BBDO Reviews

Pros

- Great people - they're friendly and nice. As an intern, they gave me some good advice and I got some good connections out of the time I spent there.
- The company does some great work in the advertising industry.
- Good work environment and convenient location.

Cons

Huge company so obviously you don't get to meet a lot of the people who are involved in the company.

Pros

A lot of industry exposure through immense work load
Exciting projects
Quality clients
Quality business partners
Good degree of responsibility given even at junior management level
Good internal communication

Cons

Employees are expected to work substantial OT every single day all year around without being compensated
The longer you work, the better; quantity of work is prioritized over quality
Too hectic work atmosphere
Not sustainable or effcient in the way they work
BUT this is agency life, not neccessarily to be blamed on BBDO as a company

Pros

-Mostly friendly employees
-Great clients
-Excellent location
-Tequila Joe
-Ping pong tournament
-Interacted with John Osbourne
-Making changes to function more as a mid-level agency
-Ability to grow within company at other offices

Cons

-Internal politics
-Creatives would supposedly sabotage each other on projects
-"Experienced" employees who tend to stifle creativity
-LOTS of employees- not easy to meet very many

Advice to Senior Management

There's not much you can do to get everyone involved with one another because the numbers are simply too large. However, changes need to be made to ensure that all the departments within the agency work together. If you don't, the work you produce will be mediocre and you will have disgruntled employees.

Pros

No micomanaging
Laid back atmosphere
Fair compensation

Cons

Lack of respectful treatment of some employees
Lack of ample training
Moody atmosphere

Advice to Senior Management

Managers needs to set out clear goals and guidelines for subordinates, and learn to treat non managerial employees with respect and dignity, for example when someone approaches mangement to get help they should not be told "get out i dont feel like dealing with you now", very unprofessional and i have witnessed this on a regular basis.

Pros

Great people, great work, great office

Cons

Low compensation comparing to other industry

Pros

Relatively flexible work schedule and low OT compared with other advertising firms.

Cons

The opportunity for promotion is also relatively low since they prefer foreigners to take senior or higher position. Almost all those positions are taken by foreigners.

Advice to Senior Management

I'm working at one agency under BBDO so I don't know whether the other agencies are the same. The leader in my agency is quite admirable and nice.

Pros

Opportunity for growth is terrific

Cons

Poor senior management - not inspiring or motivating

Advice to Senior Management

Appreciate work/life balance. People have lives to live. They can't come up with great ideas if they are confined to their cubicles and the internet

Pros

BBDO is a well known agency to have on your resume if you are looking for the experience. You will be working to a well known ad agency in advertising world.

Cons

- Sr. management looks out for themselves and often overlooks the welfare of their employees

- It can have a forced fun atmosphere

- NO rewards for hard work, or even good work for that matter

-Terrible clients. Mediocre creative work. No digital chops. The CFO runs the show here which proves that numbers are everything. I went 3 years w/o a raise...and I'm not the only one. Can't get my manager to even give me a performance review. Employees are stretched...if someone quits, they are never replaced. Terrible morale. Sr. Mgmt is out of touch...definitely an "us vs them" mentality. OLD SCHOOL in every way.

-Usually when people start a company they are self-motivated and eager to work hard and do long hours to get the work done but usually normal employees who come from normal companies expect some type of recognition.

-Do NOT expect a thank you from management not even a raise no matter how many years you put in or a bonus. Once you realize what this company is about and stop putting in the long hours it will be brought to your attention.

-If you don't mind not having a work life balance or not getting any reward just work work work than please go ahead and join BBDO Abu Dhabi office.

-Indian infested with a lot of politics and descriminations to other nationalities.

Advice to Senior Management

-Promote those who do the work (creatives/producers/good aacount people). Not just the "yes men/women"(account people without a backbone).

-Bring up your people. Invite their honest feedback about how to make the place better.

-Take heed to the mass exodus. It says something about the satisfaction level of your employees. Though I suspect you feel that everyone is replaceable and thus could care less.

-offer competitive salaries. as a leader in advertising you should be able to offer a higher salary. we do a lot of work, we live and breathe advertising, and need to be paid accordingly.

-Be human enough

Pros

You will work in the most awarded agency in the country, acquiring the best knowledge on how the creative business work in big agencies.

Cons

If you are looking for human sensibility on a workplace, this agency its not your best option. 80% of the work you'll do its what the client want, the other 20% its for awards. (Instead of doing a 100% of whats best for the client).

Advice to Senior Management

A very happy client its one that sees their business grow while making outstanding advertising the agency make, not adequate advertising that makes them happy.

Pros

Was given lots of responsibility and enjoyed the atmosphere. I thought that the employees - peers, superiors and subordinates - were top notch.

Cons

The hours were long and the potential for growth seemed limited; the economic recession really put a dent in our group.

Advice to Senior Management

Could do a better job of maintaining morale during tough times. Also, there needs to be more of a clear path to career success.