Proceed with Caution - Technical Designer Gensler Employee Review

2.0
19 Nov 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Vast array of resources firmwide with across the firm connections. You can connect with so many wonderful people all over the globe and can learn from other leaders, peers and committees. There is an abundance of committees, leadership groups, study groups, community outreach opportunities, and all the tools to learn virtually any program. It's a great place to learn and grow, to a point. Their raises are fair and their bonuses are generous.

Cons

It's easy to be put in a box and stay in the same role; watch out for that and if you get stuck after asking to try new things - move on. There is pressure to be licensed (to meet the corporate numbers) and seems to be the path to get promoted. You want to be an associate, which has no real value except a title at the end of your signature and some bragging rights on LinkedIn? Be prepared to be disappointed year after year UNLESS you know how to be loud and know the right person. Some wait a decade some wait a mere year..."rules" can bend for those who are promoted quickly. The pool of candidates is chosen by a limited few with their own list of hopefuls to fight for. There is a LOT of favoritism in this office and it's quite frustrating. There is no loyalty. You can put all your heart and soul into the office and then...be on the chopping block with under the radar layoffs and zero transparency why folks are let go. They'll be opportunities to join groups, encourage you to invest your own time and volunteer, on top of your work load and whatever outside Gensler life you have. Looking for a hybrid workplace? There's a whole study published about the hybrid workplace on their website, with an office designed (and heavily delayed with a full redesign for hybrid) - but now they are 5 days a week with an office. 5-10 years ago this place was fun, anti-corporate, and embraced a work life balance (mostly). Those days are looooong gone.

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Gensler Response
1y
Thanks for the feedback. We treat workplace concerns seriously and address them in accordance with our internal policies and procedures. We have multiple channels for reporting issues and we train and encourage our team members to use them. Encouraging everyone to ask questions and provide honest feedback is critical to supporting our culture and our values of integrity, trust and mutual respect. We appreciate your feedback and will share your comments with the firm’s leadership.

Explore other reviews about Gensler

5.0
20 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good firm to work at

Cons

Nothing bad about the firm

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Gensler Response
1mo
Thanks for providing feedback on your experience at Gensler. We value our interns and love to hear their perspectives. We are thrilled and delighted to see your 5-star rating!
1.0
29 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nice office, lots of “rah rah Gensler” events with food & booze, some nice people

Cons

Where do I start…..some studios are TOXIC. Favoritism permeates every aspect of working here. It’s nauseating. There is zero loyalty, zero recognition for hard work (yeah you get a bonus but sometimes a kind word is needed). Oh-and never ever express an opinion that may be in opposition to “leadership’s”. Your private life, beliefs, politics and other personal things are fair game for letting you go. I’ve seen it happen-fired because someone expresses in a private conversation that one has ethical concerns regarding projects that are in the office (but in another studio/office) will get you fired. They will make up some bs about “work performance”, yet no conversation ever with anyone about “needing improvement “. Out of left field. Bye bye. Management tells leadership that they’d already “warned” the person-completely untrue. Hear later it was likely due to having concerns about a client/project. Lesson learned-shut up, work 12 hrs a day and be happy with the scraps you’re thrown. Also-egos galore! Unwillingness to take accountability for mistakes.

3
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Gensler Response
12h
Thanks for the feedback. We treat workplace concerns seriously and address them in accordance with our internal policies and procedures. We have multiple channels for reporting issues and we train and encourage our team members to use them. Encouraging everyone to ask questions and provide honest feedback is critical to supporting our culture and our values of integrity, trust and mutual respect. We appreciate your feedback and will share your comments with the firm’s leadership.
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