Only take it if you NEED a job - Senior Associate Smithbucklin Employee Review

2.0
May 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You learn a lot and wellness week is nice

Cons

run especially if you’re in a client facing role in the creative, marketing or comms teams. I didn’t realize how bad it was until I went to a different company. I worked overtime my entire tenure. Many people (including higher ups) messaged me on my last day saying they were jealous of me moving to a different org. Severely high expectations with minimal resources and support. High turnover and burnout rates. Lower level employees do all the work for minimal pay. Company culture is abysmal. Majority of people are miserable.

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Smithbucklin Response
1mo
We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We’re glad to hear you valued the learning opportunities and Wellness Week. We recognize the importance of workload balance, employee support and fostering a positive team environment, and we value feedback from current and former employees.

Explore other reviews about Smithbucklin

5.0
Jul 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great work environment Hybrid work schedule - office and WFH

Cons

Low ceiling for climbing the job ladder.

3.0
Jun 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

1. Gaining experience in marketing, communications, editorial operations, project management, time management, organizational skills, and interpersonal communication, which can help you become more competent in those areas, learn what you're good at, like and dislike, progress your career with the company, or use the experience to pursue another role that fits your goals. 2. Working a hybrid schedule with the ability to handle your work on a computer is a great lifestyle and flexibility advantage. Working adjacent to Downtown Chicago is an incredible experience that can bring even more lifestyle, professional, and personal opportunities. 3. Networking and getting to know a diverse group of people in the company and your department is great for relationship building, both professionally and socially. 4. Smithbucklin provides a robust onboarding and professional development program, providing support for advancing your career, feeling more comfortable at the company, and pushing you to grow.

Cons

1. Workloads can be overwhelming if not properly managed. Managing tasks for several clients at once demands a higher level of time management, organization, consistency, and interpersonal communication tolerance (for a great number of meetings, emails, and messages) that seem to be quite challenging for many associates. But if you ground yourself and continue to become efficient at your workflows, you can handle it. 2. Performing work across different clients makes it hard to focus and specialize. You may be more of a generalist starting, but by discovering the industries, clients, and type of work you like, you may be able to carve out a path you want. 3. The work itself, which can consist of executing digital marketing, comms, or editorial operations tasks, can seem underwhelming, and the learning curve may take time, but the tasks themselves are not necessarily difficult.

1
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Smithbucklin Response
3w
Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you valued the professional development opportunities, hybrid work environment and collaborative culture. We appreciate your time with us and wish you success in your future endeavors.
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