Vantaggi
As a sales specialist, you get the opportunity to work for the sexiest brand in the world! Although at surface level, it seems like a standard retail position, this is an extremely empowering job if you let it be. I had no idea when I started to work for Victoria's Secret as a summer job in college that I would love it so much and want to stay with the company as long as I have. Shopping for intimates is a really vulnerable experience for women, and I feel lucky to play a role in helping women feel beautiful and confident in their own skin. I've learned so much about consultative selling, building relationships and how to give customers a really great experience so that they return again and again. My experience with management at the store level has been really positive - most of my managers have been great coaches who care a lot about the employees and the customers. Perks of the job include: - Commission-based sales incentives: If you hit your sales quota (Avg. $200/hr of selling each month) then you receive 6% of your total sales for the month in commission minus your base pay - Gratis (free/discounted merchandise): Each month, employees get the opportunity to either receive launch products for free, or for a discounted "buy in" rate (usually $5-$15 for a range of bras, panties, PINK apparel and beauty). This helps you understand the product better and be able to connect customers with new product offerings more effectively. - 30 percent discount on merchandise (excluding sale) comes in handy, and during the holidays, you'll receive 40 percent for a limited time! You can use your Angel credit card Rewards but not Secret Rewards or free panty coupons - Flexible scheduling: Honestly, the way I've come to see it is that if you open up your availability, you'll get more hours. Plain and simple as that! But if you are a busy student, management is normally very flexible. I even got to take off 2+ weeks for sorority recruitment each fall season. With an open schedule, I receive around 25-30 hours a week part-time right now. Even on my busiest weeks, I still received 10-15 hours when I was in school. - Fun work environment: It's dependent on the team, but most likely, you'll work with young people (mostly women, occasionally a few men) who are energetic and easy to get along with. Some of my co-workers became great friends of mine!
Svantaggi
- Learning curve: When you first start working on the floor and aren't super familiar with the product, it can be overwhelming! But the best advice I have is to just go with the flow and ask as many questions as you can. You will learn so much about the bras, fragrances and other products from the people you work with. Don't be afraid to tell a customer you're not sure what the difference between a "Perfect Coverage" and a "Perfect Shape" is: if you ask a manager or co-worker, you'll be more informed in the future and the customer will leave with exactly what she was looking for. - Some very long shifts are bound to occur: On a Saturday in December, I worked over 12 hours! Being on your feet for that long can get really uncomfortable, so invest in some quality footwear. - Uncomfortable situations: Because of the specialty product we sell, sometimes the clientele that comes in to shop can be a little inappropriate. Be assertive enough to know when to call on a manager to ask someone to leave. I've had male customers make inappropriate comments to me, and have seen some CRAZY things! I have left each day on the job with plenty of stories: some heartwarming, and some totally shocking. - Retail kills your weekends and holidays: This job is no exception. Prepare for long Friday, Saturday and Sunday shifts (you can request one Saturday off each month) and as it gets closer to the holidays, remember that you will be working on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, the 26th of December and New Years! This job takes away a lot of time from family and friends because you will often work the hours in which the rest of your social circle is not.