Pros
Easy to apply and get in with no prior experience that allows you build some basic auto skills as a regular tech/senior tech to move on elsewhere Very structured and easy to understand electronic and in person training, though sometimes a bit extra and boring, that if you have basic intelligence should be able to grasp quickly Depending on your area, you have the potential to interact with a variety of domestic/foreign makes and models Some area managers are passionate about their position and actually try to help or implement new procedures that makes things easier Benefits/health benefits are actually pretty good, besides vision, and you can get a lot of discounts from their affiliate programs for things like amusement parks, rental cars or plane tickets among more Tools are for the most part provided so you don't have to worry about going broke at a tool truck Depending on your manager, schedules can be flexible for schooling or other needs Depending on your store culture/management you can always ask someone for help and they'll be there for you You get to meet some great/funny people that are very cool to work with High turnover rate, you want that assistant manager or manager position? Get certified and wait a few weeks to a month and you might just get it There are Valvoline service centers all over the US so if you wanted to move and potentially keep your job you can talk to your area manager and the area manager of where you're going If your store has a good culture, work is pretty fun and easy as everyone is on the same page and helps each other out. Finished an oil change in 5 minutes with a tire rotation and some other small stuff included because we had 6 people working together and happily surprised the guest
Cons
Every single store and area has their own culture for the better or the worse Having no experience required has also led to a large increase in liability if no one is watching/guiding the new person People neglect their duties which shifts the work to people who actually take pride in their work which eventually burns them out If the store is has too many people or it gets slow hours can start getting on the shorter end, though usually it isn't too much of a problem in the long run Management can very much make or break a store. You can feel the lack of leadership when a full staff feels busy with a below average flow of cars You meet people who can't live without making a mess and refuse to clean up after themselves People love hiding in the bathrooms, office, or wherever when it gets really busy Unless your store is already established there can be a very high turnover rate due to a variety of reasons Call outs aren't punished for some reason??? There were many cases of team members calling out excessively with no consequences. I was once forced to open the store and work alone for half the day until the closing crew arrived, and even then one of the closers who was supposed to show up earlier than the rest showed up late... Lack of accountability has the same problem people dragging the team down, which eventually causes good people to leave and the store to fall apart Moving up to an assistant manager or manager is sometimes just not worth the drastic increase in responsibility. You get a small pay increase and the potential for a bonus, but the bonus usually is nonexistent due to a variety of reasons, at least for an assistant. If you do move up, mainly as manager, get ready to get hounded by upper management 24/7 even in your off time because of what your store is doing in your absence
