retail sales associate

gestionnaire de stock

sales associate

retail store manager

adjoint de magasin

HomeSense

I've been working here for 2 years and I can definitely say that working here is a whirlwind of emotions. While this job provides us with a lot of skills we can use for any future job, the people here are definitely the worst part. You constantly work with people with anger issues who passive-aggressively speak to one another and gossip about you to other workers and managers. If you're new, you are given little to no training and are expected to already know everything. And if you don't, you're automatically put at a disadvantage as coworkers get frustrated with your minimal training and many people won't help or take you seriously. There have been numerous times where me or others make a simple mistake which ends with my coworkers complaining to the managers, and then the managers gossip to each other. You can't really trust anyone here as EVERYONE talks about each other and they get off on gossiping. If you're a young worker like me, I'd say steer away from this job as the great majority working here are older people who love to complain and control younger workers and play the manager role when they can. And if you're a student, be careful about picking up shifts and creating your schedule, as you'll frequently get scheduled random hours even if you aren't available. Aside from this, the work itself isn't hard. You spend the morning/afternoon bringing out merchandise and organize them on the sales floor, and then clean up the store the rest of the evening. Creating lifestyles of furnitures is pretty fun but can be really exhausting moving furniture all day. It doesn't really help that the customers are VERY spoiled and are expected to be treated like royalty and given a major discount. The managers don't even help us in situations where the customers are very aggressive. They will always suck up to the customers and apologize or offer a big discount, and sometimes even try training us while we're handling transactions. It's very embarrassing and makes us look incredibly stupid. You will make friends and it's pretty fun collaborating with your coworkers in making showcases for the store, but other than that, it really isn't worth dealing with screaming people then going home with body pain from the furniture. If you're in this for the retail experience, I suggest working somewhere else like a mall.

TJX Canada operates many great retail stores like HomeSense, Winners, etc.  But as an associate, know they can chew you up and spit you out anytime they like.  However, if you do like being a dog on a leash to them, and you let them call you to work at the most inconvenient times, and cut your hours on a whim, then you might be able to advance.  Not guaranteed, though!

No internal promotions, no progress reviews, nothing.  Very generalized and substandard training (you'll be left with so many questions and situations that you genuinely have no idea how to approach, then they'll huff and puff about how you should do the very thing they did NOT train you on).  They can also be very disorganized sometimes.  They expect you to be excited about getting a measly $1 every time you find a specific type of error - One that occurs maybe once every 2 years, and everyone knows is rare.  And the one time you do find it, whoever tells a manager first will claim it for themselves and leave you out since you are not allowed to claim it for yourself, too (Weird loophole?!). Don't be surprised to take care of toilet and bathroom cleaning, too - there are no janitors, so it's your responsibility to ensure that broken glass, spills, and nasty bathrooms are clean and presentable. Bet they won't tell you in the job description listing and training.

On top of that, you might have a maximum of 4 shifts a week, and sometimes, you have one short shift for an entire two/three weeks.  Don't expect to see your co-worker/work friend for a while - this job is like a revolving door. High turnover, even if you are successful at your role, if management doesn't like you, you will be kicked out!

This job is literally the type of job YOU pay to work.  Not them paying you.  You can definitely not make a living with this.  You'll work and work and work, and at the end of the day, your pay won't even cover the price of your work shoes.  The deductions alone will make you question why you bothered in the first place.

The only thing that keeps me going is some of my co-workers and some of the sweetest customers that purposely came to the store just to see me.


A typical day at work is, you go to the warehouse and pull out heavy tanks that each weigh like 50 pounds! You're then expected to put away all the merchandise from that tank in 20-30 minutes, whilst helping every single customer that stops you to ask you a billion questions. Oh, but it gets better! You also have to do something called, "recovery", and what that basically is is taking put backs and returns from customers from the front or back service, and putting the merchandise away, as well as tidying up the area that you're putting your merchandise away. Oh, and get this, they expect you to pull out 5-7 tanks in a day! Are you freaking kidding me?! That's literally impossible, considering the amount of times you're stopped by customers. This place is a joke! The management is a joke! The only good thing about working here is the coworkers, and the vending machines. Other than that, this place sucks.

