Pros
I work with a good bunch of people in my store and other store managers. I think providing you have a good Manager that doesn't make you work for free or through your breaks it's a good job for a colleague.
Cons
As a store manager I would like a certain level of autonomy. But we have no influence or decisions to make. It's all comply comply comply!! Here's how you do it, here's when you do it. Despite the lack of control we have we are 100% accountable for results such as stock loss. Very difficult to manage when the depots are very poor, you don't get a lot of the stock in but can't claim the cost back! Productivity targets are crazy. Nowhere near enough hours in the business. Most stores make the staff work for free but I refuse to do that ,only me and my senior Sup work for free. Really feel this especially around events, such as stock counts and changeovers, drastically underfunded and sometimes have to stay late into the night for free. This comes at a cost to family life. I fully understand that retail is high pace but its relentless here. As a store manager I expect to work extra hours but through choice, to drive my business, not necessity. I wouldn't mind so much if there was an incentive scheme but for store managers there is nothing. The under performers get the same wage review as high performers. Used to be a good place to work, now there is a huge fear culture. Area managers are more like auditors, they come in and check all of your implementation. Very few pleasantries, no talk about growing business or people. I like my area manager he is a good guy but they are all under so much pressure and they just end up passing that on to you but in an aggressive way. Just feels like being hit with a big stick all the time. Systems are poor and outdated, ask for extra equipment such as hht guns to help achieve and it's declined. Software on the guns is awful making it slow and painfully unproductive at times. Directors painfully out of touch or in denial with what's going on in the stores.