Pros
So far, my experience at Ross has been generally positive. The management at my store is friendly and helpful. Store policies were made clear from day one, and asking questions is both encouraged and well-received. Training was adequate overall. Although you'll feel out of your element for the first few days, it's easy to learn the ropes. Management (at my store, that is) is fairly laid-back regarding time off. If you put in your time off form early, you'll probably get it, few questions asked. They don't ask for a long song and dance. If you enjoy shopping and clothes, time will probably pass quickly. You'll find yourself admiring some of the nicer items in the store. The 20% discount will save you a lot of money in the long run. Customers -- at least, in my experience -- have been generally friendly. Yes, there are going to be mean people: there are in any line of work, especially customer service. And yes, children are unpredictable and can cause you some headache. But, overall, it's not as bad as people make it out to be. Come in with a good attitude and you'll probably be fine. Most coworkers are nice, and making friends is easy. Part-time employees are eligible for benefits if they choose to sign up for them. Hours can be reliable if your schedule is open. Most stores run with as few employees as possible, so the opportunity for a good number of hours is there. I'm part-time and I average 22.5 hours a week scheduled. Most weeks, I walk out paid for 25~26 hours (due to closing shift overtime).
Cons
Starting pay is minimum wage, and nearly everyone is hired as part-time and/or as seasonal work. If your state's minimum wage is 7.50, you'll be paid 7.50. If your state's minimum wage is 8.55, you'll be paid 8.55. The opportunity to increase your hourly wage comes once a year during your annual review (that I'm aware of), and most people don't make it that long. Most people start looking for a better-paying job within the first month or two. If you're hired as seasonal help, you're likely going to be kept past the holiday season, but this is because of high turnover. Don't expect much leeway starting off with regards to your schedule. You need to be clocked in on time and going to every shift for the first month or so. If you absolutely must miss a shift (see: projectile vomiting, emergency, sudden death in the family, etc.), you need to call as early as possible, and even then, calling too much too early on can get you fired. This isn't a job for people who are periodically late. Turnover is high, mostly due to the wages. Most stores lose 1~2 people a month. The majority of employees (in pretty much every position outside of the stockroom) are women. If you don't like working with girls, you'll hate working here. I don't mind either way, but some people do. The work can be tedious. Your feet and legs will hurt by the end of your shift. Expect to be on your feet every shift. If you're working anything but cashier or fitting room, you're going to be walking and moving almost constantly. Cashiers have a fair amount of moving around to do, however, so fitting room is the only position that has any reliable downtime. This isn't a job for the easily worn-out. If you have a busy schedule outside of work, getting hours can be rough. If you're unavailable 3 days a week, expect to get 12~15 hours or less. Some employees get only 4 hours a week. You need to be willing to work when they need you: otherwise, don't expect a fat paycheck. Closing shift also works slightly past schedule. Our store closes at 9:00 each night, and I'm scheduled to work until 9:00 or 9:30, but I usually walk out the door at 9:50. Again: if your schedule is tight and you have outside responsibilities, this could be a bad thing. Most shifts are 4-5 hours in length. If you're part-time and want 16~25 hours a week, expect to work 4~5 days a week. This will work out to the benefit of people who don't have time in their schedule for a long shift, but it also means that you're going to be working often.