Select Design reviews

Where to begin.. There is absolutely no management structure; meaning no yearly reviews, raises, or feedback of any kind. There is zero employee appreciation, and everyone who works there is viewed as easily replaceable. 50+ hours a week is the norm, anything less and you are likely headed for the door. If your role is not in sales, do not expect recognition of any kind. Asking questions will only make people think you are incompetent, so don't ask, and make it up. Everyone who starts at Select starts at Ground Zero, as there are no training resources of any kind. No HR department, so don't expect to be told you're eligible for health insurance, 401k, etc. Lastly, the owners emphasize the "culture" of Select, yet during my time not one person could describe what that culture meant. Company culture is something that grows naturally from a shared mindset and quality of life experienced by the employees. Successful companies do not preach or define their culture, instead they let their actions and employees do the talking. Select Design does not have a company culture, unless you consider the above Cons as "culture". Don't waste your time..

The grind mentality is a live and well. "Design fast" is one of their core values, which any designer should recognize as a red flag. This means there was very little time dedicated to the creative process but what they expected in the few hours they gave you was tremendous. Think full blown campaign storyboards, merchandise lines and advertising campaigns briefed in the morning and expected by the end of the day. Each designer was burnt out and many quit within the short time I worked there. The culture was also pretty terrible. We liked to gather in the mornings for 30 minutes and drink coffee and talk before settling into work and were pressed by management to stop those gatherings and start working earlier (this was before 9am). We were questioned by higher ups when we were seen taking lunch together and asked what we had been talking about. And when we asked for raises or stated we could not work on the weekends we were told that it was a generational difference, humiliated and dismissed. Lastly, during Covid they were quick to have everyone return to the office starting in the summer of 2020. Most of my peers felt unsafe but felt pressured to return. This was when Vermont guidelines still advised those who could work from home to do so. I wanted to safely visit my family for the holidays and was told that it would get in the way of work (since I needed to stay home and quarantine). Few of us held out and had to repeatedly vouch for our own health and safety which was exhausting.