Pros
-camaraderie is big here, potential to make great friends -there are some very smart people to learn from - but usually at a distance -if you are junior, there's a high chance you'll be given lots of responsibilities above your pay grade - you won't be compensated and will expect to carry out these things while still doing the job you were hired for, but it's a good way to get a higher-level position once you leave. -every so often they'll show an inspiring project video at an all staff meeting or host an event with field staff in the office - those things make you feel good about why you're working there
Cons
The Bad -rampant nepotism. seriously. not even hidden. It doesn’t really affect you on a day to day basis, but it lowers morale after a while. -no standards for promotion and/or labor categories - again, highly dependent on who you are (not in your performance, but more often personal characteristics – namely gender and how little you complain) -sexist assignment of job roles - women largely expected to "clean up", order food, plan events, etc. -no professional graphic designers on staff. expect poor quality presentations/images, unless they pawn it off on a younger staff member. -junior/mid level staff treated as replaceable, and as a result… -high turnover, all the time. they consistently lose over 10% of their workforce every 4 months or so. -no official work from home policy. but "some" people get to use it (see below) The Really Bad -loyalty means everything, even over relevant experience or job performance -no management standards or training whatsoever (you could get lucky, or you could get very unlucky - borderline abusive treatment from certain managers (plural, across all departments) exists) -no consistent systems in place - rules apply differently depending on who you are and who your manager is -more often than not, directors do not respect new business deadlines. Things will be rewritten at the last minute, late nights and weekends because of this are accepted as the norm, and no repercussions exist for those that blow past these deadlines consistently. The Ugly -no safe space to report negative behavior of any kind (HR leadership is untrustworthy and reports are notoriously not confidential) -no place to anonymously report on poor management behavior besides your exit interview -huge gender pay gap - men make more than same-level or more-experienced female counterparts, and are more likely to be promoted and/or given preferential treatment -no investment/desire for true innovation - AKA they will say they want to be at "the cutting edge", but don't want to use company time, funds, or create positions to back that up
