Great for resume, terrible for morale & confidence building - Buyer Urban Outfitters Employee Review

2.0
Jan 20, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Dog friendly, great campus (as long as you are ok with working in the middle of nowhere), some great people, relaxed dress code

Cons

Don't know where to start. I have worked for this company - at the corporate headquarters- 2 different times on the buying team, in a management position. It is a brutal place to be. It really depends on the executive level leadership, which has changed so many times, which means that the strategies, structure, process are always changing along with them. There is an air of cattiness amongst the Creative leaders, and it can be as bad as the feeling that you will not be treated as well if you aren't stick thin or have the perfect outfit. Forget your mind or your years of experience. Expect to be on emails late into the night and on the weekends. It's a fickle buying process and the buys are constantly being changed, edited, cancelled due to leadership reacting too quickly to weekly selling instead of a bigger vision. They have little respect for their outside vendors or brands, even the small ones. In a nutshell, it's a great name on the resume but it's a mind game and somewhat torturous while you're there.

Explore other reviews about Urban Outfitters

5.0
Jun 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Loved working in the middle of campus, meet lots of fun people

Cons

Can be boring at times working retail, repetitive but have to be busy.

2.0
Jul 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Somewhat flexible scheduling. Bonuses if your store exceeds monthly goals. Employee discount for other URBN brands.

Cons

Lack of work-life balance. Salaried managers are often expected and obligated to conduct work that surpasses the 40 hour work week. Overtime is not offered for salaried store managers. Salary increases and internal mobility are very limited. The company claims they are under tight budgets, yet they are making record profits and spending money on unnecessary expenses. The only way to increase salary is to move to higher-volume locations, which are limited due to availability. A lot of other store managers have been in their same positions for 10+ years and have remained at the same title. Company directive is constantly changing with little to no support. Store managers are expected to cover the slack when resources are minimal. Physical deterioration is common for management. The job requires a lot of physical exertion. Higher ups expect displays to be conducted on a store-level, which includes moving heavy objects and operating power tools. Even if you are not trained, you are expected to learn as you go or “phone a friend” for help. “The customer is always right” mentality supersedes company policy, which leads to friction within team members and the client. Mental stress from dealing with disgruntled customers is common due to this.

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