-The MIT/Manager position is not accurately portrayed. You're made to think that you'll have many more opportunities behind the scenes or to move up to Home Office than what you're actually given.
-EXTREMELY difficult to have a work/life balance. Plus any time you return from vacation you will be scheduled 7-9 days in a row.
-Upper management operates purely on the notion that perception is reality, rather than paying attention to the bigger picture. This was probably the most frustrating aspect of the job. They have lost touch with what it's like to actually be on the sales floor and simply judge things by the quick glimpse they see while briefly visiting the floor.
-Unfulfilling. Honestly the job is glorified babysitting. You're on the sales floor for hours just zoning out associates, making sure their whereabouts are accounted for, and scolding them when they're not greeting every single customer. It makes you wonder why you even went to college...
-Overall negative work environment. Despite the few fun co-workers, it can be a very gossip-y environment (especially with DM's). Favoritism is alive and well here.
-Micromanagement. Every little detail will be scrutinized and most of the time, instead of the manager who saw the issue simply coming up to you and saying something directly, it gets passed down the chain of command which is unnecessary.
-Walk-throughs. As the Flagship, 5th Ave frequently has visitors from Home Office and even Fran, the CEO. These days have a frustrating amount of stress placed on them and individuals from Home Office aren't the nicest.
-The values of the company are still a bit sketchy. Although A&F boasts that it has rebranded itself, at its foundation it is still exclusive (not in a luxurious way). I've been part of interviews where the individual was not given the job because they 'wouldn't look good in our clothes'.
-In a year of working at this location, 10 managers of all different levels (DM, GM, SM, AM, OPS) quit, which was very telling.
