Discovery Communications Reviews

Pros

It was really cool to work for Discovery. Great corporate philosophy. Smart people. Fun deck parties. Great volunteer opportunities and awesome benefits. It was a great name to have on your resume. I am forever grateful for working there.

Cons

Constant layoffs. No long term strategy. Reactive not proactive. There were constant layoffs and a lot of favoritism.

Advice to Senior Management

The management team needs training.

Pros

recognized around the world
occasionally interesting topics to work with
young company
insight into workings of a major international company

Cons

bureaucratic
atlanta office offers like upward mobility
a lot of really monotonous work
some departments are left out of more creative opportunities

Advice to Senior Management

Involve each department in creative opportunities, not just editorial, video, product teams.

Pros

It's an amazing company to work for in the grand scheme of career path and growth and a great place to find opportunity to gain experience and knowledge of the industry.

Cons

Just like most large companies, senior level positions (VP's and higher) are a revolving door and office politics is abundant.

Advice to Senior Management

If the senior level positions could ground themselves and remain consistent it may work for the better in the long run.

Pros

Discovery hires smart, creative people who are fun to be around. The work is hard and the hours are long but I enjoy the fast paced nature of the business. One thing that is amazing is that senior management will listen to ideas from anyone in the company. Creativity and good ideas are encouraged and supported at all levels.

Cons

A lot of people want to work at Discovery. The company counts on this fact and therefore feels like they may not need to pay as high as other companies in the industry or in the area.

Pros

Great guidance, everyone is very friendly, learned a lot, lots of events and company executive speakers, career help, real work

Cons

They do not pay interns. Instead interns only get transportation compensation, which is taxed. Riding the metro is expensive and annoying.

Advice to Senior Management

The corporate executives could do a better job at meeting the interns, spending time with the interns, and showing the interns that they actually appreciate them

Pros

Flexible work hours. Good work-life balance.

Cons

Lots of politics and bureaucracy with little scope for career growth.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to employees more

Pros

work with some of the best known TV shows

Cons

Depends on the department, and your supervisor, but I worked CRAZY long hours and was always under a ton of stress. Know other people that had a great life work balance though.

Pros

You work with and learn from some of the most talented people in the industry.

Cons

Communication from management down is non-existent. Unless you have VP in your title, phone calls and emails are NEVER returned. You MUST cc everyone on any email that you need a response to, or you might as well have not sent it. The expectation from management is to work and travel 24/7, literally. Promises are made and never kept, "Just help us for a little while with this project, we promise to add a new position for you." No position ever materializes and emails/phone calls are not returned. Just do the two jobs now and do them perfectly, is the expectation. If you want a job with Discovery, just know they will work you until you burn out and expect you to thank them for the privilege. They will require you to work weekends and company holidays. They will promise the world during the interview, but will never deliver on those promises. They know that they are lying to you and they do not care. The higher-ups want one-thing, money in their pockets and they'll use you any way they can to get it. They may be known outside as a work-life balance leader, but internally it's not taken seriously. You're laughed at when you try to take a Saturday off. That's the culture and management could care less about you and what this expectation does to your family. Many positions will open after March 2011, when bonuses and commissions are paid out. Look for an account management position, because I'm definitely gone. I was so excited my first day with Discovery several years ago, but I'm even more excited knowing my last day is fast approaching. I can't help but smile writing this. My wife and I have already planned a party. That may be the biggest con of a company I've seen on this site. I feel so sorry for everyone that continues to work at Discovery. The fear and stress is not worth the little I know they pay you. I hope you get out soon. Know that not all companies have such a horrible culture.

Advice to Senior Management

Communicate!! Communicate!! Communicate!! It's in the title of your company, right after Discovery. This failure to communicate has built a culture of fear, anger and apathy. I tried everything I could for months to make things work at Discovery. I might have even considered staying if you could have communicated anything. I'm not exaggerating when I say communication is non-existent. Senior VPs wouldn't even communicate after months of trying to run, multiple jobs. You lost me and I was one of your 2010 Stellar Award winners. I just accepted a position with your largest competitor and will work to bring many with me that feel exactly the way I do. Good luck. We'll go head-to-head soon.

Pros

Great brand. Who doesn't like Discovery Channel? Good benefits.

Cons

Would like to see improvement in the acceptance work-life balance.

Advice to Senior Management

Would like to see improvement in the acceptance work-life balance.

Pros

Interesting product
Supportive of employee growth

Cons

The company puts great emphasis on its family friendly policy but actual implementation is highly variable, depending on individual supervisors

Advice to Senior Management

none