AKQA reviews

- Weekend work - Repetition of the phrase "think of this project like a startup", by people who have never worked at a startup - If you do go in to the office on a weekend, take plenty of fluids. AKQA does not pay for air conditioning for future ex employees that it forces to work over the weekend - Persistent changes of direction - Abuses of power - Ignorance / indifference of low morale - It's not a safe place for women to work Sociopaths. I'm serious. Don't work here.

Where do I start? - Sexual harassment, trespassing, and lack of leadership empathy. - Skewed and inconsistent standards. Apparently some alcoholics can work at AKQA while others are fired. - Clients have drawn back their work and budgets to a trickle. Don't expect to sell in or work on big, innovative experiences. You'll likely work on banner campaigns, social whatever, or various website updates. - Leadership continually tries to sell in old ideas across multiple clients. - Leadership doesn't know the basics of: running a campaign, understanding the skills their subordinates, how to read anyone emotionally, how to strategize product vs. lifestyle vs. social campaigns, budgeting, organizing resources, how to function like normal human beings. -The blame game has replaced any sort of basic communication. You'll like play and never know it until you have your first review. -Zero career development. You'll likely guess what your title really means or be asked to work on projects that are well below your wheel-house. -Favoritism is felt far and wide. Good luck if you work in creative or strategy. -You might see a tumbleweed or two. The continual empty office resembles a ghost town. -The best have left. And some left without being with the company for more than 6 months. -No one knows what AKQA stands for. Values and beliefs has been "evolving" for more than 5 years. -Big name hires are hoping to undo years of bad press and bad morale. But they'll likely be spread too thin too quickly to make a difference. -Underperforming employees are kept around for whatever reason. -Basic questions are never asked. What kind of talent do we have? What's the budget? What's the timeline? What was the client feedback? HEY WHATEVER IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE NEED THE MONEY. SAY YES TO EVERYTHING. -Communication between departments is non-existent. -Big cultural differences between on-site teams and SF office employees. It's like two different companies exist. Happy and well oiled machine vs. toxic wasteland. -Stereotypes live big here. Only those who play their part loud and flamboyantly will be remembered. -You'll likely interact with multiple sociopaths. Better yet, your whole team might be full of them.