The Container Store Tries to Make Employees Want to Come to Work in the Morning

Founded in 1978, The Container Store created a new category of retail chains – storage and organization – as its founders Kip Tindell and Garrett Boone found unexpected domestic application for the products of industrial and commercial manufacturers to help people keep in order their household things, save their space and time and finally simplify their lives. Mason’s tool bags as overnight bags, egg baskets as carryalls and wire leaf burners as toy barrels were just a few of the original products that debuted in the 1,600 square foot store. Today 38 company’s stores showcase more than 10 000 innovative products for helping people save their space and time. Being private, the company doesn’t disclose its results, but since its inception, it has grown at an average rate of 20 to 25% a year.

The Container Store was one of the first chains to realize the value of hiring some of its best customers. It has a special program for turning customers into employees. The company’s salespeople do not work on commission; instead, they are either salaried or paid by the hour with wages far above the retail industry norm. It allows them to spend as much time as necessary to help customers find what they need and they often join in teams to find an original solution for the customer.

The Container Store has been honored at the top-10 of Fortune magazine’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For eight years one after another. The company was selected #1 on the 2000 and 2001 lists, #2 on the 2002 and 2003 lists, and in 2007 Fortune named it the 4^th best place to work.

Culture

Since the very beginning management has been operating under the belief that a happy workforce will translate into happy customers. Perks for employees include free yoga classes three times a week, on-site dry cleaning and car washes and the full use of the postal and packaging center. The work environment includes a subsidized cafeteria and chair massages once a week. 10 per cent of all employees work from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. for domestic reasons. The Container Store implemented workforce portal with web-based employee self-service to improve employee communications. Now they have immediate, secure access to view and update personal information, benefit information, direct deposit preferences etc.

The Container Store is known for its unique culture and fun, high-energy work environment. “We’re a company that insists on having fun”, – they say about themselves. At The Container Store’s headquarters a special Fun Committee builds intimacy among employees through lunchtime activities like silent auctions and an annual Halloween Chili Cook-Off. Retail stores welcome new employees with Foundation Week, a week-long adaptation to company’s products and philosophy, and a welcome box with more than $150 worth of product. At birthday celebrations, people gather for lunch and cake. The most recent birthday honoree is responsible for bringing in a cake for the next birthday person. Stores build community through Private Preview Parties that take place the evening before a new store open. Employees who helped launch the store are the VPs in the community and members of nonprofits organization. On a new store’s Grand Opening day, the Chairman of the Container Store pushes the new store manager around on a “Victory Lap” with employees running behind the cart and cheering.

Leadership

One of The Container Store’s core business philosophies is that three good people equal one great person. So, why not hire only great people? The company matches employees’ strengths with the needs of the company, focusing on talent rather than titles. CEO Kip Tindell says that the company’s greatest challenge is not capital expenditure or finding sites, but attracting and keeping great people who can make the operational model work effectively. He also asserts that recruitment is a part of everyone’s job, including all executives and himself: “A soccer game is as good a place to discuss a job at The Container Store as the Dallas headquarters offices”.

It is a proved fact that The Container Store pays 50% to 100% more than most mass-market retailers. Surely, money is important, but The Container Store tends to create a workplace that gives people something else – a sense of purpose. “We think the employer has a huge moral obligation to make employees want to get out of bed and come to work in the morning,” said Kip Tindell. “That’s a never-ending job.” Thus, Kip Tindell has nurtured a fierce loyalty to the company, which has an incredible number of career employees – who might never have dreamed of a career in retail. “A funny thing happens when you take the time to educate your employees, pay them well and treat them as equals,” he declares.

source: good2work

click here for more salary information

How to Help a Friend Find a Job

source: eHow.com

click here for more salary information

Win Your Next Job With Three Essential Interview Skills

With competition for good jobs at an all-time high, candidates who conduct their job search as a sales campaign consistently win out over those who don’t. When job seekers practice the skills of sales experts they learn to apply the strategies of a sales presentation to their job interviews.

