Pros
-Exposure to some of the best art in private hands, and with a Christie's ID card, free admission to many of the world's best art museums. Entering the warehouses (a regular privilege) is like entering the secret warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. -A prestigious name known all the world over, although you'll always be asked "You work at Sotheby's, right?" -Passionate colleagues who are specialties in their respective fields, most of whom are eager and able to share their passion, knowledge, and expertise. -Work can be highly rewarding at times. -Decent benefits, with a generous annual vacation period (if you can get the time off). The Christmas-New Year break is fantastic and does not detract from your total vacation period.
Cons
-Employees are overburdened, overextended, and underpaid. Salaries often don't increase, and bonuses are low if available, which they often are not. All overtime must be approved in advance. Internal morale is, more often than not, low--you will, at some point in your day, encounter someone who is overtaxed and attempting to remain sane. That person might be you. -During sale periods and "marquee weeks", and catalogue production, working 7 day a week for several weeks straight is expected. -Company no longer actively invests in its younger employees, thus many leave it after only a few years. This stands in stark contrast with the middle-aged and older employees who have been working there for decades. Graduate and doctoral degrees are barriers to entry for many specialist positions. -Company management: bureaucratic, territorial, petty, and greedy. For the millions (and billions) achieved at auction and in private sales, very little trickles down to the employee level. HR and management are often aloof and insular, with the latter looking out for number one. Clients regularly complain about Christie's excessive fees and costs, taking their business elsewhere. Larger and larger slices of cake mean nothing when you lose the meat and potatoes. -Company ingratiates itself to clients and collectors by hiring their children and relatives, or having them intern over the summer, sometimes displacing and hindering advancement by more-qualified employees. This network of the wealthy and well-connected permeates the workplace culture, from the initial hiring process to internal advancement. Not surprisingly, a very noticeable diversity problem. -Gossip and office politics are rampant and deleterious. -Very old company is still in the process of modernizing and its growing pains are felt throughout. This includes reliance upon outdated systems and mindsets. -French billionaire CEO and entourage are excessively focused on market share and profitability, all at the expense of relationships with real, long-standing clients.
