Pros
1. Benefits 2. There are some cool people left.
Cons
1.)Office Politics - People will stab you in the back if you let your guard down. The two stores in my city did not even like each other. Unfortunately for me I was forced to transfer to the other store. So I saw from both sides how they complain about the other store. 2.) Job Security - As the Gap sinks, people are panicking. I should have know this because they had well trained, well paid management train standout sales associates. Those managers all either left soon after or were offered severance that was pitiful. Then we were given a program called blueprint. Basically managers and key-holders at less than half of the price. They are trying to save money however they can. The Gap is running itself into the ground. It is sad. 3.) Pay - This used to be a strong suit at the gap. The head of store at one store makes 56k (Grand Rapids) The other makes 65k (Grandville). These are approximate but close as I can remember. I know this because they are both careless enough to leave their checks around the office. This pay is good, but the managers below them make nothing. Certainly not enough to live and make student loan payments. The sales associates make even less. Minimum wage or maybe a dollar or two more. There are experts who make around 10 an hour but the responsibilities they have are worth more. The Gap used to pay associate managers around 40-45k or so. Now its about 25-30K. DM's make a ton and they are worthless. Like half of the GM's Ive met. 4.) Gap cards - They push them like crazy. Most stores have unrealistic numbers to reach. It has people doing shady stuff trying to make their numbers. Its already shady trying to get somebody that obviously doesn't need a credit card to apply ." Oh, your Discover Card has been declined. Would you like to save 15% and open up a Gap Rewards Card with us?" You have to give sales associates targets and they if they don't get them then they usually get their hours cut. Its not fair on so many levels. If any of my fellow workers are reading this, I love most of you but get out of there!
