A career blunder that I bounced back from - Sales Captivate Employee Review

1.0
12 Feb 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The base pay was solid.

Cons

I was recruited to this company by a recruiter that I trusted and who's associate landed me a great job in the past. I thought I was making a good choice for my next move, but I soon found out I had made a mistake. The thing I figured out first was that outside of NY or Chicago, no one really ever considered Captivate in their media plan. If there aren't any high-rise buildings, then no one was exposed to the media on a regular basis and no one in the media world cared. Thus it was an impossible sell. I had a difficult time getting meetings with clients and agencies that I worked with on a daily basis in previous positions much less new business meetings. Although through pure grit and determination, I did land some good ones early on in my employment. The technology that Captivate uses is over 10 years old with very small screens and has no capability to compete with the proliferation of new mobile technologies. This was mentioned to top management as a concern from the clients/agencies I had met with and it was immediately dismissed by Captivate management including the CEO. Speaking of management, the newly hired VP in my local office, micromanaged me as if I had never sold media in my life, even though I had almost 10 years of media experience. The ironic part about this is that this particular manager had virtually no experience in DOOH or OOH prior to Captivate and had very few relationships in the industry. I spent the majority of my time dealing with this manager's insecurities and random tasks, which prevented me from accomplishing any meaningful tasks throughout the day. It is worth noting that for the first 4 weeks of my employment, I did not have any direct in-office management and it was by far my most productive time at Captivate regarding new business meetings and activity. When I repeatedly voiced concerns over my very uncomfortable daily work situation to top management and HR, I was told to make it work. Every day was more miserable than the last and on day 89, I was let go. Which, in hindsight, was the best thing that ever happened to me because it allowed me to land in my current position where I have been very successful.

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Captivate Response
1y
Thank you for sharing your story. We’re genuinely sorry that your experience at Captivate ended up being such a challenging one. It’s clear that the role didn’t live up to expectations, and we recognize that both the technology limitations and management issues you faced made it difficult for you to succeed here. We appreciate your perspective on the need for investment in new technology and expanding our reach. Captivate has been working to modernize our technology and enhance our footprint in DOOH and beyond, so our teams have better tools and opportunities to grow and excel in their roles. We also understand the importance of effective management and giving people the freedom to do what they do best—micromanagement has no place in a healthy, productive work environment. Regarding support staff, your point is well-taken. We’re making efforts to improve compensation and benefits because we know that our support teams are the foundation that keeps everything running smoothly. We’re grateful for your feedback, even though it reflects a difficult chapter for you and for us. It’s important to hear, and it helps us do better for our current and future employees. We’re glad to hear that you’re thriving now, and we wish you continued success. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience.

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5.0
23 Apr 2026
Anonymous employee
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CEO approval
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Pros

Captivate is a good company to work for, especially if you are looking to grow and take on new responsibilities. The leadership team is engaged and there is a clear focus on improving the business and supporting employees. There are opportunities to learn, work across teams, and be part of meaningful projects.The culture is collaborative and people are generally supportive. Like any company, there are busy periods and some growing pains, but overall it is a positive environment.

Cons

Workload can be uneven during busy periods

5.0
5 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good place to work you get paid bi weekly

Cons

No cons i think of its a great place to work

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