| Business Leadership Associate |
"Bleeding Orange" was a motto and slogan at Home Depot that once
instilled fierce loyalty amongst Home Depot associates. Now it's an
empty battle cry used by senior management everytime the street
downgrades HD's stock.
The Business Leadership Program is a 2 year, 4 part rotational program
designed to develop leadership and business acumen in its participants.
Unfortunately, it does neither. The Quality of rotational assignments
depend on the combination of the competency of the rotation manager and
the BLP'ers ability to overcome this deficit and find meaningful and
challenging work. Not all is gloom and doom- there are a few exciting
opportunities, but they are difficult to encounter. And, unfortunately,
the 'leadership' aspect of the program never materializes. Neither
leadership characteristics nor examples are taught or shown throughout
the program. Attaining the position of manager after the 2 year program
is akin to winning lotto- the few instances it has happened have drawn
oooh and aaahs from fellow classmates who are left wondering 'why you?'
The BLP claims to attract similar candidates as those of the top
Consulting and Investment Banking firms. But by limiting its recruiting
efforts to those schools which are geographically closest and refusing
to recruit at Ivy League and Ivy calibre schools they miss the boat.
Individuals looking to cut their teeth in an environment where they
will be stretched, challenged and forced to work effeciently may want
to look elsewhere. Many departments become a ghost town come 5pm.
The BLP does provide one great opportunity- it opens the door to
lifelong employment at Home Depot. Advancement arises largely as a
factor of time & timing. Measured in years, not in hours per week,
career progression tends to be slow moving yet attainable.
If this appears to be an environemt that attracts you, your should know
two things:
1) This is a company headquartered in the South. Pleasantries are
always expected and one must be on one's best 'Sunday behavior' at all
times- meaning never discuss what others do not wish to hear.
2) Diversity is not a glaring weakness, but far from a strength for the
retail giant. HD prides itself in being known as the benchmark in many
categories, but when asked how the company's ethnicity and diversity
compares with other major corporations the response is always the
same: "We are just as diverse as any other company in America."
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