Pros
Lots of resources are available to inspire you and help you create. At least on my team there was a lot of trust, freedom and cash to do what we wanted/needed to get the job done. Didn't need much authorisation to hire freelancers, get prototypes made, buy samples, etc. Great company to have on a resume. Its one of your major toy companies with the world's hugest brands. It has always received impressed comments from resume reviewers. CEO Brian Goldner is full of ideas, seems solid and is friendly when he sees you in the halls.
Cons
My biggest con was location. I like big cities so the three blocks that constitute Providence weren't rocking my socks much. Having said that, with a bit of a commute I could have lived in Boston. Now, I was young and single then and if that describes you, you'll find the area to be a tiny dating pool full of Hasbro fish. Lots of in company marriages. If you are the suburban type, married and/or have kids, you'd probably be fine here and meet lots of similar friends. It was a bit cliquey there as it probably is in all big companies but you could still meet some cool people. Marketers are treated like royalty there which was shocking as...honestly, I never saw a marketer do much and the two jokers my team was saddled with were from hunger. I regularly witnessed marketers getting lots of perks, treats, rewards and high salaries yet never contributing much at all to the development process then stepping in at the last possible second to crow and take credit for successes. If you ARE in marketing, then rock on and enjoy working here and doing nothing for lots of money. Design Team promotions seem very based on allegiances. If you want to rise you gotta play the game. At least in my eyes, promotions did not seem based on merit but rather who your buddies were or how willing you were to M.C. or serve hotdogs at company events. One of the highest members of management always seemed like an untrustworthy chap. This person did a thoroughly cowardly move while I was there. A team I was friendly with came up with an awesome flagship toy that was very fun, had a lot of features and PERFECTLY captured the main spirit and modus operandi of their brand. Before a major company wide line review this management chap shot down their idea and instead proposed an old item that had very little to do with the brand. This item appeared once in the brand's history. Fast forward to the line review and the Review Board of upper management completely rejected this ridiculous new concept and were dumbfounded that an item of such insignificance would be proposed as a flagship toy. The poor presenters didn't know what to say since they 100% agreed. They just sort of stared dumbfounded at the director dude who had made them change it. (He was sat with the other head honchos at the review table) and this self-preserving skunk didn't say a word, just stared down at the table so that he didn't have to take any heat. He left the team out to dry and draw ire. Luckily the team had the chutzpah to say "We have one other idea!" and they saved the day with the original concept. I'd put money on the coward trying to take credit for that behind closed doors. As far as I know, he is still there skirting under the radar and maintaining his do nothing status quo. But he was really the only skunk I met there so sure, try to work at Hasbro, it can be fun!
