Pros
Really smart, interesting people to work with Great office space *Interesting clientele Wide range of responsibilities Opportunities for growth I worked here from 2008 to 2011 in an administrative capacity. The tutors and educational counselors there are phenomenal and could be doing anything else in the world, but they choose to be at PrepMatters because they truly enjoy educating and helping kids one on one. Working the front desk at PrepMatters was the first job I got out of undergrad, and the time I spent there still informs my professional trajectory. It was a huge first job to land as a new graduate. When I started there, the front desk role was also responsible for intake coordination and tutor placement. I started in August, right in the middle of busy season, so I basically had to hit the ground running. The company was experiencing significant growth, even in the midst of the recession. The phone pretty much rang off the hook. I would say that my first few months there were a blur! There were moments I felt the job could be extremely stressful, but in those moments Ned Johnson was a excellent resource. I could ask him anything I needed to, from a quick yes or no question to something more nuanced about how to effectively communicate with a client in a difficult situation. His advice always put me on a path to do my job successfully and confidently. I eventually grew to have a strong sense of autonomy in my role, and I felt that Ned trusted and respected decisions I made on a day to day basis. I appreciated not feeling micromanaged. In terms of PrepMatters providing opportunities for growth, there were a great deal of skills I was able to develop in my position, from recruiting and event planning to overseeing an office build-out. The Bethesda office was relocating to from St. Elmo to Cordell, and Ned asked me to liaison between the designers and builders of the new office space. If you like the Bethesda office, you're welcome! That's something I can't say I would have gotten the opportunity to do in the same role at another company. PrepMatters was a place were I was allowed to express interest in things that may have seemed outside of my realm of experience or daily duties, but I was given a chance to explore them. Not all opportunities for growth come with a $10,000 raise and a new title every year, but they're valuable still. Ned's a good boss. He's a good President, and he's great at what he does. He's incredibly busy, which may lead some to think he's unavailable or uninterested. These things aren't true. You have to talk to him. He'll listen, and he'll do his best for you if you're doing your best for him.
Cons
*Interesting clientele VERY BUSY busy season The clients fall in both the pros and the cons. There were so many families I loved to work with and a handful that could really make the day difficult. The vast majority of families were great. The kids were great, the parents were great, it was all great. There were a few that would really try to beat you up if they weren't getting what they wanted when they wanted it. However, working at PrepMatters taught me to keep a cool head when others either couldn't or wouldn't. PM, specifically Ned, also taught me that most unhappy people just want to know you've heard what they have to say, and that they're not specifically attacking you. Once I learned those things, the frustration was taken out of the majority of the difficult conversations I had to have. As for the busy season in the fall, EVERYBODY'S work/life balance is almost non-existent.
