Pros
You’ll meet some seriously smart and talented people here who are deeply passionate about their specific niche. You learn a lot, fast. And you get to see and work with art, objects, and people that you’d never have access to anywhere else. It's really a one of a kind place. I’ve personally never had a bad experience with anyone, but like any big company, your experience totally depends on your manager, colleagues, and your department. Overall I think there’s this misconception that everyone who works here is rich, snobby, and elitist… but that’s definitely not the staff (...that’s the clientele). Most people are super hardworking and are here because genuinely love art. If it were about the money, trust me, we’d all be making a lot more. And probably wouldn't still be here. It’s far from a perfect company, but it’s also far from the worst. At its best, it can be exciting, inspiring, and even a little fun.
Cons
Finances have been tight, which has led to layoffs, restructuring, and a lot of understaffing. That naturally means more stress and heavier workloads for the people who stay. The art market itself is in a strange in-between phase, and it sometimes feels like the company doesn’t have a clear plan for where it’s headed—or how to evolve the Sotheby’s brand for a younger, more modern audience. Since the company went private and leadership changed, there’s been a clear dip in company spirit and sense of community. There used to be fun, lighthearted company wide events to look forward to, but that’s basically faded as budgets have tightened under new ownership. It’d be nice to feel more connected across departments and to see senior leadership communicate more openly and more like actual people. A little more fun and humanity would go a long way. For a brand built on luxury, the facilities, work environment, and benefits could use an upgrade to match that. The stress and deadlines will always be part of the job, but the culture and environment should make people enjoy coming to the office and be proud of the company they work so hard for.