Hot Topic Claimed Company

At Hot Topic we pride ourselves on being the destination of pop culture and music merchandise. We do this by hiring the best people, having the best product, and providing the best customer experience for our one-of-a-kind fans. We give back to our communities in our partnerships with Mental Health America, Notes for Notes, and Little Kids Rock. Hot Topic’s unique culture thrives in an open and collaborative work environment where autonomy and authenticity shape your success. As a company that stays ahead of trends, we want you to come with innovative perspectives, cutting-edge thought leadership, and a readiness to learn, all of which will contribute to the continued success of our business. We’ve built an inclusive community where you’re encouraged to be who you are and love what you do! read more

EMPLOYEE PARTICIPANTS: 764

TOTAL RATINGS: 6671

CEO: Steve Vranes

HR or Marketing? Claim Your Free Employer Account

Joining Hot Topic - Employee Onboarding

Employee Sentiment

The prevailing opinion from employees about joining Hot Topic is that the company was very unprepared on their first day. Hot Topic employees concluded that their overall onboarding experience was negative. 33% said their direct manager was helpful with their acclimation during the first 90 days. First impressions are important, and how prepared a company is on your first day leaves a lasting impression.

Answer	Percent
Yes	33%
No	67%

Did you have a positive onboarding experience when you were hired at your current company?

Answer	Percent
Very Prepared	0%
Prepared	0%
Somewhat Prepared	33%
Unprepared	33%
Very Unprepared	34%

How prepared was your company on your first day of onboarding?

Answer	Percent
Yes	33%
No	67%

Was your direct manager helpful with your onboarding during your first 90 days?

Meet Your Managers

Your direct manager highly affects your experience at a company; overall managers at Hot Topic are rated a D+. At Hot Topic most employees said they received feedback never or once a quarter. 55% of employees also said they felt comfortable giving their managers feedback. Learn More about your managers at Hot Topic.

Answer	Percent
Every week	18%
Once a month	24%
Once a quarter	29%
Once a year	0%
Never	29%

How often do you get valuable feedback on how to improve at work?

Answer	Percent
Yes	40%
No	60%

Does your boss expect you to work when you're on vacation?

Answer	Percent
Yes	55%
No	45%

Do you feel comfortable giving your boss negative feedback?

Negotiate Salary

If you think you and your skill set should be valued higher than your offer, negotiate your salary! 50% of men and 60% of women at Hot Topic said they negotiated their salaries. On average, Hot Topic employees earn $113,930. Hot Topic ranks in the Bottom 5% for compensation in Los Angeles. Learn More about Salaries at Hot Topic.

Average Salaries at Hot Topic by Department

$137k*

Engineering

$137k*

Product

$79k*

Design

$92k*

Marketing

$86k*

Operations

$65k*

Admin

$115k*

Business Dev

$105k*

Finance

$98k*

Communications

$77k*

Customer Support

$165k*

$120k*

$202k*

Legal

$156k*

Sales

^* Estimated salaries Estimated salaries are based on data provided anonymously by employees and/or estimated by other statistical methods.

Get Acclimated

Now that you’ve joined Hot Topic, get acclimated. Is lunch a social time or do people sit at their desks? At Hot Topic the most common answer selected by employees is a 1 hour break. Understand your coworkers and why they’ve chosen to stay at Hot Topic, many employees say it’s because of the comfort & familiarity.

Answer	Percent
Company Mission	0%
Comp & Benefits	38%
Co-Workers	12%
Comfort & Familiarity	50%
Career Advancement Opportunities	0%

What's the main reason you stay at your current company?

Answer	Percent
>1 hour	17%
1 hour	33%
45 minutes	0%
30 minutes	33%
I eat at my desk	17%

How long do you take for lunch breaks?

Answer	Percent
Multiple times a week	10%
Once a week	10%
Once a month	20%
Once a quarter	0%
Never	60%

How often do you socialize with team members outside of work?

Professional Development

Hot Topic ranks in the Bottom 35% of companies for professional development in Los Angeles. 45% of employees feel as though Hot Topic is beneficial to their continuous career growth, and 54% said they had a mentor at the office. Learn More about Professional Development at Hot Topic.

Answer	Percent
Yes	54%
No	46%

Do you have a mentor at work?

Answer	Percent
Yes	45%
No	55%

Does your current company provide you meaningful opportunities for career advancement?

Company Onboarding at Similar Size Companies on Comparably

Rate your company