Pros
Surprisingly pleasant co-workers. The lower level managers just above me were friendly and easy-going. I worked only very early mornings before the store opened. I worked mostly on my own, the lights weren't blaring, there was music playing, it was a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere to work in.
Cons
The pay was just above minimum wage, not even $8/hr. The hours were way too low and unpredictable. Sometimes it was 0 hours a week, sometimes 4 hours a week, sometimes it was 12. During my interview I was told I would be a 'merchandiser' and help put clothes out on the floor and do displays, etc. But when I started, they put me on pricing, which I had no interest in whatsoever. And then they told me I had to stay doing that for awhile but gave me no indication as to how long. The training was practically non-existent and very confusing - I was told different ways of doing things by two different managers and also by a couple co-workers, which lead to me making some simple mistakes that would have never happened if some time had been taken to actually train me. There was no handbook available and no place on the company site that I could even go and look up the pricing rules and basics and how to use the computerized pricing gun. And no one would let me take the time to write any of it down. So if I forgot something or didn't know how to do something, I had to take the time to go and find someone who could help me and then hope it was the right answer and hope I could remember all of it. This happened way too much the first handful of weeks, it was ridiculously frustrating and a waste of time for all. Also, we had to come into work when it was still dark out, and the lights in the mall parking lot and the parking garage and near our entrance door were off. I had to walk alone past the outdoor loading docks and stairs in the pitch dark each time I went in. As a woman I felt particularly unsafe and would run from my car to the door. Hated how scary that was. The door we were to go in was always unlocked too while the early morning employees were coming in. There was never any manager or employees waiting inside the door, they were always gathered quite far away in an office on the first floor. Seemed like it would have been easy for a non-employee, like a thief or anyone who wanted to wreak some havoc, to slip through the door and get inside during the half hour that the door was unlocked.
