Pros
Helping customers get what they need and satisfying them. Helping associates gain knowledge and grow. Regular paycheck, reasonable bonuses if you don't get screwed with last-minute changes to your sales plan and other goals.
Cons
For assistant managers, long hours. Don't even get the stingy six Company holidays off! Your manager says it's give-and take, but in reality it's all give, and no take! Try reminding your manager that you never got that paid Holiday off and you';re ensured an argument, if nit a write-up! Rarely , if ever, recognized for your accomplishments. I've had more than two dozen extremely happy customers send letters and e-mails praising my great customer service and never once--NEVER IN FIVE YEARS--has my manager or anyone higher in the company said "Good Job" for customer service. I grew sales in one class of merchandise from under a million a year to more than $1.8 million through careful purchasing and effective merchandising and then I am chastised for being "infatuated" with that product class. Xqqqqqs me! I could make it $2 million or more if they would give me the floorspace, but instead they keep shrinking the space for these items. No doubt in a few months when sales have dropped they'll rake me over the coals again for not meeting sales goals. Give me a break! They claim that "taking care of people," i.e., associates, is a core value of the company but their actions do not back up that claim. The focus is always on the negative and what is wrong or could be better and never on what is good. I am an Assistant Manager. The company has an award program "Homer Award" to recognize performance above and beyond expectations. Up until a year or so ago at least one ASM in my store was recognized monthly . Since then (14 months passed) not one Homer Award has been given to an ASM. This is not because we are not performing, but because the store manager(s) could not care less. While The Home Depot makes a lot of noise about "putting the customer first," what Home Depot it really about, from the associate's perspective, is doing whatever your boss tells you to do without any questions. From Department Head on up, pretty much everyone is focused on covering their ass and not the customer. Me, I put the customer first (but it may cost me my job.) As they say, CAVEAT EMPTOR, or buyer beware. If you're thinking about working for The Home Depot, be aware that all is not as it seems. Good Luck!
