CoStar Group reviews

Hard to move up the ladder

Targets are completely unachievable. These are not just difficult goals , they are literally impossible. No one has ever fully met them, and even managers admit they are impossible and stick with them because America has set them. Employee feedback is ignored. Engagement surveys are carried out, but results are never acted upon. Leadership has openly said they haven't addressed them. Micromanagement at every level. There is no autonomy, and every task is scrutinised. High turnover across sales and research. People leave constantly, and even those considered “favorites” who management assumes love the company, openly dislike it. A visibly miserable workforce. Even new starters quickly realise the toxic environment and become demoralised. Benefits have been stripped away over time, with nothing meaningful left. No genuine career development. After years here, you gain no transferable skills apart from product knowledge that only applies within CoStar. This makes many feel trapped. Growth, progression, or skill-building simply does not exist. All that matters is hitting impossible metrics for America. Managers repeatedly say processes are a “work in progress” while waiting for clarity from the US — but years later, nothing changes. After five years here, I can confirm what colleagues told me when I joined: nothing ever changes. Working here is mentally draining to the point that many people have taken time off for mental health because they simply cannot cope with the relentless stress, bullying, and micromanagement that define the culture. Employees are not appreciated or valued for their efforts, and instead are treated like numbers against impossible metrics. Management is a very close-knit group, more concerned with appearances than with genuinely supporting their teams, and unfortunately, they are not knowledgeable enough to provide real guidance. In many cases, researchers and employees on the ground actually know more about the work than the managers themselves. On top of that, leadership lacks basic people skills, making it extremely difficult to approach them for help, advice, or development. Instead of feeling supported, you are left feeling isolated, unheard, and worn down day after day There are constant cuts happening within the company, with people losing their jobs on a regular basis, and salaries have been significantly reduced from what they once were, making it even harder to justify staying. In over five years of working here, there has never been a single team-building day, no career development exercises, and no genuine attempts to improve skills or morale. Nothing at all beyond coming into work and being pressured to hit completely unachievable metrics. The culture is built around disposability, and management does not hide this fact. Managers and directors have openly told employees how easily replaceable we are, that it would be no problem for them to get rid of us, and that our jobs could be filled in an instant. It creates a constant climate of fear and instability, where you’re reminded daily that no matter how hard you work, it is never enough, and your position is always at risk. You will never have a day of work where you are satisfied if you choose Costar.