Pros
Decent Benefits and Workplace Opportunities (Certifications)
Cons
I was employed at SMU for a little over a year. This review is NOT intended to shame/bash anyone, but is intended to speak on my experience as a young professional in the abusive environment at SMU. Below, I will list an example of the heinous treatment I encountered. I was an admin for an AVP. My job was to assist the AVP and other members on the team with administrative duties and tasks. This job at SMU was my first full-time job entering the corporate world. Never in my life have I felt unsafe in a corporate setting. Inadequate Training When I began the role, my training only lasted the first two days of my starting there. I was expected to memorize everything I had learned within the two days. Whenever I had a question about something, I was told to look in the training binder (which was outdated) for instructions on how to complete a task. The lack of training caused me to struggle immensely in my role. I was told I would be able to receive a refresher on material I needed help on, and when I asked for a refresher the I was met with constant gaslighting and disdain. I would also like to add that during my second day (during my training) on the job, my colleague was VERY RUDE to me and talked down to me as if I were a slave. Poor Leadership The AVP that I reported to showed signs of horrible leadership. She constantly used vulgar language (during professional phone calls). She was also very aggressive and used intimidating body language in her communication with me. Both the AVP and the colleague that I mentioned above made very racist and offensive comments about my natural hair. Several months into my role, I asked about my progress, and the AVP REFUSED to give me feedback. The AVP also micromanaged me constantly. When she went to the printer to pick up print jobs, she would turn to my computer to see what I was looking at. She would also ask me when she would arrive, first thing in the morning, what I was looking at on my computer. One day, I had made a mistake when scheduling an online meeting for her, and during the meeting (with the attendees on screen), she mentioned the mistake I made out loud. Whenever my boss was not in the office, my other colleague was constantly rude to me and would start arguments with me. When I brought up the situation to the AVP, she was slow to resolve the issue and placed the blame on me and threatened to involve HR TWICE! Both the AVP and the colleague who worked in my department constantly bullied, ridiculed, and criticized me at every turn. Unsafe Environment After months of dealing with this, I would be afraid to come into work. I began to experience immense levels of anxiety and fear because I knew what I was facing going into work. I was afraid of the move I made and every task I completed because I knew that I would somehow get blamed or severely ridiculed. With the abuse that I faced during my time there, I would highly suggest that my former colleagues be thoroughly investigated for their behavior. SMU, as an employer, has a lot to offer. However, due to the toxic leadership campus-wide, the turnover rate is EXTREMELY high! I wouldn’t want anyone (new or seasoned to step into the environment I stepped into or experience what I experienced. This post was made to share my experience, nothing more, nothing less.