Now let's get to the management. God forbid you can actually talk to the scheduling manager without having your head chopped off! It's like your issues and life struggles are insignificant. I once tried to calmly explain to the scheduling manager that I live pretty far and rely on public transportation, so I can't work such late shifts, and suddenly the scheduling manager started treating me like trash. Well excuse me for wanting to get home at a decent hour. And don't you dare try to ask for help on an assignment, because the store manager will just treat you like you're an incompetent fool. You're expected to do so much with NO HELP and an extreme lack of training, it's just ridiculous! I don't deserve to be treated like trash, I'm a freaking human being! Treat me with respect!

Overall, I would not recommend working here, because the management doesn't give a rat's behind out their employees. They treat you like a slave and they would start pulling out whips if they could. The amount of stuff you're expected to do for bloody MINIMUM WAGE is pathetic!

I worked at Homesense over the summer before school, and while it started as a good experience I’d definitely say it’s a job to have for a short period of time. I learned quickly from the staff and my department was wonderful and accepting. I took issue with some of the upper staff/management because they can come off as really cold and demanding even when you or your colleagues are doing a good job. Along with this I felt sometimes specific staff felt the need to take over and lead in sections that they aren’t particularly most knowledgeable in which tends to get on employees nerves. At the job you really learn self regulation with the positions and responsibilities being very self led, as your team members are working on varying tasks to meet the days’ quota. (This aspect I really enjoyed). If you want part time work though I recommend keeping the it as your only job because the staff sometimes overbook part time hours and give you longer shifts, which isn’t always the best especially on double delivery days. The interview process is fairly easy and there seems to be A LOT of new employees often which seems to say there may be high turnover rate. The majority of staff feel like family aside from those upper few (minus the store manager who is the sweetest). And the customers you get in day by day can either make or break your mood. Kind of a roller coaster job, that needs strong individuals who don’t take tough moments too hard. Definitely a true learning experience that highlights the ups and downs of a retail job.

I enjoyed the work I did while at Home Sense.  I really enjoyed working with nice people and the customers for the most part were great too. I really enjoyed talking to customers and helping them.  I would often go the extra mile to do what I could to make their shopping experience great!  I learned a lot from the customers I helped.

However, management does not listen and spends a lot of time either micromanaging or not paying attention at all. The company says there is an open door policy,however that would depend on who you speak with. The store manager is very laid back and the nicest one of the bunch (managers) and approachable, or the operations manager that has only one way of doing things, is not very organized, and the scheduling was often put up late. I also know of times that employees were not treated well by the operations manager. There are other managers for different departments in the store some were easy to work with and others not so easy to work with. That is pretty much the way it is at most places of employment. I believe it is often a reflection of how they are treated by upper management. I would say that would be the case at this location.

This is also the experience I had when speaking with HR at head office in Calgary.  The person I spoke with was very nice, but their was no follow through with the concerns I had.  

Nice place to shop, but I would not work their again. I was even offered a job with another company while shopping at the Calgary Trail location. I had no idea who I was talking to only that I was speaking with someone nice and sharing a few ideas. I chose not to take the position, but it was nice validation after my experience with Home Sense.

A typical day generally involves being on cash (depending on how busy it is you many be on cash quite often). You will be assigned to one or two zones in the store in which you will get to know it well enough to run when your coordinator is not there. Cashiers may ask you to find prices for them. Otherwise you are to get all merchandise onto the sales floor that comes off the truck mon-fri, your next responsibility is to make sure you complete any 'projects' your coordinator assigns you and make sure your section is clean. 
I had an amazing team and am glad I got the experience working for them. They really give you the ability to make decision on your own as much as possible and it teaches you great customer service. 
Management often does games and makes most huddles engaging and enjoyable. Total open door policy. You learn great merchandising skills here as management and coordinators are continuously teaching you and working with you, also, there;s a merch book to give you the run down if you need. 
Hardest part of the job that I find is multi-tasking when there's few people working. They do not schedule a lot of people to work when it is not their busy season (Christmas). 
The most enjoyable part of the job is interacting with customers, most are very easy going and fun to talk to. Another is putting together displays, you can often have fun with it (following their rules) and feel proud of it after too when everyone notices it. The "JOY" committee is a great way to show your co-workers that you appreciate something they've done for you at work. A simple sticky note saying "thanks for your help" really helps you through a hectic day! I definitely suggest working for HomeSense!

