HMV Reviews

Current Employee – been working at HMV full-time for more than a year

Pros – + It's nice to be working with what I love as my enthusiasm for the product is genuine and I feel that the customers recognise this.

+ The staff discount, although its not that much, is very handy, especially for birthdays/Christmas.

+ A lot of the staff on my level are very friendly and have a genuine love of what they sell.

Cons – - The store manager uses fear as their primary motivational tool.

- The management are always in contradiction with one another so you're ALWAYS going against someone's instructions.

- No regard for illness or pain when tasks are being delegated. I've often complained of my injuries being made worse by my work, only to be offered no sympathy. I'm currently very ill but I fear the consequences of taking time off.

- Disproportionate punishments follow menial crimes. For example, an employee is awaiting a disciplinary hearing for going to meet a friend outside of work hours to ask a favour of them when he was off sick. He received a barrage of verbal abuse from the manager for this.

- The store is absolutely FILTHY. No-one reports the store to environmental health as they fear being fired. There was a dead mouse in the audio department for a VERY long time and mice regularly eat the confectionary that's for sale. The half-eaten treats are removed rather than the whole batch. I die a little inside every time a customer buys a chocolate bar. The staff kitchen areas are disgusting and rodent-infested and I refuse to eat or prepare food in them. It's also so dusty that my hands are black after half an hour of work. Disgusting.

Advice to Senior Management – This place needs a massive overhaul in the way in which it's managed, starting with respect and decency towards its employees. If I didn't have to worry about my wife and forthcoming family prospects, I'd leave right now. It's sad, because I spent my teenage years dying to work in HMV only to find out how awful it is to work there. I hope other stores fare better.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at HMV

Pros – Hmv has a flexible for staff if you are a music/dvd lover you find some good obscure stuff. Managers usually try to accomodate you as best as you can.

Cons – Higher ups at HMV didn't adapt and see the changes coming and now place is going under. Most senior staff saw it for a while.

Advice to Senior Management – Should listen to staff and adapt to trends quicker and faster. Might be too late but good luck to HMV.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at HMV

Pros – One of the best reasons to work for HMV group is the support for going into professional qualifications such as ACCA

Cons – Once professional qualifications are complete at HMV, there may not be open vacancies within the organisation to progress into a more senior role

Advice to Senior Management – HMV leadership is very good ideas and always looking forward, constantly keep employees aware of the plans of the company

Current Employee – been working at HMV

Pros – I get to know about all the latest news in music and movies and they let me be creative with my appearance good place to work and grow as an employee.

Cons – Sometimes the work is a bit dull and the customers can be difficult to deal with. Long shifts around Xmas time and Easter.

Advice to Senior Management – More training opportunities in store and bonuses for good employees. I would like to work my way up to the top so Id appreciate if there was the possibility to do so.

Former Employee – worked at HMV

Pros – Support in business training schemes
casual dress
Several points of contact for support
Team atmosphere as departments run side by side.

Cons – none substantial enough to list

Advice to Senior Management – Allow greater creative input from employees at all levels regarding decisions, by offering a way to access current projects and send input electronically.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at HMV

Pros – Great atmosphere as well as great people. Good working environment, OK staff discounts. Working in London makes it quite a social hub too.

Cons – Some bad management at times, not enough staff discount, can't really say much more, there's no more negatives that I can think of.

Advice to Senior Management – Listen to staff more. Communication within the group should be a hell of a lot more transport, we should also have more head office meetings.

Current Employee – been working at HMV

Pros – Working with such a fun & exciting product, you would think makes an exciting environment to work right? Well, no. Not when its His masters voice. Only HMV could turn the stocking of CD's, DVD's & Games into such a laborious mire of tedium.

Cons – The demands placed on you will burn you out. HMV has a corporate environment that frankly makes the third reich seem relaxed. Recent years have not been kind, with most savvy employees heading toward the exit door. All that are left are a bunch of clueless, overpromoted, beaurocratic, soulless individuals more interested in their own careers than the company. An interest in music, film & games is paid occasional lip service, but to be honest, it feels hollow & contrivied. Besides, you'll spend most of your day blindly ticking boxes anyway.

Advice to Senior Management – .

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend