Pros
Flexible hours, easy job, sometimes can be quite fun, learned alot about business.
Cons
The downsides with academy start with its employee structure. There is really nowhere to go unless a new store opens up in your area of you want to move to another state. Once someone reaches management they are really stuck there so even if you wanted to move up that is just about as high as you can go unless you want to devote 15 years of mediocrity. Another downside is the attitude of leadership. Store Director's are borderline worthless. (I have met several, not just mine.) Unless they are critiquing you, they are rarely seen. Mainly you see them talking on the phone or on the computer. Managers reflect that leadership style and are very rarely active except on busy days. Most of the time they do all they can to avoid doing anything. Which brings me to why (I think) they initiated the Team Lead system and now the Senior Team Leads. This is the step on the ladder that all the work gets passed down to. Store Directors pass their work to Managers, they pass on to Team Leads and expect the hourly, not salaried, Team Leads to do far more work than what they are paid to do. And then the poor associates at the end, most of whom are in school or just don't have any where else to work. But these typically are the most diverse and fun people to work with. Basically, unless you are at the top or the bottom, it's not that great a place to work. Also, the capitalistic fervor that drives the money making machine is a bit over done at times. For instance, we could have a week where we could demolish plan, but in order to secure the Management bonuses we have to cut hours from the associates. I know, I've the one who was told to cut hours. In summary, 85% of the work is done by the bottom, but the money goes to those at the top. It's a very messed up system. I agree with what another person said about them expecting you to be experts in your department but in no way pay you to be.