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Topic: Conde Nast-y?
| Author | Message |
| 1337 | Posted – 4/3/2008 2:58:19 PM | show profile I worked at Time Inc for 2yrs and they always joked and called Conde Nast, Conde Nasty. I thought it was just a joke, well now I'm at Conde Nasty, 5 months in and I can't believe how rude and mean the people are. A friend of a friend has been working at one of their Bridal publications and he says the same thing. Is Conde Nast really the bad across the board? Do they have and industry rep for being mean? I'm just curious and would appreciate any background info on this. Also, if they are that bad, should I start looking for another job? I'm not sure if this is going to get better or worse. Thanks! ------ and so it was written... the geek shall inherit the earth |
| pzach | Posted – 4/3/2008 3:07:36 PM | show profile I would say yeah ? they do have a pretty broad reputation of not being a nice place to work. But then again, none of these things are always based on facts. ------ ------ Great new music every day! www.returnticketmusic.com |
| observer | Posted – 4/3/2008 3:32:26 PM | show profile i've heard that Wired is not so bad - however, this was some time back. perhaps being here in SF away from the corporate office may influence the culture. |
| mimi77 | Posted – 4/3/2008 9:22:45 PM | show profile not true at all I have worked for 4 magazines- 2 non Conde Nast and 2 Conde Nast titles and I find the people at CN to be nicer and more sincere than the other pubs. Of course there are nasty people every where you go, so I won't say that everyone is peachy, but there were more disgruntled and washed up editors at the smaller publications I worked for. I always attributed that to job dissatisfaction. Conde Nast treats their employees well and therefore most people are generally happy and content. They might be a little more fashion-y than the people at Time Inc, but that doesn't mean they are jerks. I think it takes a minimum of 6 months to really feel comfortable at a job and get to know your co-workers. Perhaps you need to reach out more and give people a chance. Ask people to go to lunch, open up about personal interests, crack some jokes, etc. It's definitely true that people judge the new person, so just make sure they see the real you and they will open up too. I have been at my current CN job for almost a year, but the first 6 months were a little rough- lots of trust issues with other editors and silly power struggles. It is getting better now and I have really found some great friends and I love my job! |
| Marie | Posted – 4/4/2008 2:15:25 AM | show profile Honestly, I think this is just one of those stupid myths. It's a great company. I was recently riding up one of the elevators, and everyone was dressed and looked "normal." It's just a company, with slightly better benefits than the others. The magazines differ widely. If you like your job, stay, if not, leave. I also freelanced there a while back, and I never had these "issues." Again, it's just a company. And I think much nonsense is made over what people perceive it to be. |
| candylilacs | Posted – 4/4/2008 2:32:41 AM | show profile I don't know, man, I worked in the LA bureau of a Time Inc. publication and it was cutthroat and downright evil to work there. So, for me, it's nice to hear your gig was much nicer. Mine, however was not. I think it is based on the individual office. In the office I worked, the bureau chief allowed his sociopathic assistant (yes, admin assistant, not assistant editor) to run the office while he disappeared. Not every bureau chief is like that. At least, I hope not. ------ http://www.mswritesguide.blogspot.com |
| chase_sara | Posted – 4/4/2008 4:23:55 AM | show profile test |
| barrio99 | Posted – 4/4/2008 4:30:15 AM | show profile candy...was it really that bad? I think i know what you're talking about. A friend is out there and may be up for a job in that office. I think i know this assistant you mean. I know things have changed -- but is it really toxic and cutthroat etc? I actually heard they're kind of geeky/dorky. |
| 1337 | Posted – 4/4/2008 10:47:44 AM | show profile and just to add the book/movie The Devil Wear's Prada was based on this company... so that has to mean something. And I have asked people to lunch, after work drinks, coffee... everything short of a trip to France, and I keep getting turned down. So I just stopped trying, I'm lucky if I get a good morning from ANYONE when i get in. ------ and so it was written... the geek shall inherit the earth |
| RockinRonD | Posted – 4/4/2008 10:50:07 AM | show profile | email poster I think by and large CN is better than most media companiesto work for. The offices are kept clean, employees are treated and paid rather well, for the most part, and at most CN magazines, creative ideas and aggressiveness are rewarded. Having worked at the NYT, Newsday and Hachette, I can tell you that no place compares with the NYT for sheer paranoia among the rank and file, Hachette is a filthy dungeon void of ideas and creativity and Newsday is a breeding ground for myopic, mediocre people who hate themselves as much as their jobs and company. As for Hearst, you'd have to be insane to want to work for a company where cost cutting is a religion. You may say I'm a cynic...but I'm not the only one. |
| keke11 | Posted – 4/4/2008 11:27:06 AM | show profile If you are talking about the publication from the Devil Wears Prada (and in the film they make it quite clear which one they are aiming to represent)... I would definitely say in this instance it's not the entire corporation of Conde Nast to blame. This magazine has an obvious reputation to for being rude and snooty.... I mean they made a whole movie about it. My friend interned there and came back a completely difference person... not necessarily in a good way either! But why blame Conde Nast? Hopefully not all of their publications are like that. |
| candylilacs | Posted – 4/5/2008 12:17:51 AM | show profile I was there about 8 years ago, so I can't speak for the environment now. She's now in a different department and in a higher position. Good luck! ------ http://www.mswritesguide.blogspot.com |
