Pretty good temporary job, but I don't know if I'd want it permanently. - Field Research Photographer (Temporary) CoStar Group Employee Review

4.0
1 Sept 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The pay was pretty good considering it didn't require previous experience or special skills (though photography skills certainly help). Mileage reimbursement and bonus really add a lot to the income. You'll only get your bonus if you complete the term, though (for temporary employees). Management was pretty supportive overall, though since they're in a completely different city, there can be some miscommunication at times. But they're quick to respond and will help if you're having trouble. Sometimes it felt like they were a little clueless, but it's just because they don't know anything about my city. It's a pain to deal with a long-distance boss, but a little patience will get you through it. If you like to work independently, apply for this job today. You have to call in and out and handle the occasional call from your manager, but that's about it.

Cons

Cleaning up other researcher's poor data is terrible. There's not much in the way of standardization, and the software is pretty terrible and not at all user-friendly. They quality check the data, but from what I can tell, it doesn't take much to pass. Some people obviously take advantage of this and do just enough to get by. After all, if the company is a thousand miles away, how are they going to know? You can kill yourself trying to get all the data perfect. Again, patience is a big help here. As far as the field work, it can be kind of frustrating and intimidating. People have no idea who you are and get very suspicious if they see you snooping around writing down tenant names and taking pictures. You can explain what it's for and that CoStar actually helps the building management out a lot. Some people will be cool with it, others will call security and kick you out of the building. It probably gets easier to deal with after a while, but temporary employees aren't very convincing to suspicious people. If you can "sell" the service to the property managers, you're more likely to be welcome, and they might even help you out by just giving you the rent rolls.

Explore other reviews about CoStar Group

5.0
28 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great experience in a high-level, fast-paced data company. You have to put in the work to learn the job immediately. Prove your skills and learn by doing. Fun companywide events and great campus.

Cons

Some positions require extra work to meet weekly goals.

1
1.0
11 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

401k, medical benefits snacks decent base salary

Cons

Working at CoStar Group was one of the most emotionally exhausting sales environments I’ve experienced. The culture on my team was extremely male-dominated, hyper-competitive, and very much “sink or swim.” Collaboration was talked about constantly by management, but in reality the environment rewarded internal competition, territorial behavior, favoritism, and politics over actual teamwork. As one of the few women on the sales team, I often felt isolated and unsupported. Instead of mentorship or coaching, the expectation was basically: “figure it out yourself.” New hires were thrown into difficult situations with inconsistent training and unrealistic expectations, while certain reps appeared to receive stronger books of business, better territories, or more support than others. It created resentment and a toxic atmosphere where coworkers often felt more like competitors waiting for you to fail than teammates. The turnover was incredibly high, which should have been a red flag. Management pushed aggressive quotas and nonstop pressure while failing to address morale, burnout, or fairness concerns. There was also an unhealthy obsession with leaderboard culture and internal politics that made the workplace feel stressful every single day. What disappointed me most was that I genuinely believed in the product and enjoyed helping clients. Many customers loved working with me, and I built strong relationships. But internally, the environment became mentally draining. The constant competitiveness, lack of support, and toxic culture eventually outweighed the positives of the role.

5
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