sales associate

associate

retail supervisor

stocking associate

merchandising assistant

•         Owns execution of the tasks for markdowns, signing, marketing, and facilities. 
•         Ensure areas of ownership are in compliance with productivity goals and company standards 
•         Work in partnership with the ASM/Merchandising Manager(s) to ensure any movement of merchandise meets company presentation guidelines 
•         Participates in weekly store walks with Store Manager and Assistant Store Manager 
•         Maintains pricing and marketing accuracy. 
•         Coaches team while working shoulder to shoulder with them on the best practices, while meeting company productivity standards 
•         Ensures productivity goals are met while adhering to company defined best practices 
•         Communicates successes, opportunities and solutions to the Store Manager or ASM 
•         Ensures efficiencies and minimizes merchandise handling to meet payroll budget and efficiency goals 
•         Ensures that all damaged and defective merchandise is processed per company standards 
•         Maintains clearance merchandise to ensure gross margin is maximized 
•         Opens and closes the store in accordance with company standards 
•         Monitors payroll when opening store, and adjusts schedule accordingly 
•         Complete register audits as necessary 
•         Practices and ensures all company policies and procedures are followed 
•         Utilizes recovery statements to minimize external loss 
•         Communicates successes, opportunities and solutions to the Store Manager or ASM to drive business results 
•         Executes all activities related to Risk Management & Safety 
•         Ensure store meets Store Compliance Audit requirements 
•         Ensure store is compliant with daily cleaning activities 
•         Supports the team and processes by ensuring that tools and equipment are readily available 
•         Handles maintenance issues and open tickets with Facility Services 
•         Monitors and follows-up on preventive care/scheduled maintenance 
•         Manage Supply and Maintenance expenses 
•         Executes Monthly Store Safety Audit 
•         Ensures cash wrap controls and merchandise protection devices are in place and executed to meet Loss Prevention strategies. 
•         Monitors the store fund (i.e. safe and registers) to ensure the store has appropriate funds for daily/weekly business needs 
•         Exhibits behaviors to drive customer service standards in all sales Associates 
•         Work in partnership with the ASM/Merchandising Manager(s) to ensure any movement of merchandise meets company presentation guidelines 
•         Ensures a clean hazard-free shopping and working environment through daily cleaning activities 
•         Ensures team is executing fitting room to company standards 
•         Ensures checkout best practices are being executed 
•         Coaches and trains sales associates for the execution of all operational processes 
•         Manages activities related to staffing of the associate population in the store including hiring            administration 
•         Provides follow-up and feedback to associates on performance of tasks 
•         Elevates personnel performance issues to Store Manager or ASM immediately 
•         Provides motivation and recognition to the team 
•         Assesses training opportunities from observations and company-defined best practices and makes recommendations to the Store Manager/ASM and to execute action plans

Working as maintenance on 2nd shift is unbelievably unorganized. 
There are apparently 3 tech levels, Tech 1, Tech 2, and Tech 3; all being based on experience (So, they say.) The pay for each level is inconsistent as in, it's whatever they decide to give you and believe me, they try and low ball you, seeing if you'll take their lowest offer. 

I was a maintenance Tech 1 and I found out I was making more money than a Tech 2. What? My question to that is what is my incentive to make it up the ladder if the pay is whatever they decide? The Maintenance manager was very rude and had an ego that beat him to the door each time and his hair is always gelled to the point it looks like it might crack. My supervisor at the time was a very relaxed, team oriented leader. However, he quit out of the blue, and the Manager talked a lot of trash behind his back. 

The unorganized nature of the Maintenance scene drove a wedge between the Techs, themselves. We were constantly at each other's throats and it was made even worse when the pandemic happened. They refused to hire anymore techs and we were down to 3 men. Each shift should have 6 members so, they can rotate A & B on weekends. Nope... This didn't happen. They started requiring us to come in 7 days a week and said it would be like that for the rest of the year to catch up.

