Does anyone know if they still have a Store Coaches School at Hoffman were they teach 20 something year olds to become Store Managers? I work at a Kmart and we have been without a store manager for a few months and continue to be told that one is come from Store Coaches School and I'm beginning to wonder if that's really true.
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So, the store manager training program was managed by a team of 5 or 6 (I'm pretty sure it was 6) people, but after this week that team has been cut down to only 2 people. Really shows that there's not much desire to put an emphasis on training store managers anymore.
They go through training for a week to two weeks at Hoffman after going through a training program in their local store. Ultimately they pass their certification as store manager then go on to a permanent store or an interim store manager post. With retirements, promotions and those leaving for other companies, there is always a need for competent, corporate trained store managers. The bar is high on the certification part. These new store managers know their stuff.
We havent had a manager in our store for over three years. I heard there is one in training and he/she will be managing four stores. Can't wait to see how that works out.
Someone said in another thread that they're looking to have one store manager be responsible for multiple stores, so they can cut more managers. I think your store getting assigned to a multi-store manager is more likely than getting a dedicated manager at this point.
My old store went without a manager for several months. Multiple times. It doesn't necessarily mean the store is closing in the immediate future.
GEM- a way to get people to do managerial work at cashier pay.
I don't know if Kmart is different but at my Sears stores, the individual is hired through a local ad & then sent for training. You know who they are and then they go for training. Agree that the GEM program is a joke. I see it giving people false hopes with no real positives for the people enrolled.
@1cnw Exactly cheap labor to do manager task for no benefits in the long run. I remember when the GEM program came into play I was just laughing at it. It was all, but a joke giving false hopes to very weak minded individuals. My lead applied she came all proud and even gave a c---y attitude. Time passed by nothing came from the GEM program no benefits other than be running around like a headless chicken.
Funny thing is they brought the whole GEMS programs into play long ago, but it didn't seem to work some applied, but I havent seen them doing all the manager work.
To be honest I don't think your ever getting a store manager most likely your store will close than ever seeing a store manager ever come.
Just for a kicker my lead that applied for the GEM program did the whole program and was a tool for the managers for years just got laid off. So sad how you do so much for a crappy company to just get the boot in the end of the day....
It's a shame they didn't actually take advantage of the GEM program in a way that would allow people to actually move up. From what I've seen people do it multiple times and get nothing in return. Just free management labor for non management salary.
Store manager academy was running as recently as last week. At least 30 people were in the conference room when I walked by. No idea if they were Kmart or sears or when they will complete training
My store (Sears) just got a new store manager after she was at Hoffman for Store Manager Academy. Not sure about Kmart though.