Pros
This company invests a great deal in its people, especially when it comes to education. Because of this (and my passion for education/training), I have been able to attend district trainings for color/artistry, and I've been able to facilitate my own artistry trainings in my own store. I also like that Sephora is committed to being at the forefront of beauty technology; all of the iQ systems make your job much easier & make the client interaction more hands-on and unique. Sephora also is committed to curating collections of products that are unique, varied, and all-around incredible, so working at Sephora for me means I don't have to try and fit a square peg into a round hole when it comes to my client's needs. I'm not stuck with one brand and their line of products that may not be right for my client--I have infinitely many to choose from. It is important to understand that if you're looking to get hired at Sephora to work in the color world (read: become a makeup artist), you're more likely to get the position if you have previous experience in makeup artistry. When I say previous experience, I mean working for another beauty company, going to school for makeup artistry, or another comparable experience. YouTube does not a makeup artist make. In my district, you actually have to audition to be considered for color (a practice I hope the entire company will adopt), otherwise you're more likely to be hired on as a cashier. It IS possible to progress from cashier into a world after extensive Sephora-specific training, but patience is key here.
Cons
It's retail, so the usual cons apply: unstable hours, occasional rude clientele, no full benefits depending on your part-time distinction, etc. Some may see the uniform ("costume") as a downside, but honestly, it takes the guesswork out of what is "appropriate" to wear to work. Just make sure you keep it neat/clean & adhere to policy on shoes/hair and makeup/jewelry. If you're not into putting extra time and effort into your appearance EVERY DAY, this is not the job/field for you. Because this is a beauty company, it typically attracts many women as its employees. With a predominately female workplace comes the possibility for lots of gossip/drama. Keep this in mind when you consider work-life balance and how much of your outside-of-work life you share with your coworkers. While the company has no rules about fraternizing with your coworkers outside of work, do so at your own risk. It can come back to haunt you, especially if you get into management.