Had no idea what I was getting myself into - Sponsorship Sales GDS Group Employee Review

1.0
Jun 13, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Some nice and friendly coworkers with most in their 20s and 30s. - You get to create any title you want! - Ping pong table. - Free coffee/tea (limited choices) - A great view?

Cons

- From day one, they want you to lie about what GDS does. IE: Don't mention summit to prospects even though that's 98% of what the company does. - Very high turnover rate. - Company is on the downhill as all the delegate sales people in NY have either been wiped out or moved to another city. - They look to hire new sales people every month because they know that they will replace the existing employees. - Lack of job security. Only 5 out 70 sales people are actually selling these packages to sponsors. The rest are either job hunting or just hoping for the best. - They do not provide you all the necessary tools to achieve. No marketing team, no Salesforce Navigator, and no guidance. You're basically thrown into the wolves after you're done with the training class. - No HR department. - If you don't know how to lie in this job, then you're doomed. - Look at all the recent "positive" reviews, all from the same date. Coincidence? I don't think so

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GDS Group Response
8y
Many thanks for taking the time to leave us a review. We’re sorry to hear your experience with GDS has not meet your expectations. Due to the dynamic environment we work in and the rate in which we are growing globally we are constantly looking to recruit exceptional people. Alongside this we are building out our training programme to ensure all employees (regardless of experience level) are supported and helped to achieve their career goals. We have a large marketing team based in Bristol office that supports the company globally. We wish you the best in the future.

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
1w
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.

9
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