The pay: Well, it pays well because you'll be working more overtime than you signed on for. I was promised 40 hours a week with voluntary overtime and sometimes mandatory overtime if something broke down during the shift, that's fine, but when people quit and their spots go unoccupied for over a month and you just dump their work onto the existing Techs? That's where I draw the line. They'll also try and get you in at below company standard pay rates when you sign on (I had to be given a raise the first month I was there because it was apparently much lower than company pay rates.) To me, that's dishonesty, and something I can't stand behind anymore. A word to the wise, If a company tells you not to discuss pay, it's because they are messing a few people over and making a buck from it.

Benefits: The insurance is apparently really good, I used it once or twice, but I'll be honest, I've never had a medical bill that wasn't between 500-1k dollars. So, it is what it is. 

Home/work life balance: I believe it is much better if you are working Operations as a normal employee, but don't expect to have a life if you're going for a maintenance Technician. 

On job training: Don't expect much of this. You'll just have to ask a lot of questions about things and hope someone knows the answer. Most of the equipment is in poor condition because they refuse to buy the parts to replace the worn ones. Everything is dusty and dirty, can't even tell a bearing is bad because of the 2 inches of gunk on it. 

Average day: It honestly isn't that hard of work. You'll be riding around on your bike, taking calls, and clearing jams, but the drama and forced hours keep me from wanting to pursue this anymore. My advice? Look elsewhere for a maintenance job. If you're looking for just a warehouse job, this could be the place for you, but not maintenance. Oh, and don't expect to take a lot of breaks, they'll call you just when you get to the break room and you'll have to turn right back around.

I started working at the Gap as a shipment team member and we started the day really early, a typical shift began at 5 am and was scheduled until 10 am with an on-call until 2. As we got closer to the holiday season out shipments nearly doubled, and we were usually working from 5 am to 4 pm. We'd get in our shipment at about 6 am and we'd spend our first hour getting racks and carts together, filling up our supplies of hangers and getting everything we needed, like censors and censor pins and trashcans ready for use. Our supervisor would let our delivery man in and we'd start organizing boxes into 3 categories: Men's, Women's, and Accessories. We'd take the largest shipment (usually Women's) and set up a system with someone opening boxes and dumping contents onto a table, two people opening and folding all the items that were in the boxes, two people censoring price pointed items and moving them onto either the hanger or baker's racks, and someone at the very end hanging everything that was supposed to be hung, we'd finish with the whole team running all the items and moving onto the next category. There were multiple policies and procedures to follow, but they were all relatively easy to learn. After only about a week of doing this I was promoted to a Full Time Women's Specialist - helping the merchandisers do whatever they wanted with the store and products- this included setting up and taking down displays and moving folding to hanging or hanging to a specific fold. I had never worked clothing retail so all of it was new information for me. I eventually worked the cash register and sales floor, along with the fitting room.
Perhaps the best part of working there were my supervisors, the specialists and management had absolutely no qualms asking EVERYONE in the store what they thought should be done about specific situations, none of the "higher-ups" acted like they were in charge of you and they all really gave you the space to accomplish assignments and projects on your own and in teams. Nobody had that "I'm more important than you," attitude that you so often see in management. The people that worked there were all awesome, everyone was very outgoing and mature, and we were all serious about our jobs. 
Probably the most difficult part of working at the Gap was working holidays - Black Friday, specifically. There were so many people and the store was a mess for a while, and I worked overnight Thursday to Friday and came back to close Friday night! It was very stressful and high paced but also extremely fun. Management paid for food for the entire weekend and they were so lenient with breaks because we were all so tired! 
The best part of the job was that the whole store was positive, I never had any problems with extremely angry customers that wouldn't calm down (after working in a grocery store this was like culture shock!) and everyone I came into contact at work was truly happy to work there.

