Mary Kay Reviews

Pros

Best home based business as far as commissions, at 50%. Choose your hours, when and where you work, level of inventory, and level of effort. There is no limit if you put your heart and soul into it.

Cons

You cannot work part time if you truly want to make money and promotions, as they advertise to new consultants. In order to receive bonuses, win the cars and trips, you have to recruit and you have to carry lots of inventory and have your calendar fully booked at all times.

Advice to Senior Management

Make it easier to win bonuses without such high recruiting numbers. It is difficult to force other people to work if they don't want to.

Pros

money, enriching the lives of other women, recognition, being able to fulfill your dreams.

Cons

must be able to dedicate *enough* time to it, people are hesitant to try it, dependant on other people to reach maximum growth

Pros

opportunities for growth, fun, encouraging, challenging

Cons

take 100% committment, hard to balance, location is in traffic congestion area

Pros

This company is having it's best year ever, apparently. Many people go to work here because of the core values of the company and it's mission from it's founder - to enrich womens lives. Unfortunately, the real culture of the company isn't what it's portrayed to be from the outside looking in.

Cons

Political and backstabbing. I was given no feedback on my job performance. Too many managers are plotting with each other to keep their jobs while plotting to get others fired.

Meanwhile, they are not doing their jobs. They're making their employees do all their work which puts an incredible amount of pressure on the employees, who have no voice. They have no voice because the directors who oversee the managers give complete and blind support to their managers. This creates a large window of opportunity for abuse of power by the managers.

Advice to Senior Management

Take a serious look at your middle managers who've been there for 12+ years. Then take a serious look at their managers, the directors. Actually seek out your employee-level workers and begin to build a conversation with them. Create a culture that promotes fairness to everyone, not supreme rule by a few. Make it okay to talk to someone about their managers if they feel they are being mistreated and taken advantage of. Send the message to management that they are not "untouchable" - that they are accountable for the well being of their team members - not just the sales numbers. Make their employees' approval count for something. Make it a two-way street. Give your employees a voice because their managers aren't giving them one. Base their performance reviews on how their employees rate them.

Pros

High quality products
Strong positive relationships with coworkers
Excellent profit sharing

Cons

Weak executives
Little strategy, less follow through

Pros

You get to be your own boss and you learn the ropes of becoming a great manager. I loved it

Cons

One big problem is having to find, sell and keep your customers. Another problem is not having a good director

Advice to Senior Management

Make sure that you are head strong and you have the passion for the products that Mary Kay has for customers

Pros

good income potential
girl time
good discounts
potential to move up quickly depending on how hard you want to work

Cons

somewhat of a mlm business - can't move up in the ranks unless you have people underneath you

Advice to Senior Management

management does a great job - overall a great company to work with, even though you are a independent contractor - the sky is the limit with this company - if you work hard, you will succeed

Pros

-Create your own schedule
-Be your own boss
-Make a decent income (as long as you're dicsiplined with cutting yourself a "paycheck"
-Awesome support from other Mary Kay "sisters"
-Make a difference in other women's lives
-Free training which will help in all areas of life (money management, time management, emotional management, how to talk to people, how to sell and not be "pushy", etc)
-Really, really fun corporate events on a quarterly basis (this was my favorite part)
-Prizes (we're talkingg diamonds, trips, cars, etc...)

Cons

-You really have to depend on others to work in order to make money if you are recruiting
-A lot of times, people won't hold their appt times for their facial, thus, you make no money
-People signing up and then disappearing
-People quitting and sending inventory back after you've poured everything into them
-Not a guaranteed paycheck (unless you are doing it 24/7...I tried that. It's rough on your family.)

Advice to Senior Management

None, I think MK Corporate does a fabulous job!! We are independent contrators. It's up to US whether we succeed or not in this business, and they will support you 100% when you need help. They supported me imensely and I give credit to this company and opportunity for the person I am today. I have more confidence and better work ethic. I will always be a firm supporter of Mary Kay. =)

Pros

independence and money and peace of mind

Cons

you have to work real hard

Advice to Senior Management

more lovely products

Pros

Pay, benefits, were all top notch. They provide you with the golden handcuffs so you can't find another job that pays as well or that match the benefits.

Cons

poltical, political, political. No matter how good you are at your job, if someone doesn't like you, it's all down hill. Management does not protect employees but leave you hanging out to dry. Too many so called Christians at the company that do not know the meaning of the word! Moto is the Golden Rule, but in reverse, do unto others before they do it to you! Mean hateful management.

Advice to Senior Management

Get rid of VP;s of Purchasing, Supply Scheduling, Production Planning, Transportation, Packaging Engineering, and then whittle it on down to Directors of those groups, then to the managers. Maybe then it would be the company Mary Kay Ash started.