Don't Drink the Kool-Aid - Manager Target Employee Review

2.0
May 19, 2009
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Compensation at HQ is good. Benefits are average. Target's brand-name on your resume will gain access to opportunity in the future.

Cons

Creepy cult-like atmosphere, with indecipherable lingo, meaningless lip-service given to 'team', unspoken social rules, and prioritization of work over family. Don't drink the kool-aid! Life expectancy of career is short. There are few people who have worked there over 10 years. Currently, many team members being forced out under the table -- rather than having layoffs -- to save face with shareholders. Young, pretty and thin gets you farther than bright, competent and average-looking. Cheerleaders and yes-men go far. If you can talk a good line without actually doing anything, you will succeed. "Minnesota Nice" means straight talk is strictly verboten: passive-aggressive is the rule. You will be in a so-called 'feedback-rich environment', but expect to hear everyone talk around problems, rather than actually address them directly or attempt to solve them. Expect a lot of 'Flavor of the Month' management, based on whatever business self-help book is making the rounds in upper management. Expect this to routinely influence process, but not in a positive way: before any idea takes root, another one will come along, displace it, and change things around again. Change is good, but unplanned change is worse than no change at all. Process is king, and if you are good with 6Sigma or enjoy interminable meetings going through power-point decks of flowcharts, you'll enjoy Target.

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Pros

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Cons

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5.0
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Pros

- Management - Pay - Benefits - Personal development - Vacation time - Culture

Cons

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