Pros
Benefits are great, paid vacation and sick time within your first year of employment, 8 paid holidays a year, wonderful customer interaction, advancement opportunities. I have been employed at advance America for a little over two years and in that time i have moved through the ranks from a csr to a center manager and it seems another promotion to district training manager is on the horizon so contrary to some of what i have read here there definitely IS room to advance! You do, however, have to work hard and earn it! In my center I have a wonderful team and my current supervisor is amazing. i love my customers and being able to help people when they feel they have nowhere to turn. Although we do have high interest rates they are far better then the alternatives our customers face such as bounced check and late fees. And contrary to what people may think these loans are not a trap, we help customers every day find the best way to pay them off and be done until our services are needed again. It is up to you as an employee to help the customer find their best way of handling their financial situation and by doing so you will gain a very happy and loyal customer every time. If you are dedicated and enjoy working in a team environment where each person contributes to the success of the business this would be a great career choice for you. If not look elsewhere as you have to come in ready willing and able to do what it takes to succeed. From my experience this company from the top down will stand behind you and wants to help you succeed. It's nice when you know you can always count on your leadership to help you figure a situation out or have your back should you need them too.
Cons
There really aren't many although this can be a stressful job. You must wear many hats successfully to meet budgets and expectations but that is where a good team and management support play a key role in your success. I do wish they had a 401k match, although that certainly wouldn't stop me from working here, nor do i consider it a true con as so many employers don't offer any type of retirement plan let alone a match. Once you move into management the hours are long and i find i miss out on quite a few of my children's activities but this has been true in positions I've held that were far from management and didn't pay nearly as well so again i can't say it's a true con. The pay may be a bit low for what is expected of you but is still fair and well above minimum wage.