Good for training - bad for everything else
Pros
Some of the managers are incredibly helpful and diligent in their work practices. They are talented, intelligent, and excellent to learn from. Though their direct hands-on training has declined, when they make an effort they are great sources of knowledge and skill development (ex: SPSS, excel, report development). There are opportunities for those who are not trained in traditional market research to get you into the industry and provide the knowledge needed to continue to grow. Though there has been less investment in growing employee skills, the company can be welcoming to those who are unfamiliar with market research and/or find it intimidating. The research methods employed are interesting and engaging, and those who work there are often highly intelligent and creative.
Cons
There are many issues with this work place, the most important being that the CEO creates an actively hostile environment that promotes reporting on other employees and off-loading responsibility for mistakes (even marginal ones) onto less senior employees to avoid his wrath. Additionally, if you leave without the CEO's approval, you risk retaliation and the potential refusal of references. One employee was told to not even bother putting the company on their resume, implying they would receive a poor reference from the CEO or HR if requested. The culture does not promote recognition of the hard work done by the research associates, and promotion structures are undefined and ambiguous. Opportunities for advancement are limited, and the training required to move upwards in the organization is often not provided, stalling you at positions for years at a time. Pay is well below standard rates, particularly considering the sheer amount of work that goes into the role. Additionally, there were noted issues of pay disparities by race and gender, and any attempt to have open conversations about raises resulted in reprisals and ongoing issues with the CEO. I would not recommend this company to employees from marginalized groups, particularly racial minorities.
