Campbell-Ewald Reviews in Detroit, MI Area

Pros

Lots of time off and paid holidays
Relaxed atmosphere (dress code and attitudes)
Flexible hours
Company-sponsored social events (e.g., Lot Rock, Final Four, etc.)
Great opportunity to work on some big-name accounts and build your portfolio
Some really great people

Cons

Pay is horrible compared to similar jobs in the area/industry
Promotions are promised but not always given (e.g., we're on a pay freeze or can't do anything because we've lost business/a rec)
Offices are completely outdated and working in Warren is depressing

Advice to Senior Management

Do a better job of retaining your employees. You've lost a lot of talented people over the past few years and not just due to layoffs. Because, like me, they finally wised up and realized that there are jobs out there. Ones where their hard work and talent will be appreciated and rewarded with advancement and much better pay.

Pros

Decent work life balance.
Fun atmosphere

Cons

Bad pay scale compared to other agencies.
Bad communication from management and not many career growth aopportunities.

Pros

Got to work on large company commercial spots that are well known to everyone, including Chevy, Navy and many others.

Cons

Company was quickly losing clients and was undergoing alot of cuts including staff. They where having problems keeping there current clients and getting new ones.

Advice to Senior Management

I don't really have much advice for the leadership. The leadership I had was pretty good. Can't say much about the other departments.

Pros

some very smart and highly regarded professionals
dedicated teams

Cons

typical egos
casualty of the auto industry

Advice to Senior Management

good luck in 2011

Pros

Many talented people in mid-level positions.

Cons

Sr. Management is full of ego and out of touch.

Advice to Senior Management

Get to know your employees and the work they're capable of.

Pros

Great place to get your feet wet
Full service agency, so you get to learn and work in a variety of disciplines
It used to have a very fun-loving, relaxed atmosphere
Employees bond well, are very supportive of their co-workers

Cons

Bad pay
Promotion structure is based on who you know, not your competency combined with length of service
Constant threat of layoffs can create a poisonous work environment
Agency subscribes to old-school business practices, making it a veritable dinosaur--they have a difficult time attracting new clients and a harder time keeping the ones they've got

Advice to Senior Management

Focus on your employees and listen to their ideas--don't take it as a personal affront if they have ideas that don't originate from you. Don't spend big money on lavish parties for the entire company if you're just going to lay off half of your workforce the next week.

Pros

Plenty of parking (after you get past the numbered spaces); Nice elevators. Smiling receptionists at the front desks. Prestigious client list (at least for the moment)

Cons

The support by direct manager was nonexistent; actually saw the person that hired me infrequently. Found the manager was too busy putting out fires to give any direction or feedback on projects. Sent a number of emails with questions and never got a response. Yet, they pride themselves on being available and supportive to their employees...at least that's what it said in the marketing materials.

Advice to Senior Management

The concept of operating as a team must come from the 10th floor in more ways than lip service. Did not see evidence of team structure, especially from an absent manager.

Pros

Fun, creative agency with some big name accounts.

Cons

Prone to layoffs and overtime.

Advice to Senior Management

Diversify - don't be so dependent on Chevy!

Pros

People were friendly and it wasn't a horrible place to work while I was there.
PTO and holidays were nice.

Cons

Low salary compared to other area agencies.
Flex schedule wasn't flexible when you can only choose from 7-4, 8-5, 9-6.
Upper mgmt heavy and titles didn't make sense or correpond to actual role/responsibility
Traditional corporate culture that seemed to lack the fun and openness at other agencies.

Advice to Senior Management

Work on winning new business - happy workers are busy and secure in their jobs. Compensate employess through salary and other benefits. Don't keep taking them away.

Pros

Campbell-Ewald does go out of its way to somewhat show appreciation to all of its employees, and that is honorable of any company these days. Also, there are some stand-out people that do work at this agency that are not so stuffy, but they tend to be on the creative or media side of things.

Cons

I found that a system of favoritism exists depending on how well you succumb to sucking up to those in management positions. If you are up for playing those kind of games instead of being evaluated based on the quality of your work, then Campbell-Ewald is the place for you. Also, there seemed to be a small disconnect between management and employees ... things were sometimes based on hearsay and opinion rather than actual conversation.

Advice to Senior Management

Establish an actual connection with employees instead of only communing with them when looking for specific things. Also, please stop rewarding sucker-uppers and showing favoritism towards them! Doesn't say much about you or the company ...