GSD&M Idea City Reviews

Pros

The atmosphere at GSD&M is electric, everyone is happy, working hard, laughing. The office is full of 400+ type A, sarcastic types. Everyone knows how to have a good laugh and enjoy themselves, but they also work their butts off to provide the best work for clients.

Cons

I've worked there for a while now but I haven't gotten much feedback about the possibility of being hired. From what I know, the salaries for junior level positions are some of the lowest in the industry, as well, and promotions/raises haven't been given for a long time.

Advice to Senior Management

Compensate your employees a little bit better!!

Pros

GSD&M has a great location across from Whole Foods and near the bar scene on West 6th St.
Great parties thrown on a monthly basis.
Big name brands to work on. If you're dissatisfied with the brand you work on, you can request to be transferred.
Lots of great people work here.

Cons

Interview process is completely unstructured leading to the hiring of subpar employees.
GSD&M hasn't given raises since they lost AT&T in 2008.
From my experience, GSD&M doesn't reward employees properly. Your boss needs to have a good relationship with upper management in order for you to receive a promotion.

Advice to Senior Management

Proactively speak to upper level management about what young people deserve to be spotlighted and rewarded via promotion or raise. So many talented individuals are leaving the company, and with the unstructured and extremely basic interview process, GSD&M isn't adequately filling these roles by any means. GSD&M seems to have a blind faith that the agency will continue to prosper regardless of who leaves the agency, but that is the wrong attitude to have. It leads to lower employee morale, and a watered down talent pool at the agency.

Pros

good balance of work and play. living in Austin, Tx

Cons

lots of long term employees there.

Advice to Senior Management

support the younger people

Pros

Nice people, Doors are always open for help

Cons

can be a bit boring

Advice to Senior Management

keep up the good work

Pros

Good opportunity to work on high-profile clients and get your foot in the door. The management of the media team are all very competent and helpful.

Cons

The agency is SO large that you really only interact with your immediate team. You do not get the opportunity to work hand in hand with other teams (creative, planning, research, etc) - which I think is very important when media planning for a client. You also do not get paid very well and they do not give out bonuses.

Advice to Senior Management

Encourage interacting with other teams (within the media department - traditional versus online teams - as well as with teams in other departments)

Pros

Austin, Texas. BBQ, Chips and Queso. Best ad shop in Texas, generally pleasant people to work with, and work life balance is better than average.

Cons

It really feel like a good ol' boys club, but what ad agency isn't. The senior management structure is a disaster, and as much as they say it, creative doesn't really matter that much.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the great treatment of your employees, but creating a fair place for staff to rise up from within the ranks would be helpful. Some of the employees are dinosaurs.

Pros

Opportunities for advancement. Great place for entry level employees to learn. Great parties and glamorous work environment.

Cons

Must be willing to work 12-14 hour days and workers aren't compensated fairly. Very cliquish work environment.

Advice to Senior Management

Openly communicate with your fellow work mates.

Pros

good benefits, good location, laid back dress code, some fun coworkers, good amount of paid time off and sick time

Cons

management doesn't like change, no advancement in media, the upper management in media has been there forever and it's hard to move up when there's no where to go, more management than media buyers/planners/assistants, had so many bosses!

Advice to Senior Management

advertising should be on the forefront of ideas and technology, media needs to step up and embrace this rather than fight it at GSD&M

Pros

GSD&M has great people working in every department. The quality of the work and creative that comes out of the agency are world class. The purpose of the company and the ideals behind the founders and the roots of the agency itself make you proud of working for the agency.

Cons

Limited exposure to new technology trends outside of the company. There is very low investment in training and development for employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Need to improve communication between management and employees as well as increase investment into training and development. Provide training to managers as well.

Pros

Close walk to retail and restaurants. Generous benefits.

Cons

Lot's of folks who have been there forever...don't mix well with newcomers.

Advice to Senior Management

Please respect new people that come in and try to change it up a bit.