Junior Graphic Designer (Former Employee), West London, Greater London – 4 January 2017
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Head office is located in Imperial Wharf, only be reached by Boat or overground, which is unreliable at best. Better plan to always be 30-40 mins early otherwise you will be marked as tardy. Consider your journey route carefully.
Limited options of affordable places eat in the area, you will find yourself torn between a Tesco sandwich or an pricey kebab.
No cycle to work plan.
You will only get 20 days of holiday, 5 of which are on reserve for the Winter holidays as the office closed during the period. So you have only 15 days for holiday each year.
Staff discount on some jewellery, not everything.
There are no benefits.
If you are interning, and there is an opening, you will most likely not be considered for the role. Be sure to plan your next step.
It's a small family company that only has 80 staff. Every year up to 20 members of staff quit, like clockworks. Be prepared for plenty leaving drinks.
Graphic designers salaries will always be minimum wage for junior and £20k for mid-weight, much lower than than the rest of London market (£23k-£25k). Insist on the advertised salary and don't compromise, it will be reduced again after first review.
If you are applying for a job, you'll start with 6 or 9 months contract where they can choose to not renew it, which has happened, and you cannot go on holidays for the 6 or 9 months working there.
For Graphics, eCommerce and Account roles, you will not be in the nice bright office where you will get the interview. instead you will be housed in the dark, cold, kebab smelling basement. Ask to check your environment before accepting the role.
You will be managed and answerable to all departments in the company. Make sure you have in your contract who is your line manager, and try to deal with them directly.
Staff from every department will kindly request projects that are not a priority, yet claiming them such. And the moment you are out of proximity, the gossip about you begins.
It's a gossip-heavy oriented environment. The MD, CD, or HR, all get greeted with politeness and humour. As soon as they leave, vile comments and gossip are ignited. Commonly witnessed with the Sales and Marketing teams where as it is constantly occurring with the eCommerce and the Accounts teams. Learn to play the gossip game if you wish to survive.
The staff are miserable, constantly complain about how much they hate working there. You will encounter it with the Production team, but mostly with the staff downstairs. Which in itself creates a miserable environment. Try to associate with your colleagues and focus on completing your hours.
Nothing is kept confidential, everything is exposed sooner or later.
Do not expect compliments on a good job done. Set up an automated inspirational daily reminder for motivation.
It is a good experience to be there for a short while, you would be able to easily identify what should and shouldn't be happening in a "luxury brand" and learn a thing or two.
Hope this review helps.
