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    Build-A-Bear Reviews

    Updated 13 January 2019
    570 reviews

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    3.6
    StarStarStarStarStar
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    Recommend to a friend
    Approve of CEO
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    Sharon John
    148 Ratings

    Employee Reviews

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    Pros
    Cons

    • "Not enough recognition, minimum wage" (in 32 reviews)

    • "No room for advancement and they get like 4-8 hours a week" (in 13 reviews)

    More Pros and Cons

    1. "Build A Bear (Bear Builder)"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Recommends

      I have been working at Build-A-Bear part-time

      Pros

      Really fun, great way to improve communication skills, can form great relationships with other employees

      Cons

      Not many hours, sometimes the store can be quiet

    2. "Perfect Work Enviroment"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Bear Builder in Plymouth, England
      Current Employee - Bear Builder in Plymouth, England
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at Build-A-Bear part-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      Amazing management
      Great at giving feedback on your performance
      Generous discount
      Loving work environment

      Cons

      Apparently there is a lack of hours after Christmas but I wouldn't know

      3. Join the Build-A-Bear team
      See Our Latest Jobs

    3. "Bear Builder!"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at Build-A-Bear part-time

      Pros

      Discount on bears, majority of staff were smiley

      Cons

      0 hour contracts, pushed to sell underwear (£3) for bears to grandmother's who just wanted to treat their grandchildren.

      Advice to Management

      Be happier, don't always assume we're machines, we need a break during shifts!

    4. "My favourite job ever but the worst pay!"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at Build-A-Bear full-time

      Pros

      The job itself is the best I’ve ever had - genuinely finished each shift feeling happy and that I’d made someone’s day. Very rewarding!

      Cons

      - poor pay
      - lack of hours
      - not much development available to someone wanting to progress into management.

      Advice to Management

      Managers always tried to give me as many hours as possible however it’s the company who made it hard with such a small payroll! The amount bear builders are paid, compared to how much work is expected from them is ridiculous - deserve a lot more for all the work we have to do.

    5. "Loved it"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - ASM- Assistant Store Manager in Bury, East of England, England
      Former Employee - ASM- Assistant Store Manager in Bury, East of England, England
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at Build-A-Bear full-time (More than 5 years)

      Pros

      Great place to work, fun, fab discounts

      Cons

      Not enough recognition, minimum wage

      Advice to Management

      Managers should receive more recognition from higher up to keep them motivated

    6. "Decent place to work for short term"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee

      I worked at Build-A-Bear part-time

      Pros

      Lovely people - everyone was so friendly and sweet. Dealing with kids was often cute

      Cons

      Management took no control over shifts. There was a railway strike (told in advance) so I informed my manager I wouldn’t be able to do my shift that day (it was roughly 3wks away) and if I could swap and was told to take it up with coworkers and not him. Not the best pay

    7. "Enjoyable"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee

      I worked at Build-A-Bear part-time

      Pros

      Fun to work with children

      Cons

      Not paid for call out time

    8. "A short time job."

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Sales Assistant/Bear Builder in Edinburgh, Scotland
      Current Employee - Sales Assistant/Bear Builder in Edinburgh, Scotland
      Doesn't Recommend
      Negative Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at Build-A-Bear part-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      -30% discount, 50% in december.
      - Decent wages if you are over 18.

      Cons

      - Poor wages for those under 18.
      - A lot of four shifts so they don't have to give you a break.
      - The company put a lot of pressure on staff to meet sales targets depending on deals that are on and typically if you preform poorly you get less shifts.

      Advice to Management

      This company have to stop paying people based on their age.

    9. "Great fun, but low pay"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Bear Builder in Norwich, England
      Former Employee - Bear Builder in Norwich, England
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at Build-A-Bear part-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Great fun
      Making children’s days
      Running parties is really fun

      Cons

      Really low pay
      No career progression/promotions available
      Management are disorganised and favouritist

      Advice to Management

      Pay more for staff because they deserve it!

    10. "Bear Builder"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Bear Builder in Doncaster, England
      Former Employee - Bear Builder in Doncaster, England
      Doesn't Recommend
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at Build-A-Bear part-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      Discount (elevated during certain holidays). Uniform.

      Cons

      Management - Fake promises of elevated posting made by management to keep staff working for the company. Managers remain in the back office socialising/ on their mobiles instead of doing their jobs helping Bear Builders when needed.

      Bear Builder Review Process - Complete waste of time, upsets employees does nothing for morale.

      Hours not shared out equally at all.

      Advice to Management

      Spend a little less time in the back office socialising to other managers and on your phone, more time on the shop floor managing/ helping staff. Less time sending staff out for personal items too.