Doing Lots with Little - Store Manager Kohl's Employee Review

3.0
Feb 11, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Job stability and a somewhat predictable work/life balance for a retail management position. The company is also respected in the community and by its customers, making a management position a positive on one's resume. Employee discounts are generous and frequently enhanced for special events, making clothing one's family very affordable. OK, it's not a great reason to work there, but it helps.

Cons

Stores are run with very little payroll for the amount of space, merchandise and business that must be managed. Employee quality can also be tough as the company pays hourly employees minimum wage to start with meager annual increases. I had candidates get up and leave interviews when they heard the starting rate - which is not negotiable - on more than one occasion. The ideal job candidate is someone who doesn't need the money and is looking for something to do to get out of the house and will appreciate the generous employee discount (think: a spouse with a strong primary income in the family). Managers are placed under extreme pressure to produce new credit applications. This leads to wide-spread cheating that is a survival strategy for many. The program is supposed to be this: apply, get approved and you get a discount. The reality: apply and get a discount. By the way, the employee getting the credit account gets a small cash payout for the application. Everyone wins by turning a blind eye to the flexible ethics of this program. The customer gets a discount, the employee gets a little money and the management team avoids heat.

Explore other reviews about Kohl's

5.0
Jan 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

good hours, salary, schedule, job

Cons

Holiday work can be tricky when planning family function

3.0
Jul 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The culture at Kohl's is very inclusive and specifically within the DS organization there is a lot of collaboration of ideas. Depending on your team you will have more of an hands on approach, some days feeling closer to an applied scientist than a data scientist.

Cons

Disconnect between priorities with leadership roles. Salary is not competitive, opportunities for promotions are limited regardless of your deemed performance by your direct manager.

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