I have an interview this Sunday for Produce Assistant Manager, and I wanted to see what that entails before I walk in the interview blind. I have worked in Grocery at my store for almost 3 years, as a daytime stocker. The manager at the other store is very interested because of what people in my store have told him about me. If anyone could share some insight, what does a typical day look like for a Produce Asst Manager? Thanks to all in advance
Stressful and I'd say that if you are maxed out at full time clerk rate ($15.50/hr), the stress and responsibilities aren't worth the $1 increase in pay.
If the store is interested in taking somebody with no produce experience that is a red flag. It means no other produce clerks/backups wanted it. The biggest problem you will have starting out is ordering and keeping inventory levels stable, shrink % low, and maintaining 5S in prep room and cooler along with a 1 day supply of fresh product and 1.5 days supply of packaged. It is actually a pretty difficult job if you don't know what you are doing. On a typical day you'd come in in the morning and work the fresh kitchen. Then scan out all out of dates you find as you walk along the salad wall to get them out of the way before markdowns. After that, if you have two other guys with you, one for truck and other to work tables/green rack, that one would start going through the tables and replenishing and checking quality on ALL items.
What kind of sales does the store's produce department do? You should drive over there one night and see what the department looks like at night. If a produce department routinely gets bad closes, that is another huge red flag. Walk the green rack and check if the product looks fresh and crisp and if the butts are trimmed. Go feel through the tomatoes and avocados. If the department is not fresh, I would probably not even take the position because you'd be way over your head.
Im only at $8.50/hr right now, so I really need the money increase because loan repayment is coming. I feel like I'm a hard worker and would be willing to put in the effort in order to succeed.
The former Produce Asst Manager just got promoted to the Grocery Assistant Manager (which is what I wanted but they decided to promote in house), so I'm not sure if she was just tired of Produce or just wanted the extra money (if any)
Im only at $8.50/hr right now, so I really need the money increase because loan repayment is coming. I feel like I'm a hard worker and would be willing to put in the effort in order to succeed.
The former Produce Asst Manager just got promoted to the Grocery Assistant Manager (which is what I wanted but they decided to promote in house), so I'm not sure if she was just tired of Produce or just wanted the extra money (if any)
You won't start making the contract rate, around $17/hr, until you complete all of the qualifications which can take up to a year max. I finished mine in 5 months. But it was a long and frustrating 5 months of doing DH work for almost half the pay. But if that is all you make, I think you should do it. It's the fastest way to start earning more than full time clerks who have been with the company for 20 years. But it won't be an easy job.
Produce is a lot more heavy lifting, with the addition of Food Safety. If you need the $$ ok, but expect it to be a lot more "fun".
Food safety concerns Deli, Bakery, and Meat more than Produce. As long as the backroom is 5S, Produce can pass food safety audits pretty easy. Also a lot of heavy lifting but very physical too. Sometimes you will have to stack the truck yourself, load 20 items on carts, be moving and pacing all day on your feet, etc. Main things to worry about in Produce are freshness and shrink. If you do those well, all is okay.
Get ready for your hours to cut in half during the holidays and still pull off all sorts of gourmey cut fruit bs and do wet rack, tables and order. Good luck.
