10 Steps to Be a Star Employee at Dick's Sporting Goods

So, do you want to work for Dick's Sporting Goods in Canton? It sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it? Well, I worked there for almost 2 years, and I have all the inside tips and knowledge you need to become a star employee at Dick's, whether you're a prospective employee or you already work there. All you need to do is follow these 10 steps:

1. F.A.C.E. This is the most important concept when working at Dick's. They tell you it stands for Friendly, Available, Customer-Focused, and Excited. Our game F.A.C.E. is a smile. It's about approaching and greeting every customer within 10 feet of you. It's about listening to the customer's needs and finding the best option for him. At least, this is what you're told. F.A.C.E. really stands for F All Customers Equally. (Must give credit to a co-worker for making this one up; won't name you, but you know who you are.) 90% of all employees, and 100% of all managers believe in the real meaning of F.A.C.E. It means going out of your way to avoid eye contact, and rolling your eyes when you do. It means putting on a fake smile and then making fun of the customer when he leaves. It means lying about checking other stores for items, and lying about having the right size shoe in the stockroom. Practice F.A.C.E. daily and you're on your way to becoming a star.

2. PLCC. This is another concept of importance at Dick's. A PLCC is credit for the customer. They tell you to ask each and every customer if they'd like to save some money today by applying for credit with Dick's. They tell you to explain all benefits and to find ways around the customer declining the offer. What they really mean is to push the customer into the offer head first. Don't give him a chance to say no. Who cares if he has bad credit, and the decline will show up on his credit report, as long as he is saving $10, right? Who cares if he just lost his job and doesn't want another credit card? You better push it because they'll let every employee in the store know that you aren't doing your job if you aren't getting PLCC's.

3. SWEET. Socks With Each and Every Transaction. Need I say more? You better be selling socks even if all the customer wants is a baseball bat. Because let's face it, a package of socks is way more important to sell than the baseball bat. Who cares if you angered the customer and now he's only buying socks...at least the SWEET percentage will be up, right?

4. Attendance. Showing up for work is a plus, but even if you don't, who cares? Nobody in management will, unless he/she has to help customers in your department...so be sure there is someone else working before you decide to be an hour late. And don't worry about taking a 90 minute lunch, even though it is technically supposed to only be 30 minutes. The most important tip to remember about attendance: as long as management likes you, you'll never be reprimanded; but the minute they start to show favoritism toward someone else, expect to be written up for every time you were late and/or called off...even if it was a few months ago.

5. F.A.C.E. Cards. When you go out of your way for a customer or do something extraordinary at Dick's, you'll recieve a F.A.C.E. Card. This lets everyone know what a great employee you are. It's like a badge of honor. At least, this is what they want you to think. We've already gone over the real meaning of F.A.C.E. So what is the real meaning of a F.A.C.E. card? Well, there is a wall of fame in the break room with every employee's picture. Forget not wanting your picture to be taken and placed on the wall because they will sneak up on you and take your picture anyway. Every time you get a F.A.C.E. card, it will be posted underneath your picture. This is so every time a hot shot (i.e. the district manager, the hr manager, etc.) walks through there, he/she will see all of the cards and think the employees of Dick's in Canton are doing a great job. What they don't do is read them. Forget about performing extraordinarily...you don't have to. All you have to do to get a F.A.C.E. card is show up for work and breathe.

6. Departments. Dick's is split up into different departments: apparel, footwear, team sports, exercise, lodge, pro shop, and the front end. When you're hired into Dick's, you'll most likely work in the department that you feel you have the most skill in or knowledge about. Do not ever offer to switch departments or to work in another department. You will never escape from that moment on. They will ask you to help out innocently at first, but asking will turn into telling. Not only will you be trying to keep your head above water in your own department, but then you will be expected to cover 2 departments. And where are the managers? They are busy calling you to your department, wanting to know where you've been. The key to working in a department: don't ever expect a manager to help.

7. Freight. No, there aren't a group of people in receiving...that would be crazy! If there were a group of people just hired for receiving, things would actually get done, and that is not what Dick's in Canton is all about. So just face it, you're it. You are responsible for getting all of the new freight out of the stockroom as well as helping the customers, answering the phone, and cleaning up your department. Just keep in mind, nothing is ever good enough. If you stop processing freight to help a customer, then you'll be under fire for not getting anything done. If you ignore the customer so you can get your freight done, then you're not a team player. I think Dick's is working on a permit for cloning so there will be two of you but you'll still be paid one sad hourly rate.

8. Checking another store for an item. This one is easy. Just get a PDT scanner, enter the UPC, sigh a little, then tell the customer nobody in your district has it...even if there are 20 stores listed that do.

9. Answering the phone. See number 8, except you don't actually have to get a scanner because the customer can't see you.

10. Cleaning your department. This is important to remember. As you navigate your way through the store, you'll realize you can never find your co-workers. This is not because they are busy working hard. This is because they are hiding from you. And this goes for managers, too. So if you want to be a star employee, do what everyone else does...find your own hiding spot. When it is time to go home and you can't leave until your department is spotless, hide. They can't keep you there forever...unless you hide too long and get locked inside. Yes, it has happened, they know who they are.

That's all 10! I know you feel confident in your new ability to be a star employee at Dick's Sporting Goods in Canton. If you already work there, leave a comment about your success. If you don't, good for you!