Fast-paced Dotcom / advertising company - Senior Project Manager Autotrader Employee Review

4.0
Dec 9, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

At least for awhile this was a tremendously fast growing Dotcom company with tremendous opportunity. The company is owned by Cox Enterprises, and more recently, Private Equity has taken a stake. Most of the early explosive growth has slowed, and the company is now operating as a more mature and more slowing growing company. If you enjoy working on interactive and website projects, it can be a fairly innovative environment with some rewarding and challenging projects. They do invest in training, and they developed a pretty robust in-house training curriculum.

Cons

Some departments are much better than others. Although it's a technology company, it's driven by advertising. Most of the best opportunities are lavished on Marketing and Sales. It can be a great place if you're in one of those departments. Other groups often donn't get the same respect, to include IT, the PMO, Operations, etc. Several departments to include IT and the PMO have had a tremendous amount of turnover. Directors, in particular, seemed to last about 6 months in a role, before they were replaced. Also, I witnessed the company let go a number of talented and seasoned individuals while bringing in a wave of new hires. A lot of this activity seemed to be focused on cost cutting and reducing veterans while the company attempted to prepare for an IPO that never materialized.

Explore other reviews about Autotrader

5.0
Jun 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great company to work at. excellent benefits and leadership. Lots of things to do and they like to promote from within

Cons

once you max out in your pay range you have to switch jobs in order to get anymore raises

3.0
Sep 12, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Generally the benefits are good, but are declining. The head of CoxEnterprises believes in employee empowerment and benefits. The values of CEI are wonderful and the reason I stay.

Cons

Current leadership over AutoTrader (CAI) prioritizes profits over all else so we have reorganizations every year or so making it an unstable environment. The company is now run by Finance and HR, so you can imagine the culture.

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