INTERVIEW

The Receiving Department does just that—receive, be it everything from merchandise for instore display to supplies for Home Office. Our work begins with inspection of the items brought to us by freight forwarders. Then we get out our forklifts and hand pallet jacks to take these items where they are supposed to go, to a sales floor or to a specific department in-charge. There is plenty of inventory data that must be entered into our system, and that is part of our job too. Also, the Receiving Department, as we stand at the front line of our merchandise handling system, is required to maintain a high level of merchandise control. And finally, because we handle so many items, speediness is important as well.

I consider myself a playing manager. I work on the floor and I also get involved in employee development. Some of my staff has little experience; and some have more experience. My job as manager is to think about what is necessary to make a better team, and what we need to do to perform work more smoothly?. Receiving does not have numerical target that we should strive to attain, so I feel it is my mission as a manager to support staff so that they can share the same goal and a sense of achievement. Communication is of course vital for fostering a sense of teamwork. So, no matter how busy I might be, I always try to closely listen to what staff is trying to tell me.

My ambition is to become a Warehouse Manager. In my mind, I see a clear path for attaining that goal. By advancing through positions within various departments under our internal posting system, I am steadily building up the experience and knowledge that will help me get closer to the goal. Thanks to some strong backup support from those above me, I was able to get where I am now. They supported me by giving advice in a friendly and supportive manner to questions like, “What experience do I need to become a Warehouse Manager?” “What would be a good career plan for me?” or “What can I do now to prepare for the next step?” Since I can see a clear path and a long-term vision to my goal, I find it very easy to set short-term goals as well.

A fair and objective evaluation system also contributes to enhance my motivation. I was particularly happy to be promoted to Administration Manager. It made me feel that my activities and accomplishments were recognized, and I was also proud to be entrusted with the responsibilities as a manager.

Costco has an “open door” policy. Regardless of departments, positions, or the length of employment, employees have options of contacting anyone in an open and friendly manner. And, while I found that to be true, I also learned that this was literal. At Costco, doors are open. Real doors— open. Costco is an open and clear company where you are free from the stress, such as not knowing what others are doing or hard to talk to others.
I also like the way that self-initiative is respected. Instead of just getting instructions like “Do this”, I can decide my own schedule or work style. For example, we can decide how we are to approach our goals, to decide how far we should go today and what we should leave for tomorrow. I find this to be very satisfying.

I have more free time here than I did at my previous employer. At Costco, even managers take almost all of their paid vacation days. I have a lot of time with my family, and I’m certainly happy that I came to this company. I have a career and a clear vision of my future. I can easily imagine myself staying here for a long, long time.