JAKKS Pacific Reviews

Pros

the pay is very good

Cons

the pressure is very high

Advice to Senior Management

smile

Pros

Cool and friendly people that are funny and fun. Most are smart also and passionate about toys.

Cons

No training for new hires-- not on the management tools, systems, etc. It is 100% sink or swim. You must be sure to reach out to other, particularly early on, to learn stuff fast b/c you are expected to hit the ground running.

No work/life balance. You are expected to kill yourself at work. There is also no job security, so people are scared/worried much of the time.

It feels like a frat/sorority. That can be a pro or a con depending on who you are, but I left college in college.

Perpetually understaffed, so one person is regularly doing the job of 2-3.

Advice to Senior Management

Establish a basic training for new hires for using the necessary JAKKS systems. Standardize business scorecarding across brand groups. Try to formalize the development and management processes more.

Pros

Fun to work on toys

Cons

No summer fridays and lack of holidays

Advice to Senior Management

Communicate

Pros

As a Freelance Artist I was able to earn a decent living working from home while I worked toward my degree. Adored my direct management team.

Cons

Billing department had poor communication with project managers. Frequently had to resubmit my invoices for payment and there many times when checks would arrive later than expected.

Advice to Senior Management

Take better care of your team members. Better communication between management, licensing and production team so less time is wasted in second guessing, revisions and redundant ineffective emails.

Pros

Jakks a family oriented company that has a lot of great people to work with. The location of the company is beautiful.

Cons

There was a huge communication breakdown between upper management and lower. Everything was to be completed last minute. The parking situation was awful. You had to park on the PCH which can be very unsafe.

Advice to Senior Management

To think everything through completely before implementing a new process. The lack of resources also slowed down the production process as well.

Pros

On the beach
For the most part, really laid-back, talented people.

Cons

Politics, and more politics. Senior management can make it rain or shine.

Advice to Senior Management

Man up and be innovators.