Pros
The discount is great if you like the clothes. The music is catchy and makes working there go by faster. Generally (depending on the store) you work with great people and get to work in a "hip" atmosphere.
Cons
-Turnover rate: the company can't keep anyone on board for more than 6months. I felt like every time I blinked someone quit or was planning on leaving. Even when people gave notice, the DM/RM/Corporate hiring team took FOREVER to find a replacement. If someone like the store manager or assistant manager gives a notice, shouldn't they find a quality replacement ASAP? Not at CottonOn. There are under 9 stores in my district and half don't have store managers. Then part time employees (associates and key holders) can't work more than 24 hours a week according to some made up rule by our RM. So not only are you understaffed, but you are trying to make a schedule that has no part timer working more than 24 hours while trying to include their second job in to the mix (because no person can live on 24 hours a week making pennies). -Payroll: Working in retail I understand payroll hours will be tight. But working in a big store and getting less than 115 hours a week to run a store? Are you serious? You work by yourself open to 1pm when a sales associate comes in for 3 hours to give you a break then you work the rest of your shift alone until the closer comes in. If you get a 25 box shipment you are expected to get it done by the weekend, even though you're one person trying to not only do shipment but run the floor, prevent theft, be the cashier and customer service. They give you 30 extra hours for floor sets to be done in 2 days....while trying to find people to actually work during that time because you gotta remember not to over schedule them past their 24 hours a week. Theres a huge lack of coverage on the weekends when you think there should be two people in the store at all times. be ready to bust your butt on the weekends trying to do 100 things by yourself in a busy store. -Hiring process: takes forever to hire someone. or if they schedule an interview with a candidate the DM cancels and reschedules so much that when the candidate calls you can hear the frustration in their voice from being jerked around so much. -Tasking: They give you so many tasks per day that it's physically impossible to do them all by yourself. And when you say you can't do them, they will say 1 of 2 things. 1-"look at *insert another store here* they can do it so can you" (not taking into account they are half the size and have a fuller/more available staff. Or they say "don't worry about it do what you can" (but then you don't finish and they are like "Why didn't you finish?! I'm disappointed") They care so much about tasking but pretend they care more about customer service which is not true. KPIs- Before a customer leaves, you have to sell them a charity item, an add on item, a WAP item and get their email. You are bombarding the customer so much you mainly get attitude from them from asking so many questions. You do NOT get to make connections with your customers. At CottonOn they are just a number, not a human. Work/Life balance: None. Say goodbye to your loved ones. Other: I had to work off the clock countless times just to get things done, if you are a SM or ASM be prepared to have your phone on 24/7, CottonOn is cheap/provides you with supplies that break easily so you are forced to buy them yourselves if you want to have them (Example: basic cleaning supplies)