I just submitted my application at my local TRU, and I'm looking for tips from those who might've worked (or still work) there. Thanks in advance!
Work in R-Zone if you can (or whatever they're calling their video game section nowadays). You don't have to be at the regular registers, you can keep busy with game counts during the day, and when you're bored you're close enough to peruse the boys toys without straying too far from your section.
Yes, I did in 2001. Good memory, I don't remember even mentioning it lol. Register is the worst, but you don't really get to decide where you go. Honestly the best place I ever worked. What kind of tips do you want? For the interview? I was 16 at the time, but I just mentioned how excited I was to have the opportunity for my first job. I explained how I was a regular costumer and was an avid toy collector and had knowledge in both boy and girl toys. I also said how I enjoyed the outdoors and sports, I also mentioned I played video games all night and knew a lot about the different systems. My mom sat in the interview with me since I was so nervous and she drove me (again 16 years old lol). It was a really easy interview, they just wanted someone who would have fun working in the store I think.
Think you just described my question to me in full. Thanks. As for me, yes, i am excited (and a bit nervous too), but i do know a lot of the people there, as well as knowledge about the products there. As far as the job I applied for, i applied for the store/ area supervisor position. Technically speaking, this is my first job, but i have worked with my dad on his job site before.
Don't be surprised when they have no interest in hiring you. Supervisor position when you have not had a job before (off-books jobs with your dad don't count) might give them a good laugh at most. You work your way up to supervisor or have had past (documented) experience in supervisor positions. Should have just tried for a general employee position. Might have had luck with that. I would have gone for broke and applied to be CEO.
Well, first, you don't have a job yet, you've applied for one. Call back in two weeks to check in on your application if you don't hear back for an interview by then. If you get an interview, be professional, calm, on time, and focus on how good you'll be at dealing with people, not how much you know about toys. In the grand scheme of things, the former is a lot more valuable to them than the latter. Try to tie back answers to their questions about your strengths to examples of you using those strengths in the past. Call back in two weeks if you don't hear from them after the interview. If you get the job, people are going to come in, they're gonna be tired, frustrated, panicked, and its going to be your job to take at least considerable levels of bullshit without losing your cool. In the vast majority of cases, they arent going to care about how much you know about toys, they want to get in, get what they came for, and leave. If they ask you a question, tell them what they need to know, and give more info only if asked. Give people their space and let them come to you, but make sure you're available, accessible, and visibly open to helping them.
You know, when I was on the register I always would comment on the product people were buying (I love to talk). 99% of the women I talked to had NO idea about the figure/toy they were buying they just thought it was cute/cool/fun looking. :| I remember being so disappointed lol, like "you mean your child doesn't watch digimon?" "You don't know who Cheetor is?"
Just curious for those who worked there(I've thought about applying there before). What are the BAD things to look out for? Bad work experiences, stuff to be aware of and try to avoid(for a potential new worker at tru)?
The bad news first: At this time a year TRU doesn't do a lot of hiring. The mini busy time of summer (bikes/pools/swingsets) is over, and seasonal hiring is a few months away. Also they put department supervisor positions online frequently when they aren't actually filling the position to build up a 'talent pool'. That doesn't mean that they aren't hiring. For a first time job getting a DS position is going to be really hard. The main thing about working at Toys R Us is that (barring an overnight stocking position) it is a SALES position. You want to be kept on? Learn to "sell" the rewards card, the squaretrade (extended warranty) and (and most importantly) the credit card. I can give you some better insight on the position you applied for if you let me know what it was...
The bad things at TRU are pretty common with other bad things at retail. Rude customers (including VERY frequently Transformer collectors), massive shoplifting/fraud. It doesn't pay all that well (even as a supervisor).....
That kinda thing drives me nuts sometimes. It takes like 5 minutes of the day to talk to your kids about the stuff they're into. Some of the stuff my son likes I think is stupid as hell. Minecraft (no offense to anyone) drives me nuts, BUT my kid loves it. So if he asks for an Enderman toy or a Diamond pickaxe, I know what he's talking about instead of many of the parents who are like "I think Mario is in Mindcramp right?!?!"
i worked at toys r us for a christmas season. do not expect to remain hired on beyond the christmas season. they tend to lay off in february. the manager who hired me, said that he got laid off 3 times before they hired him on permanently. He said that was the norm. i have no idea how other TRU's run things. but that is how they did it. also for some reason TRU has a few million dollars worth of stuff in the back, that they never put on the shelves. they basically restock the shelves with everything that comes off the trucks. that day, and anything that does not fit, goes back into the back. and just stays there. pretty much forever. there were things from the 70's back there. it just makes me wonder, are the toys so cheap, that it doesn't matter if they sell them all? are they stockpiling toys for the end of the world? just lots and lots of unopen cases back there. probably more toys in the back, then in the front. because unless they were buying them for so cheap, that it doesn't matter if they sell most of them for not, i do not see how toys r us is still staying in business. i started out at 9 dollars an hour. at the time minimum wage was 7 dollars here in oregon. but since i worked the night shift, overnight stocker, i got paid about 11 dollars an hour. and overtime was double time. it's actually pretty good wages. if anybody wants to work at toys r us, the best time to get hired is november. they'll basically hire anybody who doesn't have a record at that time. they'll just hire people in groups. that's what they did when they hired me. but again, do not expect to get hired on permanently the first time. expect to get laid off in feb. and try again next year. make yourself useful, and well known to the supervisors. be an asset, not a burden. make them like you.
