Understand The Leadership / Do Your Research - Recruiter Russell Tobin Employee Review

2.0
Apr 6, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great colleagues / base salaries are pretty good.

Cons

When you interview there, please ask these questions: 1) Is it true that the CEO (Leo Russell, not Tim Tobin) told everyone during COVID reopening Phase 2 in NYC, around June 2020, that they had to plan to start coming into the office? 2) Is it true that if they wanted to WFH, they were forced to take a pay cut? You'll see other reviews here about commission problems and other culture-related gripes. But I understand that while these are huge red flags, some people may not have had these issues and there are two sides to every story. I also don't think a company should be poorly judged for firing or furloughing people during a pandemic. Just ask the questions I mentioned above and then at least you can understand what you're getting into if you work there. That's just a lack of common decency. One story that should depict the issue was during a town hall session amidst COVID, when the CEO said we can be back in the office and eat lunch in the cafeteria - when someone asked how many people can fit to ensure proper social distancing his admin responded with I think, "Five people." Could have been more. Then someone followed up by asking, "Where else can we eat lunch since we can't go to restaurants...what do we do if it starts raining?" The CEO responded: "Bring a raincoat." It was a difficult time – people were frightened and no one had their backs. If you want to join this company, do your research. There are a lot of negative reviews here to look through. Maybe the positive ones are true as well - that's for you to decide. Everyone is going to have their own experience, though I would suggest to always be cautious when you see chunks of positive reviews written all around the same date. Your research should also tell you that the firm has seen a tremendous amount of turnover, with a lot of it at leadership level. This doesn't happen for no reason. The behavior during COVID was what many would find abhorrent, and it seems to be the impetus behind most departures. Most research indicates that extreme turnover is a bad sign. Don't ignore it.

Explore other reviews about Russell Tobin

5.0
Nov 24, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I have worked at other agencies and Russell Tobin outweighs all of them positively. I feel supported, and like my contribution matters. Management is approachable and wants to see you succeed. Hybrid flexibility is a plus and the office is in a great location with free parking!

Cons

None that I can think of at the moment.

1.0
Jan 18, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

On the surface, this company employs many genuinely decent human beings, especially on the recruiter level. Unfortunately, the culture and leadership structure ensure that those people struggle to succeed.

Cons

The environment is steeped in toxic masculinity, where aggression, dominance, and performative confidence (especially from those who don't understand the industry or have never recruited) are rewarded over collaboration, empathy, or competence. Bullying behavior is normalized, often disguised as “directness” or “high standards,” and there is little accountability when it comes from the right people. Management regularly pits employees against one another, sometimes through surprise or random video calls designed to catch people off guard. These interactions feel less about problem-solving and more about “gotcha” moments—intending to embarrass and expose, while creating tension within the organization. This fosters fear, not excellence, and actively discourages trust or teamwork. Employees are not treated as people—they are treated as salaries and line items. Burnout is common, yet dismissed. Human concerns are framed as weaknesses. In meetings, it is not uncommon for a senior leader to tell women to “smile more,” reinforcing a culture that is out of step with even basic professional norms. At the top, the prevailing goal among senior leaders appears to be self-preservation, as they are promoted beyond their capabilities. Many seem focused on collecting paychecks and avoiding disruption, fully aware that their compensation far exceeds what they could command elsewhere. As a result, meaningful change is avoided, difficult conversations are postponed indefinitely, and dysfunction persists.

6
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All