Pros
It is a fun environment that will help you gain valuable management experience in a "big box" environment. There is advancement opportunity as long as you are patient and have the ability to relocate. Vacation time offered is good, but occasionally difficult to use before the end of the fiscal year (there is no rollover time pemitted for salaried managers anymore). Helth benefits are average and there is a 10% discount on most items for employees (a few times a year this is more and sometimes there are exclusive shop times for employees before the holidays).
Cons
Work/life balance is a challenge as it is with most retail jobs. There is a blackout period between the week before Black Friday through the week of Christmas where no salaried store management can take any vacations and must work 6 days a week. Corporate offers an additional 4 free flex days to use between January and March to help make up for the extra time you work. Average work week in the off season is 45 to 50 hours. Salaries are decent, but, when broken down into an hourly rate based on the number of hours worked per year, are a bit low. No bonus available to anyone below the store manager level. Selling additional metrics can be rough and there is heavy pressure to exceed the set goals. Very difficult to stay on track sometimes due to the sheer number of things managers are required to focus on.