My experience at Homesense was not the greatest. Maybe for other people it wasn't as bad and some probably really enjoyed it, but personally I don't think it was at all what I expected it to be. First of all, during the orientation they emphasize how much they want to create a growing and enjoyable work environment for you, and how they're always there to answer your questions, and how you should ALWAYS ask when you need help with anything, but as soon as you don't understand something or need clarification they look at you as if you're incompetent. You are also expected to do a numerous amount of tasks at once and in a short period of time, and once you spend a bit longer at one task than the other, you're always getting picked on for it or scolded at. The job itself is amazing for gaining customer service experience and learning how to handle customer complaints and tough situations (especially if you're on cash) the co-workers were great, very positive and friendly attitudes, however, management was different. For this location most of them had short patience/ short temper and were not willing to help you grow and expand your knowledge, also a lot of the full-time workers were much more favored and not given such a hard time and definitely more respect, unlike me who was in school at the time. The job itself was fun for learning and gaining new experience but was extremely  hard to advance your position, and not worth putting up with disrespectful behavior from the managers.

Welcoming Atmosphere: HomeSense fosters a warm and inviting environment where employees feel valued and appreciated from day one.

Friendly Co-workers: The team at HomeSense is comprised of genuinely friendly and supportive individuals who are always willing to lend a helping hand or offer advice when needed.

Approachable Managers: The management team at HomeSense is approachable and supportive, making it easy for employees to voice their concerns, share ideas, and seek guidance.

Positive Work Culture: HomeSense promotes a positive work culture that encourages collaboration, creativity, and teamwork. It's a place where employees can thrive and feel motivated to do their best.

Opportunities for Growth: HomeSense recognizes and rewards hard work and dedication, providing employees with opportunities for growth and advancement within the company.

Flexible Scheduling: HomeSense offers flexible scheduling options, making it easier for employees to balance work with their personal commitments and responsibilities.

Employee Discounts: One of the perks of working at HomeSense is the employee discount, which allows staff to enjoy savings on the products they love and help create a beautiful home.

Training and Development: HomeSense invests in the training and development of its employees, providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed in their roles and beyond.

Employee Recognition: HomeSense values the contributions of its employees and isn't shy about showing appreciation through various recognition programs and incentives.

• The job is fast-paced, which is great ( if you thrive in fast-paced settings ) 
• Coworkers are fantastic.
• Pay is unliveable.
• No benefits are given until you’ve worked a certain amount of hours - if you’re not a full-time associate, this is almost impossible. 
• Usually given one/two shifts a week that are no longer than four hours.
• Unless you are management or a coordinator, there is no income stability. With no income stability and being paid close to minimum wage, you’re screwed for living expenses.
• The turnover rate is quite high due to income instability, rate of pay, and lack of hours.

They company shows no value or appreciation for their employees which is so, so unfortunate because it’s the little guys who make the company what it is; it’s very disheartening. 

If you’re just stepping into the workforce, it’s a decent place to get some experience, but long term, it is not practical or realistic for anyone who wants consistency. An individual cannot financially support themselves and their responsibilities on a wage that sits at or a bit above poverty line. 
As a multi-billion dollar company, you should be providing your employees a liveable wage, along with essential medical benefits, and consistent scheduled hours. 

Oh, and the discount is 10% - doesn’t even cover taxes.

This is just ridiculous.


A typical day would include an overflow of customers which results in everything becoming increasingly fast paced. As a customer service representative I have learned to be very efficient, answering phone calls, organizing carryouts and cashing customers out all while making sure to provide positive customer service. The hardest part about the job would be handling many things at once, such as making sure your previous customer gets their carryout, while taking on a new customer, or paging managers and coordinators for markdowns and faulty returns. Also the clientelle also differs based on location, therefore as an associate, it will become easy to diffrentiate the demands and expectations of customers based on the demographic they are coming from. Acccurately enough, HomeSense stock will also differ based on which location you are working at. Management is also very good depending on the team and how they are. Co-workers make homesense an enjoyable experience, for I had the benefit of working with great people. Aside from that, all the beautiful merchandise that comes into the store also made it a little enjoyable.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Retail sales associate 1 salary reported	$19.94 per hour
Gestionnaire de stock 15 salaries reported	$19.97 per hour
Sales associate 4 salaries reported	$15.00 per hour
Retail store manager 13 salaries reported	$20.28 per hour
Adjoint de magasin 3 salaries reported	$55,743 per year

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