Monday, July 16, 2007

A Job Offer!

Well, this afternoon (at noon, not 1pm as Amy had posted on her blog) I had an interview with Walgreen's Pharmacy. It was a good 30 to 40 minutes long and we covered a lot of Walgreen's information and tied it to my experience and career desires.

I had applied online and had tagged pharmacy tech, photo lab, and customer service, so the manager asked about my background and future desires. Essentially, Walgreen's is poised to make a huge expansion here in the Atlanta market, nearly tripling their number of units in and around Atlanta. This means they need more MGT's (managers-in-training/assistant managers), more SE's (store executive managers, Head assistant) and more Store Managers.

To get me working (income), and fast-tracked to MGT training, she is offering me a position as the Head Photo Technician (running that department) for a new store opeing in August about six miles from home.

I will start next week (after accepting officially tomorrow, and passing a drug and criminal background check), in my local store (about a mile and a half from the house) to learn register, customer service and basics. She will then get me to a store with the newest photo equipment in order to train on the new machine. By this time, they should be ready to set up the new store and I will spend about two weeks there helping with the set up, and then running my department.

They offer a fantastic retirement benefit package currently matching 3.2/1, a stock purchase option, full medical and as she said a "great" drug program. and vacation accrual at 2 weeks per year.

Walgreen's is open all major holidays, so a sacrifice to the retail God's will be made there, but the potential for earning is great and the job stability is even greater. To start, I would see a cut of about 25% from my hourly rate at Chick-fil-a, but when I get to be a MGT I will be making about 30% MORE than I was at Chick-fil-a.

I plan to accept the offer and try to get working by next week, and in the meantime I have an interview tomorrow for an assistant manager at a store in the mall called Lids (it's about 700 sqft and sells primarily baseball caps). I figure that wold be an easy job, but I can't imagine it pays too well.

I will skip the physical test for the police in Kennesaw tomorrow, and concentrate on being prepared for the next test they offer in September. In the meantime, with a positive attitude and motivated and employed spirit, I will look to getting back on my meds and getting my sugar back under control.

15 comments:

Karen said...

Congratulations! I have a friend that used to work at a Walgreens in OK, and she made tons of extra $$ on upsells, add-ons, and other photo related things. Hope this works out for you!!!

Unknown said...

I loved working at Walgreens!!! I am so happy to wake up from my nap to read this!! Yahoo!!!

Cyndi said...

congrats!

Unknown said...

Way to Go Michael... Congrats. I enjoyed working for Walgreens for 2 years in High School, it was a great company as I recall. Even PT employees, while I was there, were eligible for their profit sharing program. When I worked for Whaler I had to go to the suburbs of Chicago twice for training and stayed in Deerfield, right next to their Corporate headquarters, and it was HUGE.. I am excited for both you...
~~kelly

jeanie said...

Congratulations - that will make a lot of things be in balance for you.

Melody said...

I knew of your job offer through Amy's blog, and I just want to say "Congrats!" :)

Special K said...

Hip, hip, hooray! Congrats on the job offer! Bruce just said "God always provides a way." Hope all is smooth sailing for you.

Mandy said...

Waaaahhhhoooooo!!!!! Tis a fabulous opportunity, my friend! :) I'm very excited for you and I have tons of photos on disk that I need to get prints of and you can practice with - as long as you give me the practice prints for free when you get it right! Heehee!!!

Jenny McB said...

congratulations!! The health coverage is huge, did you consider that in the pay difference? Good luck.

Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis) said...

Congratulations! God is good.

Unknown said...

Congrats! Can't wait to hear more about your new job! I think working in the photo department would be a lot of fun ~ and have some perks, too. I always wanted to learn more about photography.

I'm so happy for you!

Sparky Duck said...

well that is great great news, congrats. Now, is it a 24 hour Walgreens?

Jeff said...

Many congrats, Mr. Michael. I'm glad that search is finally over. Did you say that Walgreens is EXPANDING in Atlanta? How can it do so any more?!

But that would be a good sign that you could find the right opportunity to stay close to home, transfer if y'all move (like, to Tennessee?) or a chance to find a way to avoid working holidays.

But that doesn't matter right now. I'm just glad that the weight has been lifted and you're back in the force!

ann said...

Congratulations! A job close to home and at a big company like Walgreen's - sounds like good times ahead!

Anonymous said...

CONGRATS!! That is my favorite store, especially on Holiday. Got to walk off the food some how.