Skillz and abilities. Seniority no longer plays a role in our contract.
Know how to do everything in your department better than the current department head. Don't make excuses. Get the work done. Avoid drama. Communicate clearly.
Alot of luck..i would easily be a head in any other store but we have a 30-40 year vet that will die before he retires. Makes my job and his job easy so I ain't moving anywhere to get my ass kicked daily for a bit more cash. Some stores around me are begging for them.
Get along with everybody in your department, especially the manager and assistant (backup) manager. Work very hard, don't play around. Show store management and department heads that you are very serious and eager to learn everything you can. Discipline helps a lot. If people see that you are a hard worker and you are progressing rapidly, management will look into training you. Because they fear you will leave Kroger for its competitors.
seniority can be a barrier. I've had great interviews but gone in knowing there was someone with more seniority and they ended up getting the job even if I was preferred as a candidate because of my skills. I get it, I've seen dept head positions grieved and those chosen suddenly needing to find new stores. It's kind of silly because if they didn't want you why grieve it? They won't want you MORE because you blocked them from their choice of candidate. SMH.
