Just. Say. No. - Anonymous employee Smithbucklin Employee Review

1.0
Jun 1, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You can get a lot of experience in a short amount of time, as others have pointed out, but so what? Trust me, it is better to take 2 years to learn the business somewhere else rather than get it in 9 months in this type of environment.

Cons

Zero transparency and zero regard for employees, other than senior management's current pets. - Yes, most of the glowing reviews are fake and everyone knows it. It's really stupid to continue them, but I guess they are trying to keep the percentages for 'refer to a friend' and 'approve of CEO' high and hope no one will really read the negative reviews or believe them. - Lots of unqualified folks in management, lots of cliques and junior high behavior. - Learn to like being under the bus because you will be there a lot. Never seen such a culture of finger pointing and blame. And every task is a fire drill. Somehow the management seems to be under the impression that SB is performing life-saving surgery 24/7, as nothing can wait till the next day (unless, of course, you are one of the lucky 1% and need to beat the traffic or get a haircut or something). - Lots of phony team-building stuff, like bringing in snacks or lunch or having a happy hour (after office hours, natch!). Yeah, I want to have a beer with the folks who are either the ones throwing me under the bus or those under the bus with me!

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.

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Smithbucklin Response
7h
We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We're glad you enjoy our work environment and hybrid flexibility. We appreciate you sharing your perspective on career growth.
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
4w
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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