Pros
The industry generally attracts young, competitive, and fun-driven people (employers, employees, and customers), which will make or break your experience with GameStop. Turnover can be high, leading to promotions if you are able to stick around. Compared to other retail jobs, the pay is fair/good once you are able to get stable hours in one of the management positions. Satisfactory performance reviews may result in a pay raise. Insurance plans are excellent- perfect for students. The working hours are pretty normal- stores are generally open from 10-9 Mon-Sat, Sunday could be 12-6 or 12-9 depending on location. There may be midnight releases, again depending on location. As Senior Game Advisor, I have kept 25-30 hours a week on average. Duties include keeping the store clean and organized, paying attention to customers, assisting training for new hires, basic paperwork, counting registers, opening and closing. And playing games. Discounts are cool, just don't blow all of your pay at work! Employees are able to check out a game for 3 days at a time. Every Team is different, so don't expect every store to operate the same way. My Store Manager is extremely flexible with schedules and makes an effort to work around with our store team to keep everyone honest and happy. In addition, the Assistant Store Managers that I have worked with have all been competent, if not fun to work with. I've had the opportunity to meet the "higher-ups" in the company and they are down-to-Earth, eager to keep GameStop on the topside. We like being a Fortune 500 company, and work at it. This means constantly improving customer experience, working the sales floor, and keeping communications open. Managers expect all employees to do sales pitches for the companies magazine and game pre-orders, as well as making sure customers have everything they might need ASAP. Training and coaching is provided. If you move, GameStop can relocate you to another store.
Cons
"Babysitting" kids and teens whose parents guardians may not be present. Due to hours allotted from corporate(?), stores may not get enough to get everything done easily. Unstable hours and low pay as regular Game Advisor- expect anywhere from 0-12 per week during slow months, maybe 8-20 during the holiday at minimum wage, usually. Store managers are salaried and have to work 55 hours a week that don't count toward store hours, and have the job of keeping everyone up when their DM may be griping at them for better numbers. Seems like a lot to put up with. People seem to be surprised that if you aren't a good salesperson or can't adapt to be outgoing you may suffer and get less hours, or even a "coaching". It takes sales to make sales. Your experience at GameStop HIGHLY depends on the Store Team/District Manager you will be working with. Negative attitudes, sales snipers, backbiting, inflexibility, and poor ethics can and does happen. Overall, unless you are a Store Manager or higher, I don't think it's possible to make a living wage working JUST at GameStop. For a student or 1 of multiple jobs, it's perfect, though.
