Pros

-Pay is decent for part timers
-There is a distinct career path
-The job is not difficult and is sometimes personally rewarding
-Benefits are good

Cons

Retail in general is not a place for any college graduate or any person with a potential future, but 7-Eleven is the worst. I was planning on continuing up the chain even after getting my bachelors degree but they are against promoting anyone who could actually do a good job analytically and physically. Don't waste your time. They are franchising out all stores so don't become a manager you'll lose your job.

Advice to Senior Management

Start listening to store level employees

Pros

Free coffee, fountain drinks and slurpees. The sugar or caffeine are the only way to get through a day.

Cons

Store managers are expected to work 6 days a week. No paid holidays for managers, no personal days for managers and since you are required to work 6 days a week, a week's vacation is 7 days off not 9. They have no benefits you must pay for your short and long term disability, AD & D insurance, etc.. You are hired as a manager, but must figure out how to manage a store that is open 24/7 after you spend 8 hours working the register, cleaning, stocking and in some cases cleaning the landscaping and sweeping the parking lot.

Advice to Senior Management

Staff your stores! Don't a hire a manager and expect them to work 8 hours on first shift and then do the job they were hired to do before or after forcing them to work a 12 hour day. This is the reason the stores are dirty, the customer service is bad and the inventory is a mess.

Pros

If you like an incredibly flexible work schedule and no direct oversight this job is for you. Great pay for the limited hours you have to put in.

Cons

Not challenging, often boring. If you are looking to develop yourself in the business world this is not the place to be.

Advice to Senior Management

Many in the company shoot from the hip, have limited direct oversight, and are not really held accountable for what they are tasked to do. A lot of people are getting paid very well to "show up" and nothing more.

Pros

Set own schedule during the week and not being confined to an office. Little over sight by management above you.

Cons

Long hours due to working on call. Very low pay that you are forever locked into with minimal increases - which were abandoned this year.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop with all the laying off of people in secret. Be forward, let people know that you will be reducing workforce so it doesn't come as a surprise.

Pros

Flexibility in work schedule
Job allows for personal life

Cons

Lack of recognition.
Managers do not provide adequate feed back.
No support from HR
The only way to get promoted is to kiss A__, which I refuse to do
Salary does not match performace or tenure

Advice to Senior Management

Get a grip. People who do the job should not be punished because of 1 year of bad sales.

Pros

Wonderful coworkers the rule rather than the exception

Cons

7-Eleven, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of a Japanese corporation. Over the years, the company's
autonomy has eroded, and it seems business decisions are made to the best advantage of Tokyo
rather than US operations. There's a loss of esprit de corps and business continuity.

Advice to Senior Management

People are your greatest asset. Give them room and security to reach for the stars.

Pros

You can learn a lot about retail.

Cons

Promotions are by who you know and not by what you know. You can be an abject failure, but as long as your boss likes you you will get a good review and raise.

Advice to Senior Management

Look for better talent outside the c-store ring. Stop listening to the 173 vice presidents and directors. Listen to the lower level employess.

Pros

Fast-paced enviornment makes workday go by quickly. In my particular location, it is a central hub to the community which makes you feel more connected to it. The management team is great and the open door policy makes them approachable. Advancement is very attainable if you ask what is required of you.

Cons

The location is a twenty-hour operation that requires a very reliable team (not always the case). The ordering procedures are somewhat outdated and very time consuming. During second and third shift you are usually left alone for a few hours to run the entire store. Constant "push" selling sometimes annoys customers.

Advice to Senior Management

I would personally like to see more team meetings in which everyone is kept in the loop about what is going on within the location and 7-Eleven as a whole. The monthly merchandising letters are informative but a meeting would be very motivational to the employees. The meetings could also create more of a cohesive work atmosphere.

Pros

Opportunities for advancement without a degree. I've known many people who for one reason or another didn't pursue higher education and were relegated to a low level associate position with the company. However, as time went on and they developed a track record that distinguished themselves in the workplace, they were given the opportunity to grow their career with the company. Their sweat began to payoff as they realized in this type of business the more productive time spent at the store, the more profitable the job.

Cons

Lack of communication. The company tends to play chicken with aspiring employees when it comes to promotions. Leverage an offer against them and you suddenly become the flavor of the week.

Advice to Senior Management

It's time to get serious about diversifying your business. Developing a better partnership with your employees is key to growing the business.

Pros

Weekly pay with benefits. No cost for purchasing a lunch or drinks while at work should you work elsewhere. There is a 7-eleven on almost every corner so therefore, you can obtain a job close to home...(in my case within walking distance), with no out of pocket costs to eat or drink every day. All in all I have found that the previous sales job I had making $2.00 more per hour plus commission actually turned out to be making less money with travel time, gas, lunch purchases and drinks for day. Very busy which helps the time to pass with lots of great conversation and interesting customers to make the day fly!

Cons

Lots of standing in one spot at register during busy hours. This can be very hard on the back for someone whom has back problems such as I. I do keep plenty of advil on me. You are in a very fast paced enviroment and must be able to multitask effectively in order to accomplish all of your job requirements while keeping customers happy and being speedy gonzalezzzzzzz!. Well worth it though and the time flies by.

Advice to Senior Management

Very important details of how things run seem to not be mentioned until you are faced with it. There should also be some sort of company handbook that itemizes specific information regarding your employment rules, regulations, benefits and expectations.