Pros
Imagine a middle school group project in which you’re tasked with starting your own company that sells clothes. Think about what the strategy and corporate culture would be like at this fictitious retailer run by seventh graders. Now imagine that the quasi-psychotic gym teacher who gave the assignment acts as the CEO of the store. Open your eyes, you’ve arrived at rue21. And if this sounds like your dream company, you’re in luck because you’ll get to work there 55+ hours a week! And every two weeks you get to pick out your paycheck from the trinket box in the supply closet. This isn’t to say that everyone at rue21 is a terrible person. There were at least a few kids with souls in your seventh grade class right? Nevertheless, the place operates at a surreal level of incompetence. The in-fighting is too much to stomach and nearly every meaningful decision comes down to politics. The job description you interview for will not be the job you end up executing. Honestly, you have to see it to believe it, but hopefully you won’t take the chance.
Cons
Politics and subjective decision-making rule the day. Zero chance of meaningful advancement. Below average salary.