Pros

TNS is generally a very good company to work for. Career progression can be very quick and the graduate scheme constitutes a very good entry-route into the market research industry. Work-life-balance is generally very good (between 35 and 40 hours per week) but depends on the team. TNS is also a very family-friendly company, which can be witnessed by the large number of female executives on maternity leave. It is a company in which amibition gets rewarded - one has to get noticed but can expect to be offered to move wihin the company if getting tired of the current position.

Cons

Career progression depends on two factors - department and individual. One should not expect to be promoted based on merit alone, only if one makes his/her ambitions clear or even threatens to leave one will experience a quick career progression. Otherwise individuals can stay in the same position for years. Promotion also seems to be much more dynamic in smaller departments as opposed to the bigger ones. Overall, work-life-balance is very good at TNS, although here it depends on the actual team one is working in. Certain teams generally seem to be working until 7 or 8pm, whereas employees in other teams generally leave around 5.30. Certain employees have been seen to be working long hours for long periods of time without any apparent support from senior management, which has led to resignations.

Advice to Senior Management

Those employees who are not very vocal about their career ambitions, especially on lower levels, often feel that the promotion process can be unfair. I suggest taking people on those levels more serious, also by speaking to them directly once in a while.