associate manager

sales associate

seasonal associate

retail assistant manager

store manager

Hot Topic

A typical day at Hot Topic starts on the sales floor, where the customer comes first. Selling on the floor takes priority over selling at the registers, however selling at the registers is always encouraged. You help customers, and/or ring customers through, while keeping the store clean. There are often tasks to complete during the day, such as mark downs or stock. I learned a lot at this job, both about pop culture and the work environment. I learned the most efficient way to keep stores clean, how to put away stock quickly and effectively, how to prevent customer theft using customer service skills (a huge thing with the company is prevention before apprehension), how to tailor each experience with each individual customer, etc. You meet so many people through Hot Topic, people of all ages and cultures, likes and dislikes. For the most part, management is excellent. They are understanding and good at their jobs but occasionally make mistakes with things like scheduling. The workplace culture is excellent, Hot Topic employees are a very friendly group. The workplace isn't clique-y, and most people have similar or the same interests. It makes it better to work with people who love different things, for example if a customer asks a question pertaining to anime I can easily refer them to a different employee who knows a lot about anime. The hardest part of the job is the frequency of which they change promotions and change the way the store looks. The most enjoyable part of the job is getting paid to talk about the things you love with other people who love them.

I was very excited that Hot Topic was coming to SK and immediately wanted to apply. Unfortunately, after working there for nearly a year, it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The manager of this location has created an incredibly toxic work environment, wherein employees are berated for having poor loyalty (membership program), gossiped about behind their backs, and are threatened write-ups for simply forgetting to finish a task or (and this is new) for having too few loyalty sign-ups. The manager does not listen to feedback despite numerous attempts from a number of people, and has single-handedly created a high turnover rate at a store that has only been open a year. There is no to very little training given, and when you don’t know how to do something because of it, you are made fun of or berated behind your back. However, adherence to rules depends on your own likability, as only those who the manager does not like will truly face any consequences. Decisions are based on favouritism, as evidenced by the fact that the manager previously worked with three other employees (one being a lower level manager) at a different store. As well, some associates are expected to do the jobs of managers while still being paid as an associate, despite promises of advancement made long ago. While the other employees are generally nice people and decent workers, the way that the manager runs the store has created a stressful, anxiety-inducing workplace that I can not recommend to anyone. 

When I started I was a seasonal sales associate then I moved to being a temp manager. When I was a sales associate, it was very fun. I enjoyed working when I’m scheduled, wanting to better myself and do my very best every shift. It was very rewarding, I liked talking to customers and having a safe place to work at. If you are wanting to apply for a seasonal position or a permanent sales associate I wouldn’t definitely recommend. Especially if you shy and wanting to get out of your shell. Very good first place to work at.

Now that I am in a management position, everything changed. I was so happy at first, so excited to move up the company hoping to maybe be a district manager or something. I really liked the company. However, I’ve been finding myself in more stress then ever. I work super hard, making sure I do everything right but unfortunately nothing ever seems to be enough for upper management. I do what I am paid for and even then I don’t get enough to be paid for what I do. Being paid 40 cents above minimum wage is not worth the constant berating of not doing enough, everything you do is wrong. I don’t feel like there’s any support at all coming from my store manager or any upper management. There are also clear favouritism as well when it came to the district manager and a lot of the times it’s not management. You’re much better off being a sales associate really. Not really worth it.

Hot Topic is the place to be for all things music, pop-culture and fashion. You will have the chance to meet some great customers and work with great coworkers while connecting over your favourite things. Sales is key to this job as it is with any retail job. If you can stay focused on the culture and use that to drive sales this might be the place for you! 

However… The disconnect between store level teams and allocation teams is atrocious. Some stores are overloaded with product while others have next to nothing. District Manager visits  caused immense stress throughout the store. DM would be very passive aggressive when visiting and would make it clear which associates they did not like. Favouritism was a big problem. Visits always felt very unprofessional and uncomfortable. Minimal direct communication with DM outside of bi-weekly touch bases, but they were readily available if you ever need them. 

Some challenges with the company being very US based. The main issue was not having a Canadian website / ship  to store options to help drive sales

When I started at Hot Topic our store was considered part of the Ottawa district. Our DM was great, our manager was pretty terrible but as a whole our staff was good at coming together and dealing with her.

Then they decided to switch our store into the Toronto district, and we were reassigned to the DM FROM HADES. She was literally the worst DM I've ever worked for in my life. She was rude, didn't get back to us, accused us of things all the time, and very clearly played favorites.

