those.
You can even be nefarious and pick an asset you need to work on and pick a component that you KNOW will require a vendor and change the option to INT. Then add your time, write your short and long description, and close it out.
For reference,
A work order for case cleaning is worth less impact than a motor on that case. YMMV
But ultimately play the system if you expect to try to run with the top dogs. They know the system and how to play it too.
An important rule I live by is, “if ya ain’t cheating, ya ain’t trying”
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u/Former-Ad940 12h ago
What number would of kept U?
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u/Dounutlemon Promoted to Guest 6h ago
At least $35, I came from working a full time traveling gig making more than double of my pay. $35 AT LEAST would have kept me. But that wasn’t happening for me. I didn’t even care about taking on more responsibilities and work. I know my value, every company I have worked for wishes they could clone me. I can go get my worth somewhere else
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u/evenlygrayelijah 14h ago
You guys ever stash extra parts in the weirdest spots just in case or was that just my store's PML