Pros
• Flexible working hours (not strictly 9–6), which may suit those who prefer non-traditional schedules • Exposure to multiple projects and site involvement • Suitable for fresh graduates looking to gain initial industry experience
Cons
• Career growth and opportunities appear uneven, with concerns around fairness and inclusivity in advancement • Weak leadership and lack of direction from management; teams are often expected to provide solutions without proper guidance • Poor overall management structure and lack of accountability within teams • Designers are undervalued, with a significant portion of responsibilities (including client handling and problem-solving) falling solely on them despite a “team” structure • Lack of collaboration—although projects are assigned to teams, workload distribution is highly imbalanced • Incentive structure lacks transparency; payments are delayed and dependent on factors outside the designer’s control (e.g., team performance, client payments) • Salary is below market rate, especially for experienced designers (closer to fresh graduate levels) • No clear bonus structure; annual increments are minimal and not reflective of contributions • Work-life balance is poor—expect to respond to work matters after hours and on weekends • Inexperienced project managers are often hired, resulting in designers needing to take on additional responsibilities, including mentoring and covering gaps • Feedback regarding internal issues (SOP, teamwork, system inefficiencies) is often not addressed, with management placing more pressure on designers instead
