Macy's – “An outstanding place to work, but work is the optimal term”

Pros

The company is very person oriented. They want the individual to succeed and in this desire, they do everything that they can to make sure that their associates have the right tools for the job at hand. They provide regular incentive to the associates for completion of work and tasks, and keep the goals clear and in front of their associates at all times. The expectations are made clear, and if you cannot perform, then they work with you to help you turn around. Its not a job for everyone. Must have product knowledge, be willing to learn and sale, and be highly customer service motivated.

Cons

The job can get frustrating from peers who do not have high ambitions for themselves or for their career growth. The environment is only as good as the employees at the store, and if a few bum members on the team are leaving others to carry the slack, then it can make the work experience frustrating. The employee needs to know that they're there to work, and that their responsibility is to the company clock, but like most retail jobs I've seen, some are more inclined to believe that its about spending time with their friends.

An additional irritation to the job is the requirement to sign individuals up for the Macy's Credit cards. While this is an integral part of continual loyalty and building a customer base, the honest truth is that not everyone wants a credit card. The associate needs to put aside their beliefs and understand that they are selling a product and that this product is only in the consumer's benefit When you can think like that about it, then it makes it easier to sell, and easier to talk about.

Advice to Senior Management

Management as a whole understands their associates, and that I'm proud of. The problem lies in associates who don't understand management and the larger goals of the corporation. I'd advice management to try to help these associates understand the bigger impact they're making.