Pros
As someone who recently left NDG in pursuit of passions outside of the real estate vertical, I know that overly positive or negative reviews of a company on Glassdoor need to be taken with a grain of salt. While I'm just another anonymous reviewer to you, I want to make it clear that I am no longer employed by NDG, nor do I have any personal stake in how this review is perceived by my former employer or potential new employees. With all that said, I had nothing short of a great experience in 6+ years working at NDG. As with any job that you care about, it wasn't always easy, but it was most certainly a fantastic learning experience and has prepared me for a successful career in the years ahead. Very few places will give you the chance to learn the breadth of topics I was exposed to in my time at NDG, and it was always fulfilling to learn concepts, platforms, etc., that could immediately provide value for the agency and its clients. Some people may not enjoy coming into an environment where they need to learn new things on the fly, but I don't think I could've learned as much as I did without it. Although I can only speak directly to my experiences at NDG, here are some other positive highlights from my time there: -Late nights and long hours were the exception, not the rule. Most members of the team wrapped up work by 530pm (or earlier) on an average day. I always had to work a hard 8 hours, but I don't think I would've ever described it as "grueling" (as one other reviewer put it). Keep in mind, this is an ad agency, so it's there to serve its clients, but really, none of the worst work-life balance problems so common in the advertising industry are present at NDG. -Understanding and compassionate leadership – I never felt like I had to explain myself if I wanted to take time off (i.e., no guilt trips for taking advantage of PTO) -Solid benefits with 401k matching and health care mostly paid for by the company plus potential for end-of-year bonuses depending on company profitability -Opportunities to move up in the agency or make your role your own if you have a plan to make it happen -Incredibly smart, talented and fun teammates. This isn't a promise you'll become best friends with everyone who you work with, but I've made a few lifelong friends at NDG, and saying goodbye to everyone was definitely difficult on my last day – that's all I can ask for in a workplace, personally.
Cons
Working in a niche like new home construction may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I recommend you give it a try if it's a vertical you have any level of interest in – you might find that you like it. Your mileage may vary. I would argue that the most successful people at NDG are those who can think about the bigger picture regardless of where they fit into it. If you're someone who simply wants to take/give orders in pursuit of client/supervisor satisfaction, you will likely find yourself feeling unfulfilled at the end of the day. People who can think holistically and don't need to wait to be told what to do will thrive. The only organizational "con" I'd list for NDG as a company would be related to its difficultly in filling seats quickly, which can add extra stress to employees. This is also a reflection of the agency's thorough and thoughtful vetting of potential employees. The benefit of this is that you know new hires will be assets, not detriments, to the team, but it can take longer than you might like to bring on new team members. I also feel compelled to directly address some of the points highlighted in the more negative reviews for NDG, mostly because I feel they negatively reflect on my own experiences without counterpoints. I'm neither a conservative nor was I a "minion" to leadership, and I didn't always agree with leadership at every turn. My professional opinions were always valued, even if they went against the grain or challenged established norms, and my personal views never caused any friction in the workplace. Ultimately, it's my opinion the 1-star reviews published at the time of my review are hyperbolic at best and disingenuous at worst.
