Pros
No matter how much we know about the smudge-resistant premium AR, and no matter how much we claim to be opticians, if you aren't certified, and you aren't full-time, you're merely a sales associate... an easily replaceable... glorified cashier. And don't worry, LensCrafters doesn't let you forget that. But allow me to get to the hidden pro-- it's related to this, I promise. If one can get past the delusion that one's in the medical field, and one can accept that one isn't in a better bracket than a Walmart employee, then working at LC is pretty nice. Because of ALL the terrible retail jobs in the world, LC is nowhere near being the worst. You actually get to sit down.
Cons
Advancement from within is pretty rare. In fact, in the two years I spent with the company, in the midst of its cut-throat, ladder-climbing culture, no one successfully acquired a promotion. Not one person. But your GM will tell you that you're in the running-- that your "stretch assignment" is essentially to be a manager, but to not have any real power, and to, of course, get paid the same as the people you are supposed to lead (or significantly less if the associate you are leading has desperately held on for decades). It's all a con. The job is fine if you're in school and have a bright future planned elsewhere, but please do not think LC can be your future. You will end up bitter and jaded if you think LC doesn't have an impact and smudge resistant polycarbonate ceiling. You won't get through. I promise you won't.