“Great place but not for the weak”: what is working at the home depot like?

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more information.

You must be wondering if you’re fit to work for The Home Depot, the biggest home improvement company in the world.

I joined the Orange family as a member of the freight team exactly one year ago. Please be aware that I can only speak on behalf of my team, department, and what I experienced.

If you don’t mind learning the products, assisting customers, going up and down the ladders, lifting heavy products, and working outside no matter the weather, then you’ll do just fine.

Otherwise, THD employment is not for the feeble-minded. The store remains busy. There is always work to be done.

The interview process

We were still at the height of the pandemic when I submitted my online application for the position. For the past 15 months, working from home has been a blessing. Who could have imagined that it would be a thing for many other jobs in today’s world?

However, if you don’t find ways to stay active, it could have a detrimental effect on your body. This is one of the things that made me decide to look for a part-time job at Home Depot rather than binge-watch Netflix seasons.

There’s no need to really kill yourself stressing and looking at the Home Depot interview questions online. As long as you’re in good spirit, a people-person, able to lift some heady products, and drug-free, consider the job yours.

working at the home depot be like

Don’t have a clean record? Don’t stress it. They’ll cooperate with you. How do I know this? because I’m proud to work with two of them on my team. They are exceptional at what they do.

From the time I applied, it took a week before I could begin unloading trucks and stocking the shelves.

A typical day at the Home Depot

As a freight associate, I enjoy it.

The Home Depot is, to me, like any other workout facility. I now have a responsibility to complete my ten thousand steps and a full body workout, unlike before, when I paid for a gym membership and occasionally lacked the motivation to leave the house, especially during the winter season. Now I’m paid for doing what I enjoy. It has enabled me to pay off my debt more quickly.

For the others, I am unable to say the same. A few of them are only there to collect a paycheck.

For no other reason than I’ve been there the longest, my team refers to me as “coach.” In other words, the team I joined when I first began working is no longer present. Some of my co-workers were let go for poor performance within that one year, and others simply resigned.

I see new hires quickly burn out after a few months, which causes an extremely high replacement rate. No matter what, I always made sure they knew how much they’re valued–I understand that’s not exactly my job, but by doing it, it makes everyone’s life easier.

The customers will force you to pick up some new skills.

I enjoy helping others, getting to know new people, and learning what needs people have. That is the primary purpose of the job, if you ask me. The managers are very competent and willing to help if there are any questions.

Additionally, you’ll encounter some odd actions, the majority of which are not concerning, but some of which cross the line, such as this customer below, who lost patience after waiting for an authorized forklift driver to deliver the item he ordered online for pickup.

The perks that THD employees get

I found it quite impressive how outstanding their perks are considering their hourly pay is between $16 and $17. in addition to the usual dental, vision, health, and life insurance. Some are worth discussing.

Employee Discount

There is no employee discount available to Home Depot employees in-store. I was startled to hear that before I joined THD, but it doesn’t mean you’re out of luck when checking out. The cashier has received training in discretion when necessary.

But the company offers discounts on hotels, electronics, and other things.

Although I’m unsure of the maximum discount, from personal experience, I’ve twice received a 30% discount.

Flexible hours

You will be hired by the business for a specified schedule in a particular department. I’ve seen associates arrive far in advance of their scheduled time and occasionally stay well past it.

Personally, I also do this, especially when a large truckload is arriving. We usually have the weekend free because we only get truck loads throughout the week. Management will let you come in on weekends if you require more hours.

Tuition reimbursement

This is true in contrast to many other businesses that will lead you to assume it is possible but demand you to pass a loophole or meet strict requirements. THD will give you a document outlining the criteria for compensation.

An ex-coworker who is now a good friend of mine was able to receive the maximum $1500 during his senior year’s first semester.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

A fantastic method to get discounted recurring shares in a wonderful company. Your paycheck is automatically reduced by the amount. You won’t even be aware that you’re short because it won’t be there. This is a terrific way to put your money to work.

Never invest money that you will need in the immediate future.

The Homer Fund

As far as I’m aware, this is the only company that offers funding to employees who encounter unforeseen challenges. The payment is deducted each week from your salary. If necessary, you can start with a dollar, but you cannot choose not to.

Rewards and Celebrations

home depot party room
Home Depot game room

There are two ways to be acknowledged for your efforts—the individual methods and the collective one.

Homer Awards

They usually reward you for going above and above. It is based on one of Home Depot’s core principles. Managers won’t even tell you what you did to deserve it, but rest assured that if someone with management authority notices you acting in a way that upholds the company’s principles, they will make a note of it.

Home Depot 8 core values
Homer tiers

You advance to the following tier for every three homer awards you receive. Up to 60 homer are possible. These badges each have a monetary worth ranging from $50 to $200.

Bravo Awards

According to what I’ve learned, unlike Homer awards where only management may submit a bravo card, any associates can do so. It can be used to thank those who have helped you. 

Every month, they will choose one Bravo and honor both the winner and the person who submitted one with an award.

Success sharing

When your store meets a sales target, a portion of the profit is divided among all employees. You needed to have worked 90 days throughout the fiscal year in order to be eligible. If your store meets the objective, you will receive two additional checks each year.

You’re more likely to miss the first success-sharing reward because of the manner in which they conduct their hiring procedure and the timing. Due to my limited time, I missed the first one, and many more associates have said they experienced the same when they initially started.

They will feed us for a few days to celebrate. They will enjoy a barbecue outside, drinks, and dessert throughout the first fiscal year. We’ll have a playroom, a couple decorated stations, and a wall where we can take photos to upload online.

This does not include the food that is always available in the pantry for your use.

Overall

What is it really like to work at Home Depot? As long as you’re eager, put the needs of the customers before anything else, and are adaptive, this company is a good place to work. Being a team player allows you to make your shift appear simple.

You gain more knowledge about house improvement yourself, which is another fantastic advantage.

If I had to choose one complaint, I would ask management to stop dimming the lights after the store closes for business. Because while stocking things, it can be difficult to read the SKU product numbers.

Other than that, I have no regrets about joining the Home Depot “Orange” family and being surrounded by helpful, pleasant associates.

Have you ever held a position with a home improvement company? If so, what did you think of it? Also, if there is anything I overlooked that you would like to know about, please let me know.


**Valuable Resources I Use Daily:

Empower offers a free account to assist you in managing your net worth and investment portfolio. Your asset allocation and portfolio performance are so obvious and easy to grasp that I can't get enough of them. It's an excellent tool for anyone keeping track of their investments.

Robinhood is a platform that does not charge commissions. You can start investing with as little as $1 in stocks, ETFs, and REITs. It's simple to operate and navigate. Sign up now to receive a free stock.

Spread the word. Share this post!

Gio founded TheGrowthFocusedGuy in January 2020 because he was fed up with debt.

His mission is to document his journey to Financial Independence in order to motivate and inspire others to get out of debt and begin building generational wealth.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *