This Major Retailer Doesn’t Want You to Spend all Your Time Working

True or false? Putting in a ton of overtime is the only way to prove yourself and have a successful career.

When you’re just starting out, it might feel like you need to work nights and weekends to prove yourself, but one major retailer says that isn’t true. In fact, it’s one of many ways TJX Companies goes against the status quo, whether you join the company in merchandising, IT, finance, or any other department. Since TJX is focused on having associates grow their career there, they put a strong emphasis on building relationships and asking questions—not working around the clock.

Here are a few other ways this Fortune 100 company isn’t your average place to build a career:

Reason 1: The Chance to Reach Millions of People
Talk about a job that has a major impact: TJX is the company behind brands like T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, HomeSense, and Sierra Trading Post, and they have a worldwide presence with 3,800 stores across nine countries. No matter what department you join, you’ll have a hand in shaping the shopping experience for customers across the world.

Reason 2: Impressive Career Mobility
Let’s say you start out in merchandising. After a year, you realize that a role on the recruiting team is a better fit. A year after that, a new role opens up on the merchandising side that catches your eye and you make the switch back. At TJX, there are countless stories of associates who’ve explored different career paths at the company. You really are encouraged to explore which path (or paths) make the most sense for your career ambitions. It’s one of the reasons associates who join TJX stay there for a long time.

Reason 3: Opportunities for Career Advancement
You don’t have to move around at the company to stay challenged and get exposure to new opportunities. TJX prioritizes hiring stand-out interns to work for the company full-time after graduation, and looks promote internal associates whenever possible, instead of externally hiring for open roles. Want proof? 35 percent of the company’s global managerial team worked their way up to leadership roles after more than a decade with the company.

Reason 4: A Fast-Paced Environment
If you join the Merchandising Development Program, you could be shipping up to $1 million worth of products within your first two weeks on the job (after completing a six-week training session). That’s because TJX encourages each merchandising associate to approach their work like they’re running their own business—a business that turns its inventory 12 to 16 times a year, which is way more than you’ll find at the average retailer. And since everyone at the company contributes to building a great customer experience, you’ll feel that speed even if you work in departments like IT and finance.

Reason 5: Genuine Connections With Your Coworkers
These days, there are a million ways to communicate with our coworkers, but nothing quite beats face-to-face meetings. We’re not sure how TJX accomplished it, but they’ve created a culture where in-person conversations are much more common than online ones. During those meetings, associates are encouraged to take risks and test out new ideas. Maybe that’s why TJX has such a bright future within the retail space.

Ready to start your career at TJX Companies? They’re hiring now! Head over to WayUp and apply.