If you can pick ANY other bank to work for, do it.
Pros
Some coworkers make it bearable. Lots of vacation time at the beginning of a new year, 96 hours I think, however, difficult to use if anyone else has requested off as they keep a low number of staff, or maybe it's because they can't keep staff around.
Cons
-PAY. PAY. PAY. You can go to almost any other bank and make more money doing the same work, and being appreciated. Most banks pay around 15/hr for this position, while they pay between $12-13 depending on experience. -You get one single raise per year, which would be fine, except the raise is almost always a 1% raise. That's right, an extra .12 cents for being loyal to a company. There is no possible way the 12 cents per year can keep up with the rising cost of living, but they think it can. The most I ever heard of someone getting was a 2% raise, and that employee had a very kind manager. -They will sell full time positions to applicants as 40 hours a week, but they do everything in their power to cut that down to 37 or less. This way they don't have to pay you as much. -Management does not care about their employees, only what is best for them. If that means throwing lower level employees under the bus they will do it. -You are there to sell products for them and to be a body in the building, nothing else. Sell, sell, sell. -You are expected to sell at least 4 products per month. This becomes quite difficult as you see the same customers each week, and are racing against your fellow coworkers who also have a goal to hit. -If you aren't hitting your goal, you're not useful to the company, and management wants to know why you can't sell another checking account to the customer who already has two checking accounts. -You are given paid sick time, which is great, until you fall ill and need to use it. You will be questioned, especially if it is a Friday, because it is suspicious if anyone is sick on a weekend. They often will ask if you can manage to come in anyways despite being sick. -They try to make the sales portion seem like a great opportunity as you can earn up to $3 per "item" sold. It is a taxed three dollars, enjoy. -Full Friday shifts are 8:30-6:15. You get one 30 minute lunch break on Friday's as well as other full shift days. It makes for a VERY long day, and is typically the busiest of the week. -Your schedule will rarely stay the same and it becomes quite noticeable that the people who make the schedule often have "desirable" days off such as Friday's or Saturdays, while entry level positions work these often. If you need a specific day off you just have to hope someone will switch with you or that your boss is in a good mood the day you ask. -They cannot keep themselves staffed, because it is an awful company to work for. Absolute constantly revolving door of employees. The people you interview with are the same people you will work with, but in the interview they will put on a show about how wonderful it is. Pay attention to how many positions are always open, there is a reason. -If a review can save just one person the annoyance and frustration of dealing with this company, then it was worth taking the time to write it and dealing with the issues of working there. -I can honestly say that I have never worked in a more toxic, draining, non-caring work environment than First Merchants. No one deserves to work for a company that cares so little about their "lower level" or entry level workers. Everyone has to start somewhere.
