The Knot Reviews

Pros

The underlings are smart, fun, creative, and will work tirelessly.

Cons

Communication is very bad. Those that have been given power are automatically seen as gods and can never do wrong. Tech dev is offshore and lagged behind for a while. Fears of losing their edge as they grow, this seems to be coming true. Board of Directors has been asking for something creative for years and all management could come up with was layoffs to satisfy stock holders instead of building or doing something really creative. This despite their continual mantra about having no debt and $100M+ in the bank. Place is becoming "corporate" and not in a good way.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't forget your roots. The Knot rose by being edgy along with creativity and respect for their employee's ideas. These days too few hold the ear of the decision makers. Knot has the money, stop spending it on overpriced officers and managers. Have the guts to take a chance and build something or look to Modern Bride for the outcome. As others have written here, beware some are only out for their own butt.

Pros

Compensation is great if you are willing to put work ahead of everything in life, including your family.

Cons

Lack of appreciation
Stress
Management is horrible
Compensation plan is horrible
Benefits are horrible

Advice to Senior Management

Respect and appreciate the staff you still have and take a closer look at how your management is handling things.

Pros

The editorial content, office location, parties

Cons

Long hours, skeleton editorial staff, unprofessional management (screaming at underlings was common), unclear expectations, no work-life balance, constant dismissal of employees instead of working with them to improve performance, tasks frequently assigned to you that are outside what you signed up to do, emphasis on appearance of employees

Advice to Senior Management

Worry more about your employees' sanity than your bottom line in the short-term and hire a few more hands to help out. They'll be more productive if they're not constantly stressed--and home sick because of that stress.

Pros

There are lots of very smart, knowledgable, and hard working individuals at The Knot. You'll learn and get to work on a ton in a short period of time. You won't be bored with your job. Very creative and dynamic environment. You'll learn how to deal with conflict and if you're one of those people that have always been considered "too nice," you'll learn quickly how to stand up and be firm out of survival.

Cons

High level of discord between tech and business, and between business leads. Unrealistic goals are set and business lines are spread thin, chasing after trends and new ideas rather than building upon what The Knot does well. Too many initiatives being driven at once with limited resources causes high stress levels and unpleasant work environment. Easy to feel lost and uninformed- lots of being thrown into fires. Many legacy systems and manual processes holding the company back from making leaps and bounds in the tech industry. Even with a successful track record, very few will see growth in their career at The Knot. Not a place to be long term for most employees, even the ones that work hard and have proven success. Exec management can be overbearing and controlling rather than collaborative and respectful to those reporting to them. Tons of turnover = perpetual brain drain.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus on 1) developing and respecting your trusted employees 2) making a few best in class products rather than many mediocre ones 3) collaboration between one another (execs, tech, and business lines)

Pros

Good brand recognition of the company, great marketing materials

Cons

Need better training upfront, no work/life balance, crazy sales goals in a down economy.

Advice to Senior Management

Touchbase with sales before they burn out there was alot of turnover in only a few months

Pros

Smaller business with an ability to get to know many Lines of Business

Cons

Growth is limited after a short growth spurt.

Advice to Senior Management

Need more investment in mid-level management.

Pros

Great CEO and senior management team. Bright, smart, and fun bunch to work with. They have no hang up's about being senior management and treat people with equality. Lots of energized people and enthusiastic about the wedding industry working in that office.

Cons

Currently undergoing global expansion. Hit some bumps but now on it's way to getting better

Pros

The people - very cool, very bright, most are very engaged. The brands. The wide open opportunity. There is a ton of it.

Cons

Ultimately, this is a big mom and pop. That can impede change. Passion also can breed drama. The Knot's culture needs to be "no tolerance" for divas.

Advice to Senior Management

Make people management number 1. Make sure, as an Exec team you are cohesive. Have the tough conversations. Work with not againist each other. Honestly, as a group, some executive coaching could be very helpful.

Pros

Although it's a big company, the corporate culture is that of family.
True access to upper managent.
Awesome product, great client base.
I have honestly never had more support in a sales position. You would think working from home would isolate you but they do an incredible job at making all resources available, including customer service personnel that support the sales people in a very awesome way. LOVE WORKING FOR THE KNOT.

Cons

Honestly, the goals are tough, but if you're willing to work your but off, you will be rewarded.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep doing what you're doing!

Pros

operates like a small company, which lends to opportunities.

Cons

terrible at appreciating and valuing people. equally horrible at honesty and transparency.

Advice to Senior Management

do less better.