Not Your Traditional Agency but its heading in that direction - Director Monks Employee Review

3.0
Nov 24, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great people and values with a big focus on inclusion and diversity. Great client list with some great cool projects but will depend if you are off the stack (everything not Meta) or on the stack (everything Meta). The great process around how to work is managed and they give time in lieu for everyone that is non-management. Great opportunity for career growth if you are not management and want to grow from a JR to hopefully management. Once you are in management there isn't much room to grow beyond that where you most likely will have to leave in order to grow. They celebrate their talent and achievements. The benefits are great and have been improving over time. Office culture is great as well.

Cons

The company has really changed since "Merging with Media Monk" but it's more of Jam 3 becoming Media Monks instead of them integrating together. In this process, Jam 3 is changing its culture and how it works. There is more pressure now to deliver work faster and more of a focus on billable which is slowly removing what Jam 3 was known for its Creativity which is changing. You can expect to work longer hours especially if you are non-management. They are losing or changing how transparent the organization used to be, they now don't give the full picture of how the organization is doing. For example, they laid off a bunch of people in Sept '22 but employees weren't notified or told how big of an impact it was. Reports lost managers not knowing, Managers lost reports without knowing. Lay off's were more mandated by the Media Monks or suspected. When I joined, I used to hear about how rarely they let people go etc. Lack of diversity in senior management. Salary is about 30% - 40% less than the industry standards, leaving will automatically earn you at least a 20% bump rarely will Jam 3 be able to match. I think they would be in better financial health if they reviewed how they billed clients because they do leave money on the table with their clients. No More Remote work, they have removed that for all Meta workers and will reduce it for non-Meta workers as well. This will improve productivity and of course billables. Or Remote work for selected workers (if you're considered talented). People can be clicky in some departments.

Explore other reviews about Monks

5.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It's been such a pleasure, joy and fresh air to work here. I'm respected, as is my work life balance.

Cons

Leadership hasn't always been consistent with their words and actions, making it feel scary and tumultuous at times.

2.0
Jul 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

At the time I came on board, EPs were paid well. There are good departments there, like the post department run by Andrew Bell.

Cons

I was interviewed for a staff EP role. After months of interviewing and scheduling delays, I was a final candidate...and then Monks had a hiring freeze and loads of layoffs. It was weeks later they said I should come in as a contract EP. Then, they promised a client something they've never delivered before, and I was lucky to be the person on the team who had actually done it before. But Monks gets in their own way, with antiquated agency hierarchy. Account Managers and Creative Directors are given great governance even if they don't know how to do the job. They disregard production, as if EPs are out to undermine them. They believe EPs are now allowed to be the creative leads, even if they don't have skill or experience to do their own job. There are no thank you's when you save them or solve their problems. Upper Management is useless and absent. You have to sort out how to get things done. Onboarding is non existing. No recognition is given to those who actually did the work, because Monks execs will take it as their own, even if they were absent throughout the entire campaign. Essentially, the main reason why it's a turnstile with layoffs and quitting (even today in 2026) is due to lack of organization, respect and kindness. Even the recruiters are awol and out to lunch. They can't be bothered to return calls. Clients seem unaware, which is another issue because somehow Monks continues to get client work despite the internal turmoil. Inside there is favoritism, clique behaviour, overabundance of bureaucratic unnecessary systems and management hires that are ill equipped to lead...especially at the very top. Kids deal with clients. Elders are those who never really mastered good leadership. It was a very disappointing run with Monks, and many former employees and contractors still have a bad taste from their time spent there, including me.

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