Pros
- There is a 7-11 next door with a friendly man named Guru who will reserve judgement on your increasingly questionable purchases. - The company will do all sorts of cool outings and parties. Mostly in crisis scenarios but sometimes just to be nice. - As you can see from some of the other reviews, you will meet some awesome people here and form a bond with them that can only be made through acute, shared pain. - If you have the absence of dependents and a strong stomach, you'll be forged like a diamond in this place. You will learn how to do your job, how to do it fast and with minimal errors. You will pull off things you didn