U.S. PIRG Reviews
Updated Mar 25, 2019
Found 42 reviews
"good job"
StarStarStarStarStarRecommendsNeutral OutlookNo opinion of CEOI worked at U.S. PIRG full-time
Pros
really interesting work, people who are passionate about their job
Cons
really poor pay and awful hours
U.S. PIRG2019-03-25- Helpful (1)
"Not great"
StarStarStarStarStarI have been working at U.S. PIRG full-time
Pros
People seem to like their job; Good cause
Cons
No pay; ridiculous expectations; no diversity
U.S. PIRG2019-02-14 - Helpful (2)
"For The Love Of God, DON'T DO IT"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookI have been working at U.S. PIRG full-time for less than a year
Pros
Met some incredible people and bonded over our mutual hatred of the job
Cons
Unless you enjoy cults or toxic relationships, don't join this company. Countless articles and other reviews have already laid out every horrible aspect of this job, so I'm not going to waste my time, but I suggest you listen to them.
U.S. PIRG2019-01-10 - Helpful (2)
"Good responsibilities/experience but bad culture and pay"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI worked at U.S. PIRG full-time for more than a year
Pros
Generally enjoyable day to day, you may make friends, and you are given a fair amount of responsibility right off the bat.
Cons
Close minded, almost cultish work culture that is not truly progressive (underpays employees, ignores diversity problems).
Advice to Management
You’ve heard it time and time again: pay your employees a fair wage, don’t expect unfair dedication/work without pay!
U.S. PIRG2018-05-17 - Helpful (1)
"Don't work here it's a scam"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI worked at U.S. PIRG full-time for less than a year
Pros
Even though I hated what I was doing, I got paid a lot for scamming people. I know it's not the most ethical thing, but I needed to get by.
Cons
Scammed people Very terrible working hours Terrible work environment Terrible social interactions Not paid while travelling (illegal)
U.S. PIRG2018-05-31 - Helpful (5)
"Caveat Emptor: Don't hold your breath for the chocolate factory"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookNo opinion of CEOI worked at U.S. PIRG full-time for more than a year
Pros
You get to learn the ropes of organizing. Recruiting interns, recruiting paid staffers, learning and doing grassroots political strategy, community leadership engagement, media work, fundraising, etc. You get to work on issues that are important, and get your feet wet into what grassroots political strategies are.
Cons
Organization works you to the bone, tasks you with everything and then some, will have you travel more than you want to or need to, not for someone who gets stressed by that prospect. They also operate on a super-thin/nonexistent budget for virtually everything. Anticipate spending your own money and having it "requisitioned" and possibly not getting your money back ever. Staff directors are incredibly odd people,...
Show MoreAdvice to Management
Don't lie. Don't lead on your best people only to have them literally betrayed by your organization after being told one thing and having another proportionally opposite thing happen which ends up leaving those best people unemployed.
U.S. PIRG2018-04-14 - Helpful (1)
"Great training, people, and experience"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at U.S. PIRG full-time for more than 5 years
Pros
- The training is top notch if you want to go into advocacy work. I was passionate about environmental/public interest issues in school but didn't have a good sense of the kind of skills I'd need to work on them effectively. PIRG gave me the training and experience I needed. - You meet great people. I've met some of closest friends working with PIRG. You're working mostly with other young people and you share the same...
Show MoreCons
- The organization is understandably frugal, given that it's funded by citizen members. But I think at times it can be extreme in limiting resources for staff and program work. - There's a lot of organizational responsibilities that go along with a campaign type job (administrative, recruitment, fundraising, etc.). It can be difficult to focus on campaign priorities because you have to fit the organizational responsibilities...
Show MoreAdvice to Management
Be open to compromising. You can maintain the group's core values but still change in ways that will give staff a better experience and make the group more successful over the long term.
U.S. PIRG2018-02-26 "Fellowship is the best place to learn, make impact"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsNegative OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at U.S. PIRG full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
You'll learn a lot of different skills-- grassroots organizing, grasstops, lobbying, research, recruitment, fundraising, managing staff and interns, relationship building, writing for advocacy, media work, etc. Basically everything it takes to make an impact on an issue campaign and sustain a political org, you will learn how to do and start to master. You can take real ownership of a campaign, become THE go-to person...
Show MoreCons
PIRG is not a super lefty progressive org-- they don't work on whatever issue is biggest, they don't work on inequality, racism, sexism, and aren't necessarily looking to incorporate those types of issues into their campaigns in any way. So if that's a deal breaker for you-- probably don't work here, you'll only be frustrated and disappointed. A lot of your experience here will be dependent on who ends up as your...
Show MoreAdvice to Management
prep people better to be staff managers/oversee fellows so experiences for first and second year staff are more consistently positive.
U.S. PIRG2018-01-08- Helpful (6)
"Only if your passionate"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookDisapproves of CEOI worked at U.S. PIRG full-time for more than a year
Pros
Dress code is lax, and I liked most of the people I worked with.
Cons
A very "drink the Kool Aid" type atmosphere. Management is rigid stingy. Demand long hours and travel without, in my mind, fair compensation.
Advice to Management
Pay your employees more
U.S. PIRG2017-08-26 - Helpful (6)
"Great Message, Poor Working Conditions"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookI worked at U.S. PIRG part-time
Pros
You're getting the opportunity to help save the planet and resolve real economic issues.
Cons
You are working and endless amount of hours and only getting paid a portion of it. You will definitely get your cardio in any weather condition. Training was terrible since your first day or two youre expected to read and memorize what seems like the length of the US Constitution to recite to each persons door you reach. Also people have pets that don't mind attacking strangers. Since for a part of the day you are solo,...
Show MoreU.S. PIRG2017-06-05