Pros
This is my favorite job I've ever had for a few reasons : the actual work, the people, the work-life balance, and the inclusivity. I enjoy most of the work I get to do and I love my coworkers. We do a lot of work for Target (KNOCK does all their in-store signs). A sincere effort is made to ensure full time people stay around 40 hours and don't get overworked which I find to be rare in an agency environment. Usually if you need help with something to finish on time if you say something soon enough you'll receive support, they're good about that. The key here is to speak up, you must advocate for yourself. No one actually knows if you're starting to feel overworked unless you tell them! Same with projects, if you want to be assigned to a particular project, make that known. If you're ready for new work, talk to them about it. They're pretty receptive which I find to be rare in a workplace, especially a creative agency. You really have to communicate, though, step up and don't wait for people to notice stuff that needs improvement before you say something about it! Another thing I love about working here is that KNOCK has its priorities right, for instance the company contributes to many local charitable initiatives and has been very inclusive and welcoming to LGBTQIA and BIPOC long before 2020. There are frequent trainings to stay up to date and be as thoughtful and considerate to those of all cultures, backgrounds, abilities. It's something that's prioritized here more than anywhere else I've worked and though as a society we have a ways to go with that stuff, KNOCK is at the forefront! Staff is decently diverse (it's Minneapolis though so it's still pretty white, but that's not exclusive to KNOCK, that's consistent with many workplaces in Minnesota). Leadership team is made up of good people. The CEO handled the pandemic exceptionally well and encouraged everyone to support each other and make efforts to collaborate well despite working from home. CDs were supportive too, reaching out to talk and ensure everyone was doing okay. No full time employees lost their jobs, contractors ran out of work for a few months but most were brought back when work picked up. The business is clearly run well and feels stable which is a testament to good leadership. There's so many agencies in Minneapolis and I genuinely feel that KNOCK is among the best! I'm proud to work there, and I can see myself working here for a long time because I'm happy.
Cons
Honestly, KNOCK seems to pay average-to-low for our industry. Negotiate your pay and ask for more because the initial offer will for sure be lower than market average. It's not personal, it's just how it goes here and a lot of places but luckily you do your research if you're on glassdoor reading this! Everyone I know who said they "took a pay cut" to work at KNOCK has since left, so don't do that - advocate for yourself and really negotiate if you get an offer. KNOCK, like many modern-day employers, is learning to pay good people what they're worth or see them go! Most people start as contract for usually a few months (set your hourly rate HIGH while you can) then get offered full time so that's the time to negotiate. Speaking of the hiring process, heads up that there is a non-compete agreement. It states that working for KNOCK's current or prospective clients or any competing agencies that share clients KNOCK has is prohibited for 18 months. Especially pay attention if you are a young, fresh-out-of-college designer who feels so eager to take a cool job, it is wise to really read every word before you sign anything. This might be one of your first jobs but realistically it wont be your last, so make sure you're not restricted from what you may want to do in the next year and a half.