Pros
Better than unemployment, worse than any other retail job. Paid monthly. Progression is fast, but it's just to replace people leaving so often.
Cons
You are expected to work through your breaks (no managers ever take them otherwise they'll fall behind). Loads of tasks to be done outside your paid hours- store painting, racking changes, coming to store way early to get everything done. Head office shut for weekend and no support. Terrible training and you are left on your own to run the store without help. On top of that you'll need to practically memorise tons of procedures, which then you'll have to re-do every couple of months because somebody decided to put a comma in new place. But if you don't, then you'll fail your audit. Audit expectations are so high, that no store is able to score 10 out of 10. If you fail the audit, then hell will unleash upon you and you'd be expected to work 70-80hrs weeks to ensure it doesn't happen again, unpaid. Constant recruitment, high levels of staff turnover. Training programme is archaic, and candidates asked to put positive reviews here on graduation. Head office is small and understaffed and not ready for expansion. Staff boots are very cheap, hurt your feet, you need to buy you own pair straight away with own money or suffer through pain. Main products sold are very cheap and terrible quality own brands, being returned in such volumes that big part of your day will be processing refunds. If you make one mistake while you do that (wrong account, wrong item returned, drop down box missed) you could fail your audit. Staff are treated as unwelcome deduction from profit line, constantly reminded that their work is rubbish and will be replaced after making the smallest mistake. No bonus scheme, no incentives, no engagement, no appreciation, no fun. Actually worth applying for and seeing for yourself how bad it is so you can enjoy your next job 100 times more!
