Big Promises, Bigger Failures - Content Strategist Plein Air Employee Review

1.0
3 Nov 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Direct Manager (He tried to make change but C-suite never cared.) - Not Needing to See Them in Person

Cons

This agency has the curb appeal and promise of a place that should make a great career starter or career jump for all ...but ended up only being great for folks that are grandfathered and/or invited into the "favorites club" or have no boundaries or desires beyond work. Long story, short: I fell for the trap and hope that candidates take heed that most of these "great" reviews were forced upon new hires before they were aware of any issues. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if management comes back with a convoluted answer to this review that blames "rapid growth" and "the growing pains of a new agency". Regardless, this business is old enough to treat people with respect and pay employees a livable wage. Advice to Prospective Candidates: Ask tons of questions during interviews around culture and work-life balance, be weary of process and structure for your department because there's no streamlined structure over the entire agency, and keep an exit plan handy if you do accept a position. There's no room for constructive pushback (without passive-aggressive consequences) and you should be ready to do as CEO says--good or bad. Some Other Issues: - No boundaries with certain clients - No regard for Best Practices, Bottom-line Only - Overworking Celebrated - NO training & NO system for reviews or raises - Obvious favoritism & NO transparency about Turnover/New Hires - Bottlenecked Processes due to CEO Micromanagement - Below industry-standard benefits package

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Plein Air Response
4y
It’s unfortunate that you felt this way about your experience. You were thrown into a new role that we didn’t spend enough time defining going in. I’ve always believed that you give great people room to define the role around their strengths, but that can be messy and we didn’t do a great job of giving you enough direction to set you up for success. We value open and honest feedback from everyone, and sometimes that’s hard to give and receive. That doesn’t mean we don’t respect each other as people, but constructive conversations about the work are what make each of us better. As hard as it can be to part ways, you deserve a place that fits the kind of work you want to do. I’ll still be rooting for you wherever your path leads from here. All the best, Paul

Explore other reviews about Plein Air

5.0
29 Jun 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Daily responsibilities include coordinating content and campaign activities. - New projects bring different goals and target audiences. - Marketing knowledge grows with each assignment. - Greater confidence comes from handling more responsibility. - The experience helps build a strong career foundation.

Cons

Certain projects involve detailed reporting and documentation requirements.

1.0
28 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Coworkers were all cool, and it was genuinely enjoyable working with the team at times.

Cons

• At first, it seemed like a place where a long-term career could work, but that impression faded quickly. • Managers spent too much time discussing employees instead of actually supporting or guiding them. • Direction from the top was inconsistent and often unclear, leaving people confused about priorities. • Employees regularly worked extra hours and weekends with little to no recognition or appreciation. • The combination of low pay, internal drama, and favoritism made it clear why many people eventually left.

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