Was hired as a seasonal call center customer service representative and given the whole corporate spiel - about how it was a great place to work, how inclusive and accepting it was, how seasonal workers were likely to be converted to full time staff after holidays if their metrics were right. TOTAL BAIT AND SWITCH. 
The call center in Rocklin has an issue holding on to employees, and now I know why - training was patchy, and after three weeks of it my class of fellow trainees still had no idea how to do certain things. (By the way - at the beginning of training, I was in a class of 30+ trainees. By the time training was finished, there were only 12 of us. The rest had quit. Should have been an indication!) 
There is no support from management, who don't want to be bothered even if a customer is screaming at an agent to speak to a manager. Helpdesk agents and management treat customer service agents like they're a waste of time. The company policy database is impossible to navigate, and you lose time trying to look up what exactly you need to do - if the guidelines are even listed in the database at all. 
The metrics are nearly impossible to meet, as you will have customers who want to stay on the phone for an hour and make you their personal shopper, so your average call time goes through the window. Those long calls will make you miss your breaks/lunch, which makes your schedule adherence impossible to meet.
The customers are the worst, and management only encourages us to appease them, which makes them more entitled. Get ready to be screamed at over khakis.  
As for the bait and switch - the week before Christmas, all the seasonal hire's schedules were wiped and we were informed we were being laid off, even though our hiring managers told us we would be employed through to mid-January. I was even given a 1 on 1 with my supervisor in which they asked which department I'd like to be converted to....and then a week later, I was unemployed. Week before Christmas, suddenly without employment, bills to pay - and to make matters worse, full-time employees AND MANAGEMENT were laughing about all the seasonal hires being laid off in the break room. So much for that fun, accepting, inclusive company culture they gassed up during orientation, right?

The only thing I will say to this job's credit is the dress code is incredibly relaxed, and they had the best break room out of any job I've had. 
But that doesn't negate the fact that this was the worst job I've ever had. Between the lack of management, the terrible customers screaming at you and trying to scam you every day, the impossible metrics, and the stress of going in there every day wondering if it would be the day I quit, I was almost relieved to be laid off. I came out of this job with therapist-diagnosed PTSD. Don't apply here. 


At first working here was something I was looking forward to. And I thought the holiday season was going to be the reason why I hated my job, but it wasn't. That was cake compared to dealing with management every day. I understand the purpose of management and their responsibilities on a daily basis. (drive sales, customer service, associates, scheduling, merchandising, etc.) That being said, I'm not writing this review as a bitter ignorant person. (okay, maybe a little bitter hehe).....

Let me just list some things about working here I particularly hated in no particular order...

1. There are on call shifts that appear on your schedule that aren't guaranteed hours, and you have to call the store 2 hrs before you're supposed to come in. I received schedules with only on call shifts for the week and did not get to come in for any of those shifts. Basically 0 hrs on the week - but it's the thought that counts right? NOT IF YOU HAVE BILLS.

2. If you requested days off through the computer system which is what you're required to do 2 weeks in advance to the date you're taking off - the next week's schedule after you have your day off, your hours will be cut significantly. I went from working 6 days one week, requested a day off, my new schedule had only 2 shifts and an on call. 

3.  The more gap cards you get - the more management will like you. You could genuinely be trying for one, asking every customer but if you don't get one a manager will talk to you about them. Which theoretically is fine... but... if you say you try and they see you try or that you almost got one the response shouldn't be "well almost is not enough". That's discouraging - especially when you're already doing a million things for 9.00 an hr. 

4. The managers don't communicate with each other. Even if you request a day and it gets approved there's a 80 percent chance you'll still be scheduled. And then you have to call and then they'll be like text someone to cover when really they should have known and scheduled the other people whom like you are getting 6-10 hours a week like you are after the holidays are over. If you do need someone to cover a shift in the week, they speak as if they're okay with it but when you call to tell them of the swap or cover they get annoyed with it which is pretty stupid. Where's the logic in that? 

5. Co workers outside of management are alright. I have nothing bad to say about them. 

I could go on forever...

haha I will say the discount is pretty nice. After you're done nickel and diming yourself to pay your bills or whatever from the little hours. Treat yourself (or wish very hard that the other job you're applying to you get before your discount expires haha) to 50% of regular price merchandise and 10% of sale items. You can also use their discount at the sister companies within Gap Inc.

