Clear Channel Reviews in Chicago, IL Area

Current Employee – been working at Clear Channel full-time for more than a year

Pros – Good environment and there are health benefits, while not the best they are sufficient. Good relationships within the company and attempts to have employee engagement.

Cons – The company is extremely large and disorganized. Whether or not it's a "company policy," there is a major lack of raises and growth opportunities, which make it difficult for employees to stay motivated, especially when they aren't in commission-based positions.

Advice to Senior Management – If there aren't opportunities for advancement/raises, it's difficult to motivate employees

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Clear Channel as an intern for less than a year

Pros – Great place to work! I loved it

Cons – none! They treat their intern's really well!

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Clear Channel full-time for more than 8 years

Pros – Great properties to sell. Clear Channel offers amazing resources and training opportunities

Cons – Very little thought to the individual and LOTS of paperwork. They are more concerned with managing the processs than closing the sale. Too many different agendas/initiatives to follow and they seen to change on an almost weekly basis.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Clear Channel full-time for more than 10 years

Pros – Great products in the best cities

Cons – Corporate - Bain Capital - controls everything and everything is a spreadsheet. They no longer care about customer service. Commission plan is the worst in the industry.

Advice to Senior Management – Retain and recruit talented employees. Relationships are important across all departments - sales - real estate - operations.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Clear Channel

Pros – Easygoing atmosphere. Nice people to work with.

Cons – Pay is not competitive and there are no growth opportunities. People are pretty stagnant here and raises are non existent.

Advice to Senior Management – Reward the employees based on their job performance. Start back giving raises or you will loose good employees

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Clear Channel

Pros – Working at CC felt like being in a small business. Senior management really operated differently than in other corp. environments -- they enable individual teams to retain substantial autonomy in day-to-day operations. Additionally, decisions are made swiftly -- no need for lengthy and pointless exercises or processes (which, obviously, can also be a bad thing). Ability to work in important, broad capacities with significant visibility to others in the company.

Cons – Extremely limited professional/skills development. Shaky job security due to corporate mismanagement and general industry issues. Sometimes decisions were made too rashly and without sufficient rationale, leading to a subpar outcome. Feeling that management was too up in the clouds and seldom on the ground floor. Speaking of which, some really stellar managers, others left you scratching your head. A general feeling that we were on a sinking ship.

Advice to Senior Management – Get to know -- and talk to -- the "little people". Sure, you're familiar with the head-honchos of each station, the DJs, and very much the salespeople -- but stop by and visit with everyone else. Visibility is important, and so is knowing that our concerns are being addressed, or at least listened to. Be honest and transparent about the health (or lack thereof) of the business.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Clear Channel

Pros – Great networking opportunities and learning experiences. Promotions offered and generally given to the ones most deserving of advancement. Lots of free food and promotional items.

Cons – A lot of talk but no walk. New policies and cutbacks force people to double and triple up on work without compensation or even thanks.
If you work here and feel overwhelmed, LET it affect your work and they'll help you. If you kill yourself to get it done all they see is that you got it done, and miss the sacrifice you made of your health and well-being.

Advice to Senior Management – Put yourself in the shoes of the "little people" and balance that against your bottom line. Focus on the long term and realize that taking care of your employees makes them want to do more for you. Fear is not a management style.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Clear Channel

Pros – They are the least likely to go broke of most of the major broadcasting companies. They generally own stations that are either in a winning position or held strategically to protect those that are. Their new media initiatives are relatively strong and forward-looking.

Cons – There is a homogenized corporate culture and the markets are devoid of individuality. Layoffs are frequent and leave you wondering who else is left to fire. Don't worry, they'll find a way to make someone else do three more jobs.

Advice to Senior Management – Realize that you're in show business. It still needs to be as much of a show as it is a business. Stop the brain drain -- if you want this business to be at all sustainable, quit disposing of people as if they added nothing to your business.