Operations manager intern @ target
What did you do on a day-to-day basis?
Some of my daily responsibilities included planning for the amount of volume to be received for the day according to our staffing, leading start of shift announcements, reporting at check and adjust meetings throughout the day, ensuring that team members are following Target’s safety, quality, reliability, and productivity expectations, and utilizing quick problem solving skills to continue the flow of cartons through the inbound department.
How did you get your internship?
I saw a link for the job listing on the TOM department’s website and I cold applied for the position on Target’s website.
How has your Alpha Kappa Psi experience helped you in your internship?
AKPsi gave me the leadership experience I used to connect with Target’s specialists through two rounds of interviews. It also helped me build confidence in my public speaking skills so that I could communicate effectively with my partners and the team members that I manage.
Favorite thing about your internship?
I loved that everyday in a warehouse is different. There are so many variables that we have to deal with on a daily basis, including our staffing, the supply of freight, or even the weather, and everyday is a new opportunity to improve from the last. I also had fun getting to know all of the different people I was fortunate enough to work with, including operations managers from other departments, production controllers, continuous improvement managers, quality managers, and senior managers, because they made coming in to work everyday enjoyable!
What are your takeaways from your internship? What has it taught you?
This internship taught me a lot about the field of supply chain and operations in general, as well as shed light on the challenges of being a manager of a 100-plus person team. I learned a lot about managing my time, prioritizing tasks, communicating vertically and horizontal with different teams, and finding a balance between all of the expectations that Target Operations Managers are held to.