A typical day at work begins when I come in a few minutes early.  This allows me to hang up my coat and put my purse in my locker.  I grab an available walkie-talkie and headset, then clock in directly at the time I am due to start working.  Then, I seek out a manager or assistant manager, who then gives me the lowdown on how well we are sale-wise and promotion-wise.  They give me my basic instructions for the shift, and then send me on my way.  For the first few days I worked at Gap, I was instructed to work in our Kids and Baby section, which does not allow me to work at the register or the fitting rooms.  I mostly would straighten and sort the products on the tables, price and relocate items that come in from returns, and greet and assist customers.  
The first day I worked in the fitting rooms, I floundered a bit.  I had not been instructed on how to use the phone, so I did not know the proper way to deal with calls and transfers, as it was a single phone with no switchboard or labeled keys for specific offices.  
Though I had been trained on the registers, I was not trained to give out GapCash, a coupon given out as a gift to customers who spend over 50 dollars.  I made the mistake of trying to give the coupon to the customer without scanning it, and then this resulted in a rather unpleasant kerfuffle in which the customer yelled at one of my coworkers for not training me, when in reality it was my fault for not seeking help in ringing up GapCash before trying to carry out the transaction.  

I have learned that, in retail, it is better to ask for help than to improvise.  I have also better learned to be up to date on any promotions and new items that we have in stock.  

There is always a manager and/or assistant manager present at the store.  However, I sometimes see the higher-ups chatting with each other on the floor with their earpieces off of their ears, instead of working with the rest of us.  

The hardest part of the job is learning everything myself.  The training process was very short and minimal.  I missed a day of training, but the managers did nothing to catch me up to the rest of the workers, which meant that I had more to learn on my own.  Also, I sometimes am not able to take a break, even when I am working enough hours to warrant a break.  

The most enjoyable part of the job is working with customers and talking about fashion, two big interests of mine.

During the time I worked at the Gap Outlet, I learned how to efficiently and quickly execute tasks assigned to me. Most of the time, I ran the fitting room and helped keep one section of the store neat and organized. On days when we were short-staffed, I often ended up keeping multiple store zones organized along with running the fitting room. I had to learn how to balance keeping my zone presentable, running unwanted items back to where they belong, and assisting customers in and out of the fitting room. It is a lot to juggle at once, but I managed to get the hang of it. I did my best to make sure I provided good customer service, and I always made it a goal to make sure my zone was completely organized before I clocked out, whether I helped close the store or not. 
The management staff like to challenge the employees, but in a constructive way. There is a lot of work involved in a day at the Gap, so it's crucial that the employees are able to multitask efficiently. Most of the time, the managers are very good about dividing up the work between the employees who can handle the extra responsibilities. However, there were a number of times, where it was difficult to prioritize customer service over projects that needed to be completed. 
The most difficult part of the job was dealing with unsatisfied, angry customers. I was confronted by a couple customers who were unsatisfied with situations I could not change. I had to learn to remain calm, listen to what the customer had to say, and inform my manager while still trying to provide the best customer service I could. It was definitely not the best part of the job, but the management were supportive of the employees, and understanding of the employees' discomfort in that type of situation.
Overall, I would say that this was not my favorite job, but it was not an entirely unpleasant experience to work there. The staff are all friendly and supportive, which is especially important on days when the store is very busy. This was a good first-job experience for me because I got to experience the stresses and challenges of a fast-paced working environment, as well as the satisfaction of doing one's job well, and making friends with the other employees.

I've been apart of the Gap Inc. family for three years now and it's been quite an experience. I've learned so much about myself as a person and an associate. Working at Gap brought out a creative side in me because my managers gave me the opportunities to learn about upper level management. I became an associate leader and was able to teach new employees all the tips and tricks I learned over the years. Being an associate is hard sometimes because we deal with consumer's backlash from their day, especially during the work week. Customers have come in and taken their frustrations out on me and have even asked for my input on their situations. You serve as a friend honestly. We are there to make sure our customers leave feeling better than they did when they walked in the door. It gets hard because not everyone understands our mission, but we are honestly 100% focused on our customers. One of the greatest things about working at Gap is seeing customers come back for a second time and brag about how satisfied they are with the products they bought. As an associate, I'm there to give the most honest opinion I can but also follow up with a recommendation after giving my opinion. A customer once asked me if a pair of Always Skinny jeans flattered her figure. I took a few moments to analyze the jeans and in my head I was thinking "These jeans look terrible. They're way too small in her thighs and are giving her a muffin top." After rewording my response, I simply told her I think she should try going up a size in those particular jeans or switch to a more breathable material, such as the material in the Legging Jean. Turns out the Legging Jean was the best fit for her body shape. They flattered every part of her body and made her feel more confident. An associate's main focus should be the customer's satisfaction and they'll get positive feedback when they've done everything in their power to assist the customer. Long story short, I love my job and have every intention continue working for the company.

