Target Executive Internship Week Two

I recently finished my second week at my Target internship. This past week, I learned a lot more about the AP department at the Clackamas Target Store. AP is assets protection. Other retail stores may call this department loss prevention. I shadowed the Executive Team Leader of AP and she explained a lot about what her department does. I found a lot of the information she had to say to be very interesting. Asset Protections create a safe and secure environment for the guests and team members. They focus on reducing losses for the store. There are different positions within the AP Team such as ETL Assets Protection, AP-TL (Assets Protection Team Leader), (APL) Assets Protection Leader, (APS) Assets Protection Specialist, (TPS) Target Protection Specialist. As you can see these are just some of the many acronyms that Target uses. I am still getting used to following and speaking the Target "lingo". I shadowed this department for two days.

This week I also started late shifts from 2:15-10:45PM so it was a different schedule then starting early in the mornings. As a part of being in retail, you have to adjust to the different work schedules that are irregular. Working the late shift allowed me to see the process of how Target closes its store at night. In the Target Clackamas Store, it is one of the only stores that stays open for 24 hours. After the store closes at 10 PM, there is an overnight team that comes in to work on setting up the "back to school" section, there is a logistics team that also comes in to work in the back room and unload delivery trucks. For my late shift, I helped the LOD (leader on duty) zone the store. Zoning in Target language refers to tasks that are done to keep the store neat, clean, attractive and easy to shop. Zoning can include straightening products on shelves or putting back items that I find in the wrong area. By zoning a little before the store closes to its guests, it will ensure that when the store opens the next day, the store will look neat and clean and show the Target brand.

This week I also shadowed the Executive Team Leader of Soft lines. Soft lines refers to clothes shoes and accessories and hard lines refers to anything that is non-apparel. The day I shadowed the ETL of soft lines, she was the Leader on Duty. The Leader on Duty is the executive who is in charge of the store and responsible for making the store run smoothly. She showed us a daily routine of an LOD and what tasks they were responsible for. Tasks include checking the back room fridges to see if anything needs to be pulled to the sales floor, attending to any guests that may have an issue or need to speak to a manager, walking the sales floor, as well as ensuring everything is running smoothly in the Target Cafe.

There was also a training day at the district office in Tualatin. That day we learned and received training on flexible communication styles, how to think and speak on your feet, and understanding generational differences. I really liked the different exercises we did in the training. One of the exercises was to do three impromptu speeches. Although it seemed nerve wrecking to speak in front of a group of people, it wasn't really that bad in the end. I actually enjoyed it and liked listening to other people's speeches. I also got to catch up with the other interns from the other Target stores.

Overall, I am really enjoying the Target internship so far. I am really growing to love the company even more than I did before going in to the internship. Target is a fast-growing, innovative, fast, fun, and friendly company. Everyone I work with seems to love their job and some people have been there for over twenty years. These team members show a dedication to Target and really trust the company. I think this is an awesome opportunity for me to see if I too want a future in a career in retail.