Cengage Reviews

Pros

*Truly a transparent work environment. From the CEO to the sales team, everyone has access to each other, is encouraged to provide honest feedback at all times, and is rewarded for having new ideas (even if... or especially if they are audacious and radical ones).

*The mission is clear and is felt throughout the organization. We work to promote student success. Period. The products we make are the WHAT, but our mission focuses on the WHY. We believe in education.

*Although Cengage has been through some difficult times in the past 5 or so years (as has the entire publishing industry), our focus and strategy are solid. We have a plan, execute it daily, and adjust quickly and as necessary to ensure success. We are not stuck in the past, but are moving forward with strategic vision and bold ideas. We are not afraid of, but rather empowered by the changes in this market.

*Employees are valued, supported, and rewarded for their hard work. I've never encountered a corporate "family" before Cengage... but this is just that.

*Parental leave policy is industry-leading for both mothers & fathers. Stellar.

Pros

Supportive management, reasonable workload, great tools to learn and great sales tools. Annual company trips. Lots of opportunity for advancement.

Pros

Relaxed, yet professional, environment Met some good people.

Pros

Flexible hours, lenient management, great people to work with, great earning potential, great job to start at out of college.

Overall, I enjoy everyday I spend working at Cengage (Independence, KY)

Advice to Management

More organized training programs

Pros

Flexible 37.5 hour work weeks

Pros

Cengage is a large company. Benefits package is strong.
Cengage is filled with very, very smart people. They have to be since they work in the higher education space providing educational content to university classrooms and libraries.
Telecommuting is an option for the right position. They get the reality of productivity from a remote location.
Having struggled with past financial challenges, leadership has a much clearer picture of what needs doing to succeed.
There appear to be realistic expectations in place with respect to fiscal performance rather than the sometime science fiction-thinking that can infect sales goal assignments.

Advice to Management

The test of a company's ability to manage challenges--both internal and external--is 1) how far in advance management can see trouble spots, 2) how smartly it can address them in a timely manner, and 3) how well, when confronted with a shortfall against realistically projected bottom-line/top-line targets, it makes and delivers with grace and wisdom the cost-cutting decisions that must happen. I've seen too many companies cut off noses to spite faces because they made short-term decisions rather than structurally sound long-term ones.

Pros

I've been working for National Geographic Learning, a part of Cengage for 19 years. During that time the company has continued to evolve and grow in new and interesting ways. It has a culture that supports ownership, independence, and a chance to make a difference, which has kept me engaged and motivated. We've been allowed to focus on innovation and quality, to look longer term than just this year or next quarter's bottom line. My business unit has a long term management team that leads with a clear vision that is easy to buy into. With a team of people who are equally committed to the same goals, we've built our brand from new-kid-on-the-street to the fastest growing ELT brand in the world. It's exciting to be a part of it.

Pros

The people are the best part of the company. I had an awesome team that spanned both business and technical departments. We worked as a team. Overall everyone is will to pitch in when needed to meet corporate goals which are very clearly communicated and supported.

Advice to Management

Get your ducks in a row before shaking everything up. The ranks will get behind you if they feel you've taken the time to think through what you are doing AND have the right people in place to guide the process. Cengage is too big to go bleeding edge all the time or act like a startup. Also, we have some good former BCG employees in our ranks. But we also have some that can't seem to get the consultant tactics out of their blood. These folks are creating "seagull management" situations. Reign them in and you'll see better compliance and cooperation downstream.

Pros

Allowed remote work, decent compensation & benefits, good atmosphere to work in.

Pros

Diverse projects. well compensated. some are using latest technology