– Anything you do as an employee on your time is appreciated and seen as a mark of great work ethic. The company likes free work without paying employees for the extra time and effort. You'll get bagels and cheese. Haha
– Lacks transparency. Big Time! About compensation and budgets. Ask them, and you'll get some funny classic answers every time.
– On that note, if you ask, the senior executives will be shocked that you can even speak your mind. And how dare you ask or inquire about anything at all.
– The design managers constantly hover over you to see what you are doing on screen. Major trust issues and micromanagement run deep.
– You won't just be a designer but also a project manager, note-taker, event initiator, and much more, and you'll be paid in "exposure and experience".
– Some teams glorify working over time, through sickness and pushing through.
– You will notice a nasty level of passive aggressiveness, subtle sarcasm, and cheap jokes passed around over time.
– Admin/ HR department is for namesake. Your concerns will never be taken in the right way.
Pro Tip: They'll give illusion of job security & steady pay (though very low), but consider the long-term effect it would have on your overall personality, life, and career. Low self-esteem frugal & be happy with what you get mindset will ultimately be the major takeaways.