Pros
The things I liked most about the job as department manager were the people I worked with, the opportunities to move up, bonus pay, and the active work it provided. I made many friends that I still keep it touch with and use to get continued discounts on products when I go buy from the store. Its fairly easy to move up in the company and make some good money for retail. Working with the public, while stressful, was rewarding when they came back to get help from you on their next project.
Cons
With the job being retail, the public can be tough to work with. They demand your attention even when they are simply to lazy to walk 8 feet to the display board that tells them what they need. The two worst things by far would have to be the constant degradation of morale in the store and the general office. If the store isn't hitting its number you had to cut people's hours to make payroll. When GO comes, every top level person freaks out and brings it out on the part timers. They are tick tacky over the stupidest things and do their best to make it awkward when working with people. While the ability to move up is great, it comes at a cost, you are at their whim to where and when you move up. I started as a management trainee, and was able to move to assistant in 3 months. I was offered a chance to open a new store in Ohio. They promised me the opportunity to either transfer or promote up in a minimum of 6 month, max 1 year. 6 months came, no go. Fine. At 1 year, they started putting transfer freezes on everyone and then when you were able to get an interview then they put up random excuses to keep you from moving. I had 5 interviews to transfer, everyone gave me pros and the ultimate con. Funny thing was that each con from the person was something that the other four said was a pro for me.