College Grads Beware.... - ASM (Area Sales Manager) Dillard's Employee Review

1.0
Sep 15, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-I have worked with some great people -New managers receive a week of vacation in their first year

Cons

- Very low pay for a new college grad - Because Dillards does not have an HR department, you as a manager are responsible for HR as well as you department. - Work most weekends, alot of night shifts, and many times you are expected to come in on your days off. - You are expected to be mobile. This is a big deal to dillards. I have witnessed many demotions of sales managers back to associates because they didn't want to move to another location, state, exc. -motivating sales associates is very difficult. Associates are expected to sell a certain amount per hour regardless of economic conditions or anything else. If they do not maintain this amount they will receive a pay cut and or termination. Because of this, associates often neglect cleaning the department because they are focused on sales. Resentment brews between associates who actually work and those who only sell. It is impossible to control as a manager. You are forced to "drink the kool aid" and enforce company policies even though it is clearly wrong. -Many Dillards do not have security due to many lawsuits that hired cops went through in the past. Because of this managers are the security. We are expected to stop shoplifters and take back our merchandise. If we do not we face a loss of inventory which we are personally held accountable for. -

Explore other reviews about Dillard's

5.0
Jun 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great payment benefits and flexible schedules

Cons

long-standing hours and sometimes overnight work or very early mornings for inventory

1.0
Jun 8, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Only pro is that you can expect there won't be any. So, transparency.

Cons

Annual raises for salaried employees are minimal, often only 100–500 dollars per year, regardless of performance or inflation. Salaried roles are consistently compensated below industry standards for comparable positions. Management routinely solicits employee input and feedback, then consistently ignores it, making requests for opinions feel performative rather than genuine. Excessive favoritism is openly displayed, accompanied by constant gossip, drama, and office politics that undermine professionalism and team cohesion. Leadership culture normalizes poor treatment by implying that if everyone is miserable together, the situation is acceptable. The company shows little concern for employee health and safety, pressuring staff to work in unsafe conditions because “it was done before.” Employees who raise workplace health concerns or request alternate work arrangements for health reasons are consistently penalized rather than supported, effectively forcing them to choose between their health and their job. The building was shot at, and management waited several hours to inform employees and refused to let anyone go home, demonstrating a disregard for basic safety and crisis response expectations. Any non-vacation time off, including sick time, medical appointments, and other approved leave, can be held against employees and negatively affect promotions, raises, and recognition. Promotions and raises are often denied based on incomplete or misleading assessments of performance, while significant individual contributions and permanent fixes to long-standing issues go unrecognized. External or third-party training and professional development are not supported and, in some cases, are actively discouraged. Execs are only concerned about profits and never employee well being, morale, or happiness.

2
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All