Product Manager - A lot of PhDs, but not a lot of brains - Senior Implementation Manager Elsevier Employee Review

2.0
Sep 22, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The pros mostly comprise of non-professional perks such as the following: - In-building gym with showers - Such a large company, people won't really notice if you don't show up - Company pays for your phone usage and hardly questions phone abuse - Easy to be mediocre as there are so many people and you can hide behind the corporation - The main perk I hear from people who still work there is that it's so flexible, you can come and go as you please since no know really notices anything, you can travel, spend their money... it's hard to leave this kind of freedom even though people actually don't enjoy working here

Cons

- The typical corporate environment (could be a pro if you like this type of work force) - High number of mediocre people, which was surprising to me seeing that there are many people with high educations (I guess it goes to show that where you graduated from doesn't mean you have skills) - The products provided were pretty boring (of course this is just my opinion, but I would rather work for a company I'm actually passionate about) - Management... haha... well, let's just say it was a Con - The location at Sloterdijk station is depressing

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5.0
May 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Industry leader Great benefits Incentive trips Invests heavily in its employees

Cons

Processes can be burdensome and clunky at times

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Elsevier Response
3w
Thank you for this balanced and thoughtful review. We're glad to hear that our benefits and investment in people are making a positive impact, those are commitments we take seriously. On the process feedback: Leadership is actively reviewing operational workflows, and the advice to listen more closely to employee feedback is something we're holding ourselves accountable to. If you're open to it, we'd encourage you to bring specific examples forward through your team or people and culture contacts. Change is most effective when it's grounded in the real experiences of the people doing the work, and that means you. Feel free to reach out to us at elseviergdrev@elsevier.com to provide more information Thank you for staying engaged and for caring enough to share this. It matters.
4.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Every direct manager I've had has been excellent: supportive, positive, and trusting me to deliver good work instead of micromanaging. Employees tend to stay, which suggests stability even if not everyone gets promotions or significant raises.

Cons

The pressure to outsource as much as possible, which is common at every publisher, leads to frustration. Because promotions or significant raises seem to be rare, you may be stuck in neutral unless you're very openly ambitious.

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