Pros
- Amazing reputation - you are working with the best of the best - Great exposure to a fantastic range of high-profile clients - Working there will have you prepared for any kind of work needed of you in the future, if you make it through then you are unstoppable - Working there builds inner resilience and personal balls-of-steel - Probably some of the best office parties I have attended (and ever will!) - Great benefits (particularly if AM and above)
Cons
- Lacklustre yet incredibly competitive grad scheme due to client data sensitivity (an unhappy 12 months of endless media lists, basic admin - not PR) - Juniors are spread thin, and treated like glorified personal assistants to senior staff as a result - Abysmal pay for any staff below Account Manager - You're contracted to work only 7hrs/day, but in reality this translates to endless unpaid overtime & eating lunch at your desk due to high work volume - Lack of support for those experiencing work difficulties, even though I witnessed around 10-15 staff get signed off work due to stress. (Rather than show empathy, I was asked to 'let the team know' when I thought I might burn out or breakdown, so that they could schedule freelance cover) - High turnover rate of staff due to culture of stress, overtime and incredibly high standards - Lack of friendliness within a number of teams, easy to feel isolated In my exit interview the HR manager wholeheartedly agreed with every one of my reasons for leaving, She stated that I was not the first, nor will I be the last junior to leave for the above reasons.