employer cover photo

Smart Start ECS

Is this your company?

Great coworkers. Horrible management. - Anonymous employee Smart Start ECS Employee Review

1.0
30 Dec 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The staff are great. The open office environment can be distracting but mostly contributes to a friendly atmosphere. The dress code is casual. It seems like a good place to work part-time if you're in graduate school.

Cons

All the problems that I can see in this company stem from poor management. The benefits and pay are below average for the field. When informed of this management refused to believe it was the case despite evidence to the contrary. The turnover rate is extremely high (in 2015 it was 75%). This is both symptomatic of a toxic work-environment and a detriment to the projects which need to be turned over sometimes annually to new workers or a new team. It is clear that there is little room for growth as the diversity of methodology is low and only very low level data analysis is used. This company isn't seeking new heights in the field. For a small company with few other benefits, one would think you would receive some other trade-off like more independence or influence on how projects are conducted - but you don't. I have seen more than a few "issues" with pay roll or paid time off discrepancies. Finally, management is rude, unprofessional, and at times incompetent. There appears to be no rationale or consideration being made for team changes, projects changes, and changes of salaries/position/role for employees. Employees are often blind-sided by new changes in company structure, policy, or staffing. Usually a current employee will sugar coat these facts to a prospective employee because it can be so difficult to find a job. But in the six months I worked here I saw six people leave before me. If at all possible I would avoid working here unless you absolutely need a job. And if you do need to take a job here, I would keep looking for another.

Explore other reviews about Smart Start ECS

2.0
28 May 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

a good entry into the field of evaluation but look elsewhere for building a career out of it

Cons

high turnover of staff; no OT for hourly

1.0
31 Dec 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You could potentially learn a lot quickly. Co-workers are great. You'll gain experience writing reports.

Cons

Compensation is very low. The learning curve can be steep, but then stagnates. There are rare occasions when senior staff know more technical skills (e.g. statistics, project management, data collection/analysis, etc) than associates. Which is very problematic for evaluation associates fresh out of graduate school who are still looking to develop their skills. After about 6 months there is little left to learn. Almost no internal promotions. A lot of Associates were promised Senior Positions within a year of their start data, and then we were told it was no longer an option. The CEO/owner can be very inconsiderate. Her primary function is to proofread reports. She has little qualitative and quantitative analysis skills, and limited knowledge of evaluation theories and best practices. Almost all of the work is limited to asking participants how satisfied they are with programs and comparing means. There is little critical though about effectiveness. Any statistical skills will go to waste. Turnover is extremely high.

4
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All