Absolutely soul destroying - Project Manager GDS Group Employee Review

1.0
Sep 28, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You have an hour lunch, you have weekends off, you finish at 5pm and sometimes early on a Friday. Cold calling (if you're a heartless person with no conscience, dignity or morals).

Cons

In my time at GDS in Bristol, I found it soul destroying, soul breaking and general causing death to my soul. The cold calling to C Level execs of huge companies such as Lloyds Banking, Zurich and Unicredit literally teared me apart. They do not want to speak to you, they don't know how you've got their number, and they can see straight through the lies. The spy calling (which is illegal) was horrendous. You had to pretend to be somebody else (flight centre staff, another exec going into a meeting with them, family etc) to lie to get their mobile. It's disgusting and so degrading to be made to do that. I genuinely came home each night and wanted to cry, sleep, never wake up, stay in bed for a year, die on the job etc. you get the picture. The staff turnover is ridiculously high, what company honestly employs 10 new starters a month? I wonder why this is ... This was the most degrading job Ive ever worked, I genuinely thought my life was at the lowest point each day and I was stuck in a rut.

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GDS Group Response
9y
Thanks for you honest feedback, it genuinely means a lot to us. We do not want any of our employees leaving with a bad experience and I would welcome the opportunity to discuss things with you. Please call the recruitment/HR team on 0117 921 4000.

Explore other reviews about GDS Group

5.0
May 21, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great pay Challenging Rewarding New daily activities Pressure but positive

Cons

Young office culture attitude sometimes

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GDS Group Response
3d
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your review! We are thrilled to hear that you find your work both challenging and rewarding, and that you enjoy the dynamic nature of your daily activities. It is also great to know that you feel the competitive compensation reflects your efforts and that the fast-paced pressure translates into a positive and motivating environment for you. Kepp up the great work!
1.0
Nov 5, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Met a few good people here, but none of them lasted. Everyone eventually quit or got pushed out.

Cons

This company is a perfect example of how to burn out employees, squander talent, and mismanage a sales org. Team members are often overlooked, talked down to, and treated more like call-center output than actual professionals. My manager consistently interacted with me and others in ways that were discouraging and demoralizing, and it was clear there was little interest in coaching or developing people. The culture feels more like a clique-driven high school environment than a workplace. Turnover is nonstop, and the atmosphere noticeably changes whenever senior leadership is around. KPIs are unrealistic, and the product is genuinely tough to sell in the current market. Hitting quota is rare, many reps only close a couple of small deals the entire year, and the commission structure doesn’t make it any easier. You’re closely monitored from the moment you log in, and by mid-morning you’re already being questioned about your activity. Late hours are common due to rigid activity requirements. Training is minimal, senior reps generally keep to themselves, and asking for help sometimes gets interpreted as not being capable rather than trying to improve. The day-to-day environment is loud, chaotic, and high stress. Headphones aren’t allowed. Standards are enforced unevenly. Some people are given a wide berth, while others are micromanaged over very small things. The culture leans heavily on pressure, constant urgency, and short-term reactions instead of any real long-term strategy or leadership approach. If you care about your mental health, professional development, or actually improving as a salesperson, I’d strongly recommend looking at other companies. Leaving this role was genuinely one of the best decisions I’ve made for my career.

8
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