Vantaggi
The IKEA culture is something management tries to make happen on a daily basis - to make a better everyday life for the many people. That includes a good work-life balance, reasonable pay and benefits, subsidized meals, and a co-operative working atmosphere. That doesn't mean that management won't expect you to work hard, especially at busier times! It is true that you can start as a cashier and be running Customer Services in a couple of years. There are many stories of people having fast advancement, especially if you're internationally mobile since there are only 37 stores in the U.S. To get into IKEA, you should take time to understand the culture, which you can read about on the website. Don't show up for interview in a suit.
Svantaggi
Being retail, customer complaints can be difficult to deal with if you're on the returns desk or a manager, especially since IKEA has a strict return policy on some items like bedding, and if you don't have a receipt. It can get insanely busy sometimes, but management often helps out.