Pros
It’s a cool job in the sense that there’s nowhere else in the area that does something like this. You’ll see and learn things you never expected went into putting on a convention. Most of the people who work here are really great people and they have really fun backgrounds. You can make some diverse friends here.
Cons
Given that Comic-Con is such a huge cultural touchstone and a big part of San Diego culture, getting a job here felt like a dream opportunity, but I learned very quickly that it’s a toxic environment with an unhealthy habit of pitting employees against each other to prevent them coming together and talking about all their mutual issues with the way the organization is run. Not to mention the underpaying and bad treatment of employees. No one will ever get a promotion here and raises have been nonexistent for years. Not to mention the 20% pay cut from “everyone” when Covid hit. 20% of 200K is not the same as losing 20% of 40-65K (which is what the majority of employees are making). I’d be surprised if any of the executives actually took a pay cut. Someone should make them submit their tax information for this past year! One thing to keep in mind when you’re reading the reviews on this site is whether they’re an actual employee or volunteer. Volunteers at Comic-Con are treated like gold because without them donating their time, the company wouldn’t be able to function or make any money to survive. Employees are definitely not treated the same. Maybe at some point it was but in the past few years all I’ve seen of the work environment is everyone in leadership behaving as if the mere act of working for Comic-Con should be enough for people, like I can pay my rent or bills with that. They talk about their great benefits, and sure, the health insurance was great, but not sure that coverage is going to last for much longer at this point. I cannot emphasize this enough: The pay is a joke. Everyone is underpaid compared to any other company, even other nonprofits. They will keep using the excuse of ‘we are a nonprofit,’ meanwhile the top 10 people in the company make over 200K and not a single one of them has actual experience or training running an organization like this. Not once did I see managers have to go to any training that would teach them how to better manage their employees. The mandatory sexual harassment training? Also a big fat joke. If you’re a person who’s actually worked at a professional environment before, you will lose your sanity working here. I bring up the sexual harassment thing because it is a serious issue at work and at the shows. If you are a woman considering a job at this company, here is your warning: the Me Too movement has not even touched this organization. If you get an interview, ask them about the Me Too movement and what their thoughts are on making sure employees and attendees are safe onsite. Ask them how they handle reports of harassment and assault onsite and in the office. Ask them what they’re doing to make this a safe work environment for the women in their organization. I bet you’ll catch them off guard and if they say there are no issues, that’s a big fat lie. They are so good at covering all that up. I cannot tell you how disappointed I was to see that this “great” organization that supposedly stands for giving new and small voices a platform does a hell of a lot to cover up anything dirty about the bigger voices that are regulars at the show. I wish I could give examples that would shock you like they did me, but that would jeopardize women I know that have worked there or still work there, but if you take me at my word, believe this: Sexual harassers and assaulters are never reprimanded if they’re friends of anyone in a leadership position. It’s disgusting how they turn a blind eye and harassment reports just disappear. Nepotism has corrupted this place beyond redemption. I wish someone in the government would do a proper audit of this place. Anonymously interview the employees. You’ll find out such insanely shady things they have been doing.