Pros
If you have a growth mindset and a desire to do good in the world, there are very few things not to like about Compass. I can to Compass four years ago when it was but a scrappy startup with a big dream and a lot of passion and determination. Only a handful of agents and a tiny team of incomparable staff (most if not all of whom are still with the company) worked out of several temp offices, learned growing technology that was changing by the day, held together evolving systems with love and grit... and blatantly ignored the sneers and jeers of our competitors. Many things are different today, but the core of the company is exactly the same as it was the first time I met Robert Reffkin: Compass is a place where good people do great work and elevate the entire industry along the way. What’s really been valuable to watch is the evolution — the fine-tuning, if you will — of those big ideas into core values that shape our every day, into tools designed to make our lives better and our industry more ethical, into brand pieces that honor the client as much as they honor the company and into leadership who have similarly pushed themselves to grow. They ask questions to truly listen, humbly acknowledge mistakes, understand the social and economic impacts of our collective efforts. They prioritize tough conversations (and action!) about racism and gender inequality...and the importance of people over profits.
The chance to observe this growth has paid dividends — both tangible and intangible in my own career and at home. I’ve made friends for life, shared laughs and sorrows with people who feel like family, and I’ve been reminded that our purpose on this planet isn’t to simply get up, do the work, rinse and repeat — it’s to meaningfully connect with others, to give back in every way we can and to push one another to be better every single day.
Cons
If you’re looking for a place to coast while you collect a paycheck, this is most certainly not it. I understand HQ has its own special breed of hustle, which could probably be daunting to some....and exhausting to others. My biggest complaint is that we can’t see all of Robert’s best ideas come to life at the snap of the fingers....Rome was not built in a day!
