Edelman reviews

3.4

62% would recommend to a friend

(3,502 total reviews)
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Richard W. Edelman

59% approve of CEO

43% positive business outlook

Edelman has an employee rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars, based on 3,502 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Edelman employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Media & Communication industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

4K reviews
1.0
Aug 13, 2019

Toxic Culture

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Some teams get exposure to interesting clients.

Cons

Edelman does not care about you as a whole person. Atmosphere is gossipy and catty. All they care about is how much work and money they can squeeze out of you. Regret making to transition to agency work from in house. No wonder we can't keep clients and can't keep up with our competitors. It is burnout for real, with none of the perks of other demanding jobs.

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Edelman Response
6y
I'm sorry to read your post and it sounds like a conversation with local HR is in order so we can understand more about your experience and what specifically is leading you to feel this way. I can assure you that the firm leaders and HR team who I work with regularly do very much care about our employees. I'm hoping there are things that can be done to improve your experience. Please reach out. If you prefer to talk with me directly, I'm at Maria.O'Keeffe@edelman.com. Maria O'Keeffe, Executive Director, US HR
5.0
Sep 11, 2018

Best Global Firm

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Edelman is objectively the best global communications firm thanks to its privately-held structure, positive culture and willingness to celebrate high-achievers. - The D.C. and NYC offices both possess great client bases, especially in the financial sector. - When it comes to Financial Communications, it helps that Richard Edelman supports the practice - Legit opportunities for advancement - Thoughtful managers when they have time to get to know you one-on-one - Fair compensation and willingness to give meaningful raises when promoted - Depending on the practice you're in, Edelman will invest in professional development (e.g. conferences and trips)

Cons

- Edelman is probably too big right now at nearly 6,000 people - Too much focus on revenue over margin - Lack of focus on the basics (e.g. media relations, etc.) - Often times, weak senior talent at the VP-Practice Chair level doesn't get discovered as incompetent until after departures - FinComms leadership can sometimes be aloof and FinServ leadership seems to almost always lack the right sector expertise - Financial practice pays 15%-25% less than boutique peers

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Edelman Response
7y
Thanks for your thoughtful feedback! It's clear you experienced some of the great qualities of Edelman that I also value - positive culture, meaningful rewards, impressive client rosters, thoughtful management and more. While business growth will continue to be a driver for us, I appreciate your take on how our size can create some challenges. We're always trying the strike the right balance of growth and remaining true to our roots. If you have any other feedback to share, I hope you'll reach out at maria.okeeffe@edelman.com. Maria O'Keeffe, Executive Director, US HR
2.0
Sep 1, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Some managers and account leads are invested and look out for their teams. Generous PTO/benefits. Genuinely a good place to get exposed to a lot of new things at a junior level. (As long as you get out before you're burnt out and jaded which will happen faster than you think.)

Cons

Totally tone-deaf senior and middle management (both in terms of what employees and clients want and also industry trends and standards). Way behind creatively and rely too heavily on the way things used to be in the industry which is tried and boring and ineffective in today's market... Additionally, management is not transparent about Edelman's standing in the industry and what's going on within the company. Impossible to move teams or change focus even if your interest lies elsewhere within the agency and you have a proven track record of succeeding in that line of work. Direct managers are totally helpless in assisting here if they're under a VP level. I've seen so many people go through Edelman and express genuine interest in wanting to stay with the company but for career goals or changing personal circumstances want to move offices or change teams. They are at first discouraged and then ultimately denied after a very long (year/s) of back and forth. A lot of sector team leads are completely self-interested, disloyal and dishonest. They pretend to listen and then nothing happens or changes. As is included in almost every single post: overworked and underpaid. Junior and mid-level staff does all of the work and are not appreciated or rewarded with more growth opportunities or increased compensation so they leave. Insanely high turnover rate.

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Edelman Response
8y
This is a tough one to read. Your feedback is timely and helpful, though, as we're focused on rolling out our strategic plans for the year and can use your experiences as fuel to continue our efforts to make Edelman a better place to work. While it already is a fantastic place for many and I could share countless examples of successful career moves, ways employees have worked out flexible and balanced work schedules, and amazingly collaborative senior leader/employee/team relationships, that doesn't mean your perceptions aren't valid or valued. I hear you and I thank you for sharing your concerns. Maria O'Keeffe, Executive Director, US HR
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