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Recently Store Managers have been offering me jobs from different locations but same company in my town. The company is T-Mobile. It’s going to be my first job. I have a couple questions for any former/current employees. Is it better to work for T-Mobile, metro by T-Mobile, or a third party T-Mobile? Any difference in benefits or wage? Thanks
Who hasn't cursed their email? Totes guilty here.
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Oh they do anything they want. The Koreans will ask to change the color of the bathroom walls even though someone is moved in and taking a piss at the very moment. They also won’t pay the painter after the job because they just forgot to secure the funds and contracts are not binding... but swear to god they are good for it!
In my experience, they're more erratic than tough. Which can be hell for the agency. There are some very very good marketers there. Especially at the senior level. But the business is very disorganised. Especially when it comes to local vs global. And confusing input from the different areas of the business can be frustrating. But they have huge plus points. The fact that they're huge being one of them. Get something they like and it's suddenly everywhere. They outspend Apple something like 10 to 1 in media. And they genuinely want to do creative stuff (though they don't always know what that is). Plus, they have massive ambitions, like a challenger (even though they're actually the leader). I personally love the 'do what you can't' positioning because it's designed to be disruptive. And if you can survive working with them, you can survive anything. In my experience.
In 25 years in advertising, I've never had a worse client than Samsung global. Never.
Agreed 💯
Leo Burnett - worked with Korea’s HQ and 48 markets - they are a tough client and you are better prepared if you study Korean culture - it’ll help A LOT. Everything from decks, seating arrangements, contracts, etc. Let’s just say this - when I first met Rich Stoddart (former LB CEO) at the always fun LB Breakfast (lots of libations), and he learned I worked on Samsung, he put his hand on my shoulder and said “sincerely best of luck on that”. Susan Credle never touched it. Legal and finance hated them as contracts and SOW’s were only suggestions to them. Also, between HQ, and their different verticals (appliances, mobile, TV, IT, etc) you have to treat each one like a different client. And we were constantly pitching and having to prove our worth on everything even though we were the AOR for global. Billings $30mil+. Lots of long hours, time difference makes 7am and 7pm calls the norm. That being said, there are huge opportunities to make world-class work and learn a lot from smart clients. Huge budgets, huge global footprint, and if you do well, you can work on anything. Biggest factor is Korean culture.
CD1 is the nicest experience I've heard about Samsung. All I knew to stay away was 3am meetings because I heard they work on Korea time with no consideration to the others time zones.
I worked on Samsung Global for two years (global business, mobile) and the best way to summarize my experience is with Charles Dickens- “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
What broke you? The last minute changes? The 1am calls with Korea? Having your work torn down by Pio in front of your client and all the other agencies? All of the above?
Plz join and give us an update in month 2
The client that is single handedly responsible for the crippling anxiety and 2am panic attacks that I now suffer from (with a few ER trips thrown in for good measure). Those long days/nights, last minute changes, and middle of the night calls with folks in Korea took their toll.
Working on US business (SEA) is definitely better, due to lack of a cultural gap and slightly better working hours. But the local business still has the same culture of demanding a lot from their agencies, with no lead time, and playing them off against each other.
Also, the guy who manages all their agencies, globally, is an absolute tyrant but really leans into that reputation. I actually ENJOYED working with him the few times that I did, because I knew what I was getting. With other clients at Samsung, I wasn’t so fortunate. A lot of “this looks good” one minute followed by “this needs to change completely” the next.
Hm, yes this is not normal.
Who wants normal? ;)
OP creative director has left the game
Good for you!! Gotta do you, ya only live once!! No time to stress and be miserable every single day (including weekends since you will likely work, or think/dread about work)
Global is insanely convoluted and awfully difficult. US domestic is more creative. Or at least they used to be
Again, ha!
Samsung (along with Verizon) is one of the few clients at my agency that people will literally move mountains NOT to work on
I’ve worked on it with Korean clients. It was tough. I probably wouldn’t again.
I’ve heard American clients are better.
But I also get RGA reaching out to me every 12 to 18 months and it’s always for Samsung and always under different cds, so feels like lots of turnover from my perspective
The lead clients will treat you like trash. Nay, worse than trash. A scum filled dumpster. They will say they want to do big things and you'll believe them at first, reminding yourself great work doesn't happen without The Grind. But you'll churn and spin over holidays, weekends, and 4am meetings, with nothing really to show for it, only to wake up one day, in a soju induced fog. You'll wipe the sweat from your brow, and a tear from your eye, decide enough is enough, and never look back.
@AD1 I remember those 3am meetings. Our senior client heard about those meetings and said "this is never happening again - so disrespectful to the agency". And it never happened again. I guess it all depends which part of Samsung you're working with.
I work on the media side of things. Here’s how I see it: Samsung treats the creative agency as a passionate fling that is short lived and plans to divorce the media agency after a long and troubled marriage. Global clients are fickle and reserve to change their minds at the last minute. This unfortunately also drives the Local clients mad as well. If you’re stuck with Samsung, better Local like the US than Global clients.
Get ready for weird hours, lots of last minute total redos, and some very confusing feedback that even has account shaking their head. As a CD you may get some long flights in there combined with a short trip and...phone calls at weird hours. I second that they are a client you will move mountains not to work on.
And they are tougher than most clients