To get to the top of the candidate list, you’ll need these three essential sales skills:

1. Pre-interview preparation
2. Finding and using the interviewer’s “Hot Buttons”
3. Closing on the next step of the interview process

1. Pre-interview preparation Every great sales presentation starts with pre-sales preparation, which includes client research, and product analysis. Job seekers prepare for interviews similarly: research on the prospective employer and a thorough catalog of their own accomplishments to illustrate their potential contribution and worth to the employer.

Thanks to the Internet, company research is relatively easy, especially on publicly held firms. A few good sources are Yahoo, Hoovers, and the Wall Street Journal archives as well as company web sites. Information on privately held companies is often readily available as well. One of the easiest ways to get such information is simply to enter the company name in your favorite search engine and see what pops up.

Minimally, you’ll want to find out company size, products or services, major competitors, branch or headquarters and any recent news items. Time allowing, it’s also very helpful to know some of the major players in their organization, a little history on them and future products, markets or growth objectives.

Once you’ve done the research, prepare to communicate your value through your accomplishments. Examine your career for examples of how you have solved problems, saved money, increased revenue, or created revenue opportunities for your former employers. As much as possible, dollarize or quantify your contributions. Do not depend on your ability to “wing it” through your interviews. Ask any high-producing sales professional; they will tell you that it is impossible to wing your way to success. It takes preparation and practice.

Once you’ve prepared for the interview, don’t forget the next essential sales skill:

2. Finding and using the interview “Hot Buttons” An interviewer’s hot button is his/her unspoken concerns or wishes . It’s your job as the interviewee to uncover the interviewer’s hot button. If you don’t ask, he/she probably won’t tell you. There are two magic questions that will reveal the interviewer’s hot buttons.

“What do you see as the greatest challenge for this position?”

“What qualities do you see as most important for this position?”Once you’ve asked the all important questions— shut up and listen!After the interviewer has revealed his/her hot buttons, use the information to frame your answers to his/her questions. You’ll connect with the interviewer much faster once you sell yourself based on his/her motivations.Now that you have their attention, don’t forget the most important skill3. Closing on the next step of the interview processThe term “closing” is a sales term that means influencing one to agree to take certain action (as in signing a contract or writing a check.) A complex sale involves a number of small closes before the ultimate closing purchase. The interview process is a series of closes leading up to the final job offer.If you’ve purchased a car lately you know that the sale starts with the test drive and moves forward through a series of carefully crafted questions such as “Do you prefer silver or black?” “Which of you will be the primary driver?” “Shall we park this in the sale-pending area?” “Do you wish to trade in your car, or shall we finance this 100%?” The effective salesperson knows what closing steps must take place—attempt to skip the steps and he may lose the sale altogether.As a clever sales person identifies the small closing steps needed to move the sale forward, so must the job seeker understand the closes necessary to keep the interview process moving forward toward a job offer. Those steps look something like this:

The cover letter must entice the reader to read your resume.

The resume must motivate the reader to call you in for an interview.

In the first interview ask for a second interview.- “When would you like to schedule our next meeting?”
– “Is there any reason you wouldn’t consider inviting me back for second interview?”
– “Who will I meet in the second interview?”

4. In the second interview ask to speak with the decision maker.

“Who, besides yourself, will make the final hiring decision?”

“When is convenient for Mr. /Ms. Decision Maker to meet with me?”

“Are there any other presentation materials I should bring when I visit with Mr./Ms. Decision Maker?”5. When speaking with the decision maker ask for the job offer:

“Are there any objections that prevent you from extending an offer? “

“When would you like me to start?”

“What challenges would you have me tackle first?”Asking for the next interview or the job offer may seem bold, but try it. You’ll find yourself invited back more often and feel much more in control of the interview process. Once you’ve mastered and applied the three essential sales skills for effective interviews you’ll see your job-search efforts accelerate and your confidence soar.

source: enewsletters.biospace

click here for more salary information

• Categories

  Categories Select Category Business Stories Careers Cartoon Of The Day Job Search Advice On The Job Advice Uncategorized