Our Manager ended up getting fired before the holiday season and she refused to get a new manager in, so I had to run the store for 5 months by myself. We made more money then the last holiday season and my staff all loved the change. After the 5 months I asked if I could just take the store over permanently since I was doing a decent job, but surprise, she had hired her friend from Bath and Body to come take over our store.

As soon as the new manager came, they accused me of stealing money with no proof, while I had proof of where the money was and that it wasn't missing. They could never write me up but they bullied me into quitting. And after I quit they fired everyone on our staff and replaced them.

Working for Hot Topic was by far my favorite job. I met so many great people within the company, and a majority had the same interests so it was very easy getting along with my co-workers. Not only that, but the customers were always so nice and it wasn't really a stressful environment. However, the hours were so bad! you would be lucky if they even gave you a shift some weeks and if you did you would get a range from 3-6 (but this also depends on the traffic of the mall). Issue is that its way too over-staffed, and they can't hand out all the hours to everyone. Not only that, but it's impossible to move up in the company. If you're a sales associate and you want to move up, good luck. With all that said though, I definitely do recommend this job to people who aren't really looking for a lot of hours, and who are in school. Regardless of the bad hours, it still is a very awesome place to work and you will meet some of the coolest people there, so if the hours work for you, go for it!

Have you ever said to yourself, "It seems like it would be fun to work at Hot Topic?" If so, then you were right. Hot Topic is a great place to work, especially for students. They provide flexible schedules, (though not as many hours because of mall hours) and a great 40% off employee discount that works with ongoing sales, ensuring you get great prices. At both locations I worked at, the staff were incredible. Always a fun, happy, loving atmosphere and any employee would tell you that. Hot Topic is a safe space for anyone and everyone. Hot Topic is also a wonderful place for the LGBTQ community as well. The only cons are that it takes a while to move up, and hours aren't always so plentiful due to the mall hours.  The products are awesome and there is always something new coming in, you won't mind actually spending money at work. The customer base is honestly amazing, you meet people from all walks of life and there are very few rude customers. People shop there because they want too, not because they have too and it makes a big difference.

Customers, co-workers, and atmosphere highly desirable. Feel like part of the family. 
Drawbacks include receiving no breaks, insane turnover rate (don't expect to last longer than a year here)
management is extremely harsh and expects absolute perfection for minimum wage with no opportunities for advancement, possible 25cent/hour raise once/year(not guaranteed) and no benefits.
Scheduling is fair, but inconsistent. 30 hours one week, four the next.
Not based on performance. Each employee is given shifts in four hour increments, then asked to stay an hour or two longer with no break. If you are a sales associate, your hours will most likely be spread thinly across the week with many short shifts rather than one or two long ones.  
Sales numbers heavily focused upon despite having no incentive to improve.
Each worker is expected to be capable of all store tasks, which makes shifts more exciting and fun, you will rarely be doing the same thing every shift.

Working at the Fairview Park Mall Hot Topic has been an amazing experience. I love my job, and I rarely have complaints about how things work. It is a relatively easy job, in a relaxed environment. While the environment is relaxed, it is also very professional. They emphasize connecting with customers, relating music and other pop culture favourites with customers. A typical day at work for Sales Associates is using registers to ring through customers, and helping customers on the floor trying to make that sale. I learned how to handle returns and exchanges, what to do with difficult customers, and so many other things. I only have good words to say about this job. For the most part Management is fantastic, although some decisions made poorly. The schedule is very short notice as well. Hot Topic is a fantastic workplace where there is a little bit of something for everyone. I would highly recommend getting a job here.

I worked for Hot Topic for 2 years, and unfortunately, my experience was marred by a noticeable bias from the general manager. Their inconsistent presence and tendency to leave early created a challenging work environment. I often found myself undertaking responsibilities beyond my pay grade, such as managing the store solo during the manager's prolonged breaks. What frustrated me the most was receiving a write-up based on one-sided complaints, where the manager consistently sided with the other party without hearing both perspectives. On the surface, she would profess support and encouragement, but behind closed doors, she engaged in gossip and negative talk about employees. This two-faced behaviour created an atmosphere of distrust and undermined the notion of a supportive work environment. This lack of fairness and not wanting to take accountability made it a difficult workplace to be in. 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Associate manager 47 salaries reported	$20.65 per hour
Sales associate 26 salaries reported	$17.69 per hour
Seasonal associate 25 salaries reported	$17.69 per hour
Retail assistant manager 5 salaries reported	$19.73 per hour
Store manager 3 salaries reported	$30.68 per hour

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