Eye-Opening Experience at Macy's - Assistant Buyer Macy's Employee Review

As a recent graduate, my entry into the corporate world began with great anticipation through Macy's prestigious EDP program, following a successful internship with the company. However, my journey within Macy's quickly devolved into an ordeal that I never imagined during my college years. The initial promise of the EDP program was overshadowed by a tumultuous series of events. Within the first year, I found myself reporting to four different bosses, which disrupted any sense of stability or continuity. Additionally, our team dwindled from five members to a mere three within the span of three months, amplifying the workload and stress levels exponentially. I eventually was put on a team without an MA (Merchandising Assistant) and the associate buyer on my team who acted like my boss (Not in a good way :/) expected me to do their job with NO training. How does one begin to do a job that they have no experience in and just "figure it out" let me know if you find out. Despite being remote, the toxic work environment took a toll on my mental health. The pervasive culture of favoritism and cliques within the team created a sense of exclusion and anxiety. It became apparent that career advancement and even basic recognition were contingent upon being in the good graces of certain individuals. I was naive enough to believe that me taking on more work and other peoples jobs that I would stand out and get a promotion. That was until I realized that some people who are assistants have been in that position for 5 years.... The work load became unbearable and working overtime was no longer a choice. My boss and associate would say "Just work over-time" and they normalized us working 50+ hour work weeks which we did not sign up for. Over time is not in our contract nor was it an obligation, but boy did they make you feel like it was. I wish someone would have told me the truth about this job and what to truly expect from working here. No job is worth your mental health and sanity, believe me. Compensation further underscored the disparity between effort and reward. While I devoted countless hours to the job, often sacrificing personal time and even skipping meals, the financial acknowledgment was minimal. A paltry annual bonus of $2,000 and a meager signing bonus of $5,000 upon college graduation left me questioning the value of my contributions and the company's commitment to its employees. I am the 4th assistant that has quit on this team within less than a year, I think that shows how awful the turnover is ... and for good reason. Also FYI if you are looking to put in your 2 weeks and quitting like I did make sure you use all of your PTO before. My boss had told me I would get paid for all of my un-used PTO, I soon found out from HR that I should have just taken off for 15 days because I did not get paid for ANY of my un-used PTO! However, amidst the challenges and disillusionment, Macy's inadvertently imparted invaluable lessons. The experience instilled in me a resilient spirit and a newfound sense of self-awareness. It illuminated my capacity for perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity. Ultimately, my tenure at Macy's served as a catalyst for personal growth and professional redirection. Recognizing my worth and potential, I made the empowering decision to pursue entrepreneurship. Today, as the owner of my own business, I am grateful for the hardships endured at Macy's, as they fueled my determination to chart my own path and refuse to be limited by the constraints of corporate conformity. In retrospect, while Macy's may not have been the ideal launchpad for my career, it undeniably played a pivotal role in shaping my trajectory. For that, I am grateful. However, I caution prospective employees to approach with tempered expectations and a readiness to navigate the challenges inherent within the organization. PROCEED WITH CAUTION. Macy's is a sinking ship and if you want job security, room for growth, and a good work environment look elsewhere. I know that if you have worked this job you can quite literally do ANYTHING!!