My son just started there so I've been reading up on it and then I found this page. And now I'm petrified for him. Did he make a big mistake?
21 replies (most recent on top)
Great first job. It demands face to face interaction with customers and smart associates develop product knowledge. It’s not a destination. It’s good for a typical min wage job and I’ve seen a lot of them move on to better opportunities.
24 yr Lowe’s former employee here. At this point I could see Lowe’s being good for a college student to earn some spending money or a senior citizen to supplement their income in some capacity, but I could not honestly recommend Lowe’s as a career destination job anymore for anyone. It will s— the life out of you.
IF I were you I’d encourage your son to go into the trades and not into retail. WE will always need plumbers, electricians, welders, carpenters, floor covering installers, so on and so forth. Those jobs are pretty much mon-fri too and you can make as much money as you want. They are not subject to layoffs either.
True
That or get him in a union. Sheet metal, Electricians, Plumbers
Your son would be better off at In-N-out burger or Chick-fil-a than Lowe’s. They pay more to start and I dated a 25yr old female that made over $150k
As an in-n-out burger manager. She was an extremely hard worker with no college. That or get him in a union. Sheet metal, Electricians, Plumbers... If he doesn’t like physical work than maybe a utility company call center (they can make $50k to $80k). Lowe’s wants human robots now, they don’t encourage free thinkers. If your son works hard he will be rewarded with more work and a low salary. I quit Lowe’s making over $50k a yr. it was the best move I’ve made.
Honestly with the way many employers are viewing Lowe's it may not be the best idea. I was told my staying in a job 10+years and power equipment training was a plus but it being from Lowe's was a downside. Grateful I made it out when I did.
20 years ago you could have made a career here, start very low and climb the ladder. Now, all paths are closed. Let him go somewhere else. Retail is a dead end street in 2020. Push him in anything tech, customer support, training, writing manuals - it pays 3 times more and it's less stress. Most community colleges have intro classes, do that and get an entry level job in customer support, a year there are he's cookin....
If he is going to be part of the 1% of 200 plus thousand employees that come on here to cry because they think Lowes owes them something then yes he made a mistake
Agree with the ones that say first job but not career
My son wanted me to get him in, and I told him No (mostly cause he’s lazy) but he needs to find a career path. If he just wanted a job for couple bucks while going to school I would have felt diff.
When I started, just after the turn of the century, it was a company where one could look forward to building a career.
Now, no.
Yes it’s a huge mistake
Great place to start a career. He can move up and get some real experience for his future.
He can learn retail first hand.
He can see how he can promote through entry levels, move up to a specialist, even manager. Then go somewhere else.
Companies like Lowe's and other large corporations don't want people to make a career. They like new blood.
Ita a great first job. However I wouldn't plan on making a career out of it. It used to be a great place for a career but not so much anymore. I have been there 18 years.
Lowes is a good first job. Pay is competitive, benefits vacation, sick, medical, 401k.
They offer tuition assistance also.
So my answer is for a first job absolutely yes.
Be a sponge and absorb what you are being
exposed to. Secondly, go to school and get a degree
If he is going to stay there for a couple years, and Lowe's survives, they do have a very good trades program.
Healthcare and tech are solid choices, even trade work (plumbing, HVAC, etc). As long as there are people, there will always be technology, health, and a need to live somewhere. Everything else is a f@rt in the wind with risk.
F— Lowe’s
A couple of points:
- Most feedback here will be negative, the site talks about layoffs and many people on this site are frustrated (rightly so) – go to IBM’s page here people are unhappy there. Coca Cola, the same thing. Oracle or Sam’s Club, the same thing…
- No matter where he goes he will be learning for about two years, he will learn quite a bit here – in that respect, it’s a solid choice as long as he learns
- Retail as a career is not the best option nowadays. Barriers to entry are very low, anyone can do it and that depresses wages. Add to that the shift towards online sales; things start to look bleak very quickly.
- I have two teenagers at home and I am pushing them into healthcare and tech, not sure how things will pan out over years/decades, my gut tells me that this choice makes sense
YOY NEED TO LEARN THE BOTTOM END OF CORPORATE AMERICA BEFORE YOU CAN APPRECIATE
SOMETHING BETTER.
I I’ll agree with the previous posts; Lowe’s is in a state of chaotic transition going from good to bad to worse. It is not a company where anyone sees a long term future. It is fine as a summer job or short term employment.
That being said the adults employed there look out for the younger associates so that they have a good experience. Many of us are parents as well.
Highly suggest he moves on. Transitionally, the job is ok I suppose, but this is NOT the place he wants to be long term.
First job he should be fine. As a career, absolutely not!