Move up quick in two years, then move on even faster. This is an oasis.
Pros
Interesting venues. Work hours are usually daytime only due to working for educational, non profit, museum venues. Employee discounts. Usually free admission to venue. Casual and comfortable dress code. Fast ability to move up from entry level sales associate to Assistant Manager in two years or less if you are focused, flexible, diligent, always cheerful, never refuse work or take a sick day and staff savvy. Excellent way to build management, leadership, operational, customer service and retail skills.
Cons
Museum culture and staff are varied and can have great friendly relationships with Event Network or be downright condescending. Depends on the venue and the leadership of your Store Director. Health care benefit package for Ass. SD is below average. Management plays favorites. Be smart about what you say to whom. Scheduling hours are not always consistent. In the beginning, the red carpet is rolled out and the best face is put on to hire you. After a few months, reality of the working environment becomes evident. Last second changes in schedule, some sales goals are not met, or basically if you do seem to able to give you entire life (part time) to the company... SD flexibility, work/life balance support, and amicable nature will begin to wane. A file will start to be built to can your butt! Majority of store staff(non management) are only employed at part time hours. Not enough to make a living wage as a main job. This is a good job for a teenager, college part timer, or second job. Pay is at or below that of average retail environment, but meeting sales targets are demanded and up selling is required of associates despite lack of commission rewards. Unless Store Director is fired, leaves, or moves up in the company. There is nowhere to go once you reach Asst. Store Director. After two years as Asst. SD, move on to other company after you have learned all the management, operational, and relationship skills you could get from the company. In the two years, working from entry level Sales Associate to Ass. SD...three Ass. SD left the company as they could never get promotion to their own store. They talk a good talk during hiring about training and hiring from within but usually Store Directors are hired from Sales Managers outside of the company. Store Directors have little chance to move up to HQ or corporate level unless a position opens up, and you are willing to relocate to San Diego HQ. Only, lateral moves to another venue. Impractical requirements in regards to payroll, limiting work hours, and extra time wasting in meeting and associate activities to create a facade of company culture. This puts pressure on store management staff to sometimes work off the clock to meet the operational needs that cannot be fulfilled due to predominantly part time only staff and limited opening hours of the venue.
