Cried all the way to work on my 2nd day and quit. Absolutely awful. It’s all smoke and mirrors. - Associate Buyer Forever 21 Employee Review

1.0
10 Jul 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I can’t think of a single thing, other than than the cafe in the office. That’s it.

Cons

Well, it was awful enough that i lasted one day.. 1. WORST COMPENSATION IN THE INDUSTRY: As an Associate Buyer I currently make $60k salary. At F21 the pay was about $18 an hour, and they *require* you to work 9.5 hour days. 2. ZERO COMMUNICATION: It’s a Korean family run company, so all leadership is Korean. No big deal, right? Wrong - they only speak to eachother in Korean, leaving non Korean speakers clueless. How am i supposed to learn if my boss and her boss and his boss can’t communicate with me? 3. THE HIRING HAUX I was recruited by a “friend” who fed me the lies about what a great company it is, etc. When i interviewed i spoke to a lovely English-speaking woman, who told me about the company. When i got there for my first day, i realize this woman i interviewed with is nowhere on the line of all-Korean speaking leadership. I’m not sure who she even was. 4. OFFICE = SMOKE & MIRRORS The waiting area is super fun and trendy, music is playing, it’s great. When you’re hired and on the other side, everything changes. The offices are dirty and disorganized. It felt like what i imagine working in one of their retail stores feels like. In fact, my desk seemed totally unprepared for me. There was trash in the trash can, old post-it notes at the desk, an old collection of odds-and-ends pens and pencils. It looked like i was just stepping into someone’s temporary make-shift desk. I wasn’t expecting much but that’s the first time I’ve ever shown up to a new job and things were that unwelcoming.

Explore other reviews about Forever 21

5.0
29 Apr 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good work life balance, was able to get time off whenever I needed to.

Cons

Sometimes wasn’t relieved from break

2.0
5 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Clothes, coworkers, flexible hours, fun set ups, good start

Cons

Manager, low-pay, not enough staffing

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