As a sales associate, you can expect to help customers by greeting them, offering a promotion when they enter the store (i.e. "Hi how are you today? We've got dress shirts and graphic tees that are on sale at two for $25 right now"). You can also expect to help manage fitting rooms: typically, 8 items are let into a given room at a time, and only one person is allowed in at one time. So you might be letting someone in or out of the fitting room, taking merchandise back to the sales floor that he/she doesn't want or that doesn't fit, bringing him/her other merchandise, clearing out of empty fitting rooms, etc. You could be ringing sales on the cash register, where you'd need to know what the store's return policy is. You may process shipment (take merchandise out of boxes, put sensors on it, fold or hang it, and then put it on the sales floor or in the stock room. You'll also be expected to watch out for thieves. So it's important to know what to look for. You can't pin it on a particular race, gender, or age. I've seen mother/daughter teams that look like they're from families that make over $200,000 a year try and steal something as cheap as a pair of panties before. Things you might look for are if the person is looking around to see if someone is watching them, if they've got their hands in the middle of a merchandise rack and their bodies blocking the view of their hands, if they're carrying large bags that look mostly empty and look heavier than normal (think Abercrombie bag that might be taped on the inside to deflect sensor detection machines--maybe even from a store that's not in that mall). They often work in groups and split up upon entry to the store to distract the associates while someone else steals. The best way to prevent theft is to provide excellent customer service, making sure to be very attentive, even when they act like you're being a nuisance! You'd be expected to straighten the store, vacuum, clean glass surfaces and dust at open or close of business. Then you may also be expected to help with other tasks at the request of your boss.

I was a Seasonal Merchandise Processor at Gap, INC. during Fall 2014. The work was pretty easy and steady. On days where there was not too many orders, they would allow employees to go home early if they wanted. The work itself was okay.
The attitude towards Seasonals, though, was pretty rough. Nobody liked having them around and it seemed like no matter how you worked or strived to do your best, nobody noticed.
The thing I did not like most about the Gap Warehouse was that the system that keeps track of your daily output progress was designed for an assembly line rather than a packages per hour system. At first, I did not really care, but I discussed this system with a friend working at a different warehouse. The Assembly Line program does not work in a distribution center warehouse because the orders you receive are not all standard, you might get orders with two baby shirts, and then the next one (I kid you not, this happened multiple times a week) would literally be 60 pairs of flipflops. Those two packages do not take at all the same time to pack and send out on the line. This would impact your daily output profoundly. I admit that I really cared about the quality of what I was packing (in the end, all the customers cared about was getting their items, not how neatly they were packed) to the point of slowing down my production time, but according to the computer, I was at 45% productivity (That was another thing, they calculated in percentages and did not give any sort of count number, like 'do 20 chutes in a day') which was really bad, considering that you needed an 80% to even be considered for full time hiring.

So, all in all, the work was pretty boring and repetitive, but for the most part easy and steady. The whole system needs and overhaul, and if you work as a Seasonal, you need to work very hard to stand out from the crowd. All in all, I would work there again and would recommend the work to students who need a little money around Christmas.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Sales associate 26 salaries reported	$14.23 per hour
Associate 23 salaries reported	$16.00 per hour
Retail supervisor 18 salaries reported	$18.35 per hour
Stocking associate 20 salaries reported	$1,763 per week
Merchandising assistant 15 salaries reported	$23.88 per hour

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