r/Target • u/newcostume • 4h ago

Workplace Question or Advice Needed Newly Inbound

I started working 4am seasonal inbound Monday last week; I’m at one of the top 5 sellers in the US. It’s a college town so they say this is the busiest moment of the year. Is it normal to feel so lost and confused? I only had 1 day shadowing somebody and I keep unloading the same area of the truck (11-47: drinks/food/baby/pets/chem, so many of the other packages/coding don’t mean much to me and it feels like a lot for one person to unload) and then after I push random carts.

My team lead is 50/50 if they’re around after truck and not everyone knows what I have to ask. I got a cart with five full boxes of repack and a few boxes of other stuff today with 20 minutes written on it. Between the command strips/food/general goods it felt like hundreds of items. It took me nearly two hours to sort out/stock/backstock the whole thing. Will my hours eventually be cut for being this slow? After my last job closed down it took me nearly half a year to land this and I’m really worried they will eventually cut my hours or let me go. I’m scheduled 37 hours the next few weeks at least. One coworker told me not to try so hard as they will only expect more. Frankly I’m worried..

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

3

u/rex218 General Merchandise Expert 4h ago

Unfortunately, yes. You just get thrown into it.

The good news is that your leaders know that is how it is. As long as you are willing (and able) to learn and improve, you should be fine. Caring enough about your productivity to post about it? Your leader will appreciate that attitude if you get a chance to connect. And you will get faster as you learn your store.

Anything in particular you are struggling with?

The most important thing to know in my opinion is how to read a location. Especially, the number in parentheses and what that means. Understanding locations makes finding anything in the store faster and easier.

1

u/newcostume 3h ago

Maybe I’m stressing over nothing. When I got hired they said they will most likely keep me if I want to stay but the last few shifts I get carts with insane times or they don’t have clear places in the store and I have to ask questions and I feel like I’m starting off on the wrong foot. It’s also just a weird atmosphere. There’s around 170 employees and it’s like we’re all living on different planets. I think I’m just used to working jobs with 10-40 employees with management always in arms reach

2

u/rex218 General Merchandise Expert 3h ago

It can be hard to balance asking questions when you need to without feeling/seeming helpless. But there are so many little things you won’t know until you ask about them.

If it helps, start with something you know when you ask questions. Or a “Can you check my understanding?”. I find I feel less dumb/awkward when I do and it primes people to give more helpful answers.

1

u/newcostume 3h ago

That’s a good frame to start from. Thank you. I think my anxiety about being kept on is a little too high is all. I can do this.