Pros
In the short time that I have worked here, I've had numerous opportunities to learn from colleagues in the editorial, design and production departments. There are few companies that would even consider giving you cross-departmental training and exposure. This is perhaps due to the fact that Benchmark is a relatively smaller company in the publishing industry, but just as ambitious as the most recognized. The level of creativity and talent that I have observed in my colleagues is outstanding. I come to work everyday feeling inspired. In addition, management has a strong commitment to multilingual education. Yes, there is a market for it, but not all companies care about creating content for Latino-Americans or for the Asian market for that matter. This type of philosophy in educational publishing sets a framework for multicultural exchange - and it's something that I'm very proud to be a part of. It is rather unfortunate that some reviewers have taken such a negative and unbalanced view of management. It is possible that I'm viewing things through a different lens, due to my position. Nevertheless, I personally believe the CEOs are both compassionate and sincere in their approach to management. As a previous reviewer has noted, they are open and transparent about their expectations and if you find yourself at the short end of the stick, being hollered at or what have you, chances are you're probably not doing your job! For those of you who are reading these reviews, especially prospective employees, try to come to your interview with an open mind. There's a lot of growth potential in this company. And while it may seem tense in the office, there's so much to learn from everyone here, that you will find yourself growing as a professional every day, like I have. If you come in with a negative attitude, antisocial personality, or unproductive: it is likely that you will be weeded out. A positive attitude goes a long way. It's not always about what you know or who you know, but how well you get along with others. This is a principle to abide by no matter where you go or who you work for. I can honestly say that I see myself working here at Benchmark for a very long time - best job I have ever had without a doubt.
Cons
Lack of training programs for staff. However, senior staff are generally very helpful and instructive.