Zimmerman Advertising Reviews in Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL Area

Pros

You meet so many people, you learn the culture of an advertising agency, you gain a lot of experience, they want to retain your talent so they allow you to move to other departments in the agency.

Cons

In some departments, you are not rewarded for your efforts and you do not get compensated necessarily when you deserve it.

Advice to Senior Management

Encourage your employees to push themselves, teach them how to do things better. Let them learn from their mistakes. If you see that they are having a hard time, offer your assistance and advice.

Pros

LOTS of hands-on experience and autonomy. Even as an assistant, I was responsible for all planning, monitoring and reporting efforts for two clients. In previous jobs elsewhere, it seemed like I continued doing random tasks that were always presented to the client by someone else. At Zimmerman in my department, I get to take credit for my work and I get excited to see my efforts displayed- whether it's the launch of a digital campaign or praise from the client about positive results.

New ideas and methods are encouraged. My supervisor has my team regularly present on emerging digital trends or technologies in the news, as a way of keeping us up to date and to spark new strategies for our future campaigns. We also hold meetings with new vendors 1-2 times a week for the same purpose. I started in the position with basic knowledge of digital media, and these are a huge help for me when I plan.

Strong team environment. There's a real sense of community in my department- we help each other recommend new strategies and vendors. The typical work day is very busy, but also exciting- I enjoy the department back and forth banter and everyone's jam sessions from Pandora. We all live up to the motto of "24/7 Seriously", but we definitely have fun here!

Cons

Busy workload- If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. There is always something to do, often with a short deadline attached. Being extremely organized and a skilled multi-tasker will help.

Heavy extracurricular schedule- In my department, we regularly have after-hours events with clients and sales reps and local networking organizations. Some months are more jam-packed than others, but they're generally exciting events and I enjoy them. However, if you're not a shmoozy person or if you just want to go home after work, you might consider this a con.

Advice to Senior Management

More departments at Z should be modeled around this department- I really enjoy my team and my position here.

Some supervisors micromanage more than others and their behavior needs to be corrected- it makes it incredibly difficult to produce good work.

Pros

You will gain experience but at the expense of your health.

Cons

People are treated like garbage and everyone is at each other's throats. Employee's are routinely laid off with zero notice or severance. Despite the hard work mantras, advancement is based on politics.

Advice to Senior Management

none

Pros

The company is a good place for Jr. staff to get started in the industry. There are always open positions and they are quick to bring in Jr. Staff

Cons

Very few senior people in media. High turn over. Lots of negative attitude from Sr. Management. Poor pay. Poor conditions. Sweat shop. 24/7 is ridiculous.

Advice to Senior Management

Clean out the top. The tree is bad. Middle management will continue to treat people inhumanly as long as upper management continues to do so

Pros

The people!! Everyday I am blessed with contribution from executive leadership, my department head, and my team, they make it all worth while. Each day new challenges emerge that allow me to express my creativity through innovative problem solving. This makes me stay at the top of my game and allows me the opportunity to shine on a regular basis. Zimmerman is a place where you can truly create your own destiny. I have continued to advance my career each year and cultivate my skills making Zimmerman a true asset for me.

Cons

Only the strong survive! You will not get pampered in any way.
Sometimes the 24/7 seriously is a bit much as Zimmerman expects you to produce above and beyond the average agency. The level of accountability and commitment for some can be overwhelming at first. Slow adaptation to a fully integrated approach to advertising/marketing in a holistic way.

Advice to Senior Management

Invest as much in internal human resources as you do in clients.
Aggressively pursue thought leadership and new business consistent with a holistic approach to integrated advertising/marketing.

Pros

1. Experience- Zim is a large agency that is nationally recognized. It look good to put on a resume and you get exposed to a lot very quickly
2. The people- the people are young and fun, and will share your misery.
3. Executive Management-The Execs at Zim are very bright and insightful, when first hired you'll get a chanve to hear them speak and learn a thing or 2 from them.

Cons

1.No Training- You'll get 0 training and a fast paced high stress work environment that is sink or swim.
2. Salary- Many of the low level employees and even some mi-level still live at home because the salary is awful, you wont be able to afford and "benefits" that Zim offers
3. Mid-Management- for the most part terrible, and unwilling to help. Very self centered and self serving. Wont hesitate to throw low-level employees under the bus to cover their mistakes
4. Atmosphere- although the people are fun EVERYONE hates there job here and is trying to get out. Very high turnover rate. If you make it past 18mos you are considered old.
5. Promotions- almost non existent. Very politically motivated. Flirt or kiss-a** to get ahead is about the only way
6. Work Life Balance- Its work work work with no overtime, no bonus, no raises, and no praise. 24/7 means 24/7. High Stress enviroment

-work here at your own risk-

Advice to Senior Management

Treat your employees better and help them get ahead. Give them more of an incentive to work the grueling hours you demand. PAY THEM FAIRLY! Pull your heads out of your a** and realize the toxic work environment you are creating!

Pros

I have been at Zimmerman for a little over a year and a half as part of the digital team. The division has grown significantly since I have been here. We as a team are constantly pitching new types of businesses and new types of projects. When there is new job openings, they always go to the internal team for growth first. My direct manager and the division head meet with me often and I definitely know where I stand. They even gave me an opportunity recently to participate in an outside training seminar in something I told them i was interested in during one of the meetings with the VP of our division. He then trained me to present it in front of the larger division. I really do like it and do not experience the same things that other did and some of the warnings people gave me before taking the job.

Cons

It is a busy place. We are growing fast so there are days were we do need to take on a little more than we should or can. But, I know the team is looking to hire others and that the team will make sure we have what we need.

Advice to Senior Management

I do not get much interaction with the executives beyond those in my division. It would be good to see you a little more often, even though Scott and Rose Marie do give us weekly updates on what things you are doing and how we can get involved in the greater agency. Our direct team is a great group to work with.

Pros

- GREAT learning experience (especially the internship program)
- given a lot of responsibility

Cons

- LOW pay
- everyone's always screaming at each other
- low morale

Advice to Senior Management

Most upper management is warm, welcoming, and inspiring. Middle management needs to reward employees for a job well done more often.

Pros

You'll gain a lot of experience.

Cons

Very unprofessional supervisors, sweatshop and layoffs with no severance and no warning.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep an eye on your managers and how they treat people.

Pros

Its a good place to start a career in advertsing, higher level employees are interested in teaching and recognizing good work. Easy atmosphere to make friends. A great company to place on resume, it shows dedication and stamina. There are a lot of lunch/dinner events to raise money for MSN drive.

Cons

This is a retial bades advertising company, cares more about producing a finished product than the creative angle.Salary is horrible for entry level positions. High turn over rate. you need to show up early and leave late, without overtime pay. parking is a problem. Plans on moving company 30 minites north from current location.

Advice to Senior Management

The turn over is horrible. Your wasting money investing in employees who as a majority will leave the company inless than a year- the biggest issue is the salary. If you give more competititve salary more employees will stay