Pros
+I worked alongside some truly wonderful, kind, and fun people +Pro-deals are a huge benefit, and can help you outfit yourself with the latest equipment +Career opportunities are available, but only for the 'right' kind of people.**
Cons
-Low pay--I felt somewhat exploited at REI, given that management expected you to constantly look for ways to step into more of a leadership role, with no direction, and being paid under a living wage. -Many of the managers were great individuals, but got backed into a corner by upper management and corporate pressure. -REI likes to brand itself as a 'co-op' but it operates like a massive corporation--little regard for the perspectives of sales specialists and the power hierarchy is set in cement. -**REI likes to display how much they love diversity, but doesn't seem to offer advancement for people who actually offer a differ perspective/life experience due to race, gender identity, sexuality, or class. -It was upsetting to see how REI was performative in their support of the LGBTQ+ community--pride stickers were readily available to make it seem like a 'progressive' company, but customers were allowed to be trans-phobic to employees in very directed and verbally violent ways, and there was almost zero discussion about how to serve our transgender customers who sometimes require a special approach to pack and boot fits.