Hot Topic Employee Reviews
Out of 598 Hot Topic employee reviews, 63% were positive. The remaining 37% were constructive reviews with the goal of helping Hot Topic improve their work culture. The Sales team, with 64% positive reviews, reports the best experience at Hot Topic compared to all other departments at the company. The Marketing team offered the most constructive feedback, with 36% of that department's reviews constructive in nature.
Briefly describe your overall experience at your company
What do you like best about the leadership team?
My boss is great the company sucks now but she’s always there for y
Review from Sales Dept · Posted 6 days ago
The ability to communicate with hem
They get things done right and fast
I feel as though im being lead and guided not just told what to do
Kind, hard-working, talented, strategic. They care about their team and are passionate about the company.
What does the leadership team need to get better at?
Overall communication especially regarding shift changes, keeping the environment mature and professional, and responsibility for managerial errors
the district management team could be more involved an more attentive
Review from Sales Dept
Taking feedback. I find it comically laughable that i was scoffed at multiple times during an attempted professional discussion with someone twice my age yet they were a store manager.
Everything, my manager is terrible
Review from Sales Dept
Trusting their employees, delegating tasks and fostering a a sense of being a team, not just boss and subordinate.
What is the best part about your compensation package?
Im not sure about it
If you work hard you move up and get paid very well
Insurance is far less our of paycheck than other retail companies.
I like all of it, everything is great!
40% off for me and my brother
Review from Sales Dept
Why do you feel undervalued and what would make you feel better about your compensation?
Been there almost ten years I literally put in vacation time at my other job that pays me double just to help with inventory and they’re treating me as if I’m nothing if I can’t reach a kpi in a two hour a week
Review from Sales Dept · Posted 6 days ago
More flexibility for full-time students.
The pay is minimum, no matter how expensive the area you are in, and management get paid cents more the associates with triple the responsibility. It's not at all livable, even if you're running the store, they don't even make up for it with giving you more hours.
I want to be paid fairly and management doesnt care
Review from Sales Dept
Cost of living is higher and factoring in commute times, i struggle with the amount that i bring home to be able to pay my bills.
What are some of the best things about your team?
They’re like my little alternative fami
Review from Sales Dept · Posted 6 days ago
we try to get the most done and hit our deadlines
Sales associates and assistant managers work very hard and achieve many goals in our district.
Coordination and anything that involves a group that works together to get tasks done
we share common interests and help each other out when needed.
What do your coworkers need to improve and how could you work together better?
we need new management and to be paid more for the kind of work we are doing
Better reliability and understanding of boundaries
Work as an actual team and not act like we are in high school
Be more friendly and understanding
Review from Sales Dept
I put less of the blame on my coworkers and more of the blame on the lack of training they receive. Management/district managers need to actually set standards for new hires instead of just hiring seasonals to do halfassed work then get rid of them
What is most positive about the culture and environment at your company?
I love my fellow sales associates, most work hard and stay professional. The store playlist is a vibe, and many of our customers are not only regulars but are fun, relatable, and bring good energy.
Hires are kind and accepting to all people.
Everyone respects each other anf whenever a issue comes it gets appropriately dealt with.
They're very welcoming and inclusive
Exclusive, friendly, experience building, and fun
What needs to change to make the company culture better?
A lot. Attitude. Care. Communication.
Worker to be more curtious to each other and be responsable but i can understand in a way for the hours given and payrate that might be a reason for them to be so laid back also not have so many workers so everyone can take home a responsable ck ...Maybe there would not be so many workers leaving
The company needs to completely re-evaluate how it treats its employees and who they appoint to be district managers. District managers who throw others under the bus to protect themselves are not ideal for their own failures are not ideal for the job
better management, better treatment of employees, fair and equal treatment of everyone and not just the people management likes
Grow up. Stop creating unnecessary teen dramas
What did you like most about the interview process?
Was laid back not nerve racking
Review from Sales Dept · Posted 6 days ago
Very casual making conversation very easy and comfortable
It was fast and easy to score the job
I didnt have to dress fan y
Man this was two years ago i dont remember
Review from Sales Dept
What would you improve about your company's interview process?
Update the people youre interviewing.
Can be a slow process if being hired in management due to background check. Otherwise easy process
the interview process it was bad
Maybe more job experience because sales have fallen dramatically because of the people with lack of experience or lack of concern for their job.
Review from Sales Dept
They do 2 rounds of interviewing. 2 diferent managers interview you, asking many of the same questions. The interview process itself is rigid for what it is: only being paid minimum wage and only working 2 or 3 days a month.
Review from Sales Dept
What makes you most happy at work?
Working with associates and meeting new customers that you share similar likes with
Review from Sales Dept · Posted 6 days ago
helping customers and creating unique interactions and relationships with them
My coworkers are aweseome sauce
Being with most of my coworkers and making customers happy when I am able to help them.
Being able to interact with and help the customers
What's going wrong and how can it be improved?
Customers say things are expensive and poorly managed
Review from Sales Dept
for discrimination laws to be respected
In the workplace its increasingly more difficult and the demand for perfection is to high. A customer could rate an employee a 10 out of 10 but of they dont recommend hot topic that reflects negatively on sales associates and puts their raises and job accountability at risk.
Theres been discrimated , foul words, privacy invaded
hot topic needs to be scary again
What do you like best about your company?
When I spoke to people outside of my store. The company does have some wonderful people but I did not get the pleasure of working with them often enough to justify staying.
The laid back and collaborative environment & empowerment to innovate.
What would you most like to see improved at your company?
The culture at the store level
More freedom in work space & schedules, more time off/holidays