Pros
- Most of your colleagues will be a) relatively young b) as miserable as you are c) willing to drink with you on a daily basis when you threaten to quit for the umpteenth time - Occasionally you might have a chance to laugh - like when the CEO publishes a book on dieting and spams the Edelman network via social media in an attempt to promote it - Edelman offices have snacks! Who doesn't love snacks?
Cons
The combination of poor leadership, lack of structure, and generally sour attitudes makes this company frustrating to the point of near-insanity. I doubt anyone has the time to read ALL of my concerns regarding Edelman Berland, so a high level overview will have to suffice: In my time here, I've watched as teams suffer from a lack of support (read: working 24 hour shifts without any hope of reprieve, much less recognition), senior staff who refuse to address critical issues within their local "leaders" (read: allowing VP-level staff to "work from home" day in and day out while neglecting to so much as read email, much less HELP their drowning staffers), and unrealistic expectations set by individuals unqualified to do so (read: primary research experts promising secondary research capabilities that simply do not exist). While leadership turns the other way and continues to promote the same individuals (some who sneak in midday and check out at 4:59), mid-level staff carry the weight of large clients and increasingly laughable expectations. The majority of managers can't be bothered to manage - they expect teams to tolerate the torture simply to get the Edelman name on their resume while they kick back and enjoy a four hour workday. The fact that clients are tolerable - and more often than not, I dare say enjoyable - is among the only factors preventing me from leaving sooner. I feel more supported by my Edelman network than my own team - including multiple bosses who rarely know what I am working on or for whom, but who ultimately demand their name on the deliverable. I'm not naïve to the fact that most large companies have issues, structure or otherwise, but the witches' brew of inexperience, incompetence, and disgusting lack of respect between team members makes this company a far cry from the "strategic intelligence" and "smart engagement" we claim to offer.