AKQA Reviews
Updated Nov 30, 2019
"Absolutely great people to work with" (in 50 reviews)
"Great clients, the people are very friendly and intelligent, dogs are allowed in the office" (in 39 reviews)
"long hours and unrealistic expectations on all projects i worked on" (in 55 reviews)
"Difficult to maintain a good work-life balance" (in 51 reviews)
- Featured Review
"Great agency to start your carreer!"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI worked at AKQA full-time for more than a year
Pros
Lot of time invested in young and starting employees helping them to learn the ropes and fundamentals of agency work.
Cons
Difficult to maintain a good work-life balance.
AKQA2019-01-03 "Empowering"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at AKQA full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
AKQA has an abundance of benefits for its employees and i feel very fortunate to have access to these. I find the new leadership resilient. Their honesty, integrity, empowerment, vision, and transparency is uplifting. It's energising for the MD to always involve the team and share credit and recognition. They definitely reignited my inspiration by rolling their sleeves up and getting stuck in - thank you all... for not just managing but importantly leading us!!
Show MoreCons
Don't really have anything bad to say - I really respect the changes that have taken place recently.
Advice to Management
Some don't like change but in an ever-changing world it's inevitable and the only way we succeed is to continue moving forward - the recent transparency and honesty we've had this year have been uplifting and hope we don't lose it!
AKQA2019-10-02"It was fine"
StarStarStarStarStarI have been working at AKQA full-time for more than a year
Pros
Lots of good client and brands
Cons
Lots of work, often too much
AKQA2019-10-15- Helpful (4)
"Disappointed"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
Doesn't RecommendI worked at AKQA full-time for more than a year
Pros
Benefits Monthly breakfast Nice office
Cons
Micro management No proper trainings and handover Some people are extremely rude and unhelpful Workload is unmanageable Management doesn't support employee well being Long hours
Advice to Management
I was very excited to join the company, but found the environment very toxic. Management should invest time on supporting employees and work life balance.
AKQA2019-09-28 "Avoiding the beaten path, Seeking terrain unexplored"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at AKQA full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
Amazing clients Amazing people AKQA Quality - never settling for less, always setting the standard Investment in people - good coffee, monthly breakfasts, training, healthy pension & holiday and more
Cons
Commitment to the best service, sometimes means there's a compromise / sacrifice to personal time or preferences Lots of change has been challenging in recent times, but the tide is turning
Advice to Management
The world, our industry, our company is in a state of change. We can either adapt to change and ride the wave; or simply wipeout! I believe in the values, ambition and people at AKQA. We've continued to deliver the very best work to our clients in the midst of change and uncertainty. Change is unavoidable, but I believe we'll be the team, the work, the company will be stronger as a result.
AKQA2019-08-19- Helpful (6)
"Spinning"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI have been working at AKQA full-time for more than 5 years
Pros
AKQA brand holds weight with clients and means there are really cool opportunities that come in and are great fun. office is nice and well stocked
Cons
Londons 2019 MD has a lack of connection to reality and his decisions have triggered a massive dip in performance and vibe. Hiring and promoting his under qualified friends has been hugely negative and shows deep rooted bias. Office is always empty Key people leaving all the time Listening sessions were ran at the start of the year and everything ignored No financial rewards
Advice to Management
To the senior leadership of AKQA please intervene.
AKQA2019-08-15 - Helpful (7)
"Disappointing"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI worked at AKQA full-time for more than a year
Pros
Nice people, great benefits, flexible working.
Cons
Change of leadership, everything since went down hill. No salary reviews unless you're in with the right people, favouritism is a key trend. Same people getting rewarded/promoted. People disappearing left/right in the Company and they kept it all under the radar. with no explanation. As soon as Senior Management leave, you know that you should too.
Advice to Management
Bring Sam back as MD
AKQA2019-07-10 - Helpful (5)
"A business that's lost its way"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI have been working at AKQA part-time for more than 10 years
Pros
Great brands and talent Excellent facilities and benefits
Cons
Management changes and company has lost its way and left the London office in a state of flux.
AKQA2019-06-12 - Helpful (7)
"Continuous decline"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI worked at AKQA full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
Having the name of a once very reputable agency on your CV can open a lot of doors. The outside world remain clueless to the catastrophic state of internal affairs at AKQA.
Cons
The churn of staff, even at a snr level, mediocre work, complete lack of inspiration and toxic culture make for a particularly soul crushing environment.
Advice to Management
There are some great talents that are consistently ignored within your walls.
AKQA2019-06-18 - Helpful (5)
"No loyalty"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI have been working at AKQA full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
Great staff and nice building
Cons
No leadership Let people go at the drop of a hat. Make employees feel like they have done something wrong Do not listen
Advice to Management
MD,Operations need to go absolute joke
AKQA2019-05-23