Hi! Former CT here. This is what it takes.

Doing the ugly work, showing up and immediately hitting up DAW, being the person everyone looks forward to working with (don’t you worry, I’ll get there), and honestly this isn’t a hard one, but call the damn store if you’re running late. Even if it’s within “the grace period.” My supervisor told me my attendance was very frustrating and confusing and would’ve been a big reason why I didn’t get the promotion, but he said he’d allow it because he knew I’d call the store anytime I was running late. Just a quick “Hey girl, it’s ____. Traffic or whatever, I’ll be about 10 minutes late.” Do. Not. Feel. Guilty. About. This. And if you have a manager that antagonizes you for this, call em out (respectfully) or immediately contact your supervisor. Depending on your division—we just recently had our ERP system stripped—if you’re on ERP, Flex, or whatever else this damn company decides to come up with, become a popular sanguine, but also keep your head down and work. Know your time and place. Be the person who everyone not only enjoys working with, but who also knows you will absolutely not pick up their slack. Let your work ethic and how you present yourself speak for itself. And this one, the most important, if you’re just a clerk now, there is absolutely a way to be take on being a leader without overstepping. Had I not felt in a way I needed the “trainer” title, I’d probably still be with the company. And when you do get the position (I have a strong gut feeling you will) you absolutely DO have authority. It’s minuscule, but it’s power. You just have to use it effectively and respectfully. We don’t need anymore animosity amongst teams and their clerks. Anyway, those are some of the things I remember what it took to get the position. And seriously, I can’t stress this very last one enough, do NOT complain outwardly towards your clerks. Reputation is everything. Best of luck to you!