Pros
I can't believe how many people have posted such negative things about Victoria's Secret as an employer. I guess, and it shouldn't, it depends on where you work and who your leaders are. I've worked for the company for 6 years and have been at the bottom of the totem pole and have worked my way toward the top. The company has many benefits and I can share them from an associate perspective as well as a management perspective. As an associate, I believe we are very flexible with your schedules, whether it be because of school schedules or personal time needed. There are also a lot of recognition programs in place to reward associates for their hard work and to collaborate as a team to reach a goal. There are many opportunities to advance within the company and not because as some mention, you "kiss butt" but because senior management invests in you and your career choices. We have a program known as AIM, which stands for associates interested in management. It is a six month program that allows associates to really learn and understand if Victoria's Secret is the place for them. There are also internships available with Limited Brands that further career training if desired. Also, I loved that as an associate I was given an option of where I wanted to work within the store and was constantly trained in different areas to maximize my need for change and growth. The pay was average but compensation was given in other ways such as flexibility of scheduling, gratis products, and great work environment. From a management perspective, I feel like our brand is constantly evolving which keeps me in tune with my customer and her needs. We are constantly changing and learning great leadership skills that can be used outside of the workplace. There are many opportunities for advancement and career training. The benefits are outstanding compared to most retailers and they support continued education through tuition reimbursement. Finally, I can't say enough about the education and resources this company gives you to make you feel successful. It is unlike any other retailer I have worked with. I feel as though if I left this company, the business insight I have and ability to critically think about my sales results will allow me to go to any other retailer and work as their DM or RM!
Cons
As an associate, I believe it can feel annoying to have call-in shifts. However, the negative aspect of this can often be leveled by one's own maturity. The reason on-calls are given is to maximize your ability to have the most hours the store can give you, not to punish you. Unfortunately, retail is an unpredictable day-to-day sales gamble. If there are no customers to sell to, unfortunately we don't need a million associates to sell to no one. Know what you are signing up for in retail before whining about the choice you've made. As a manager, I believe the only downside of working for VS are the ones you create for yourself and those exist in all careers. (i.e: inability to have a set schedule... it's retail, what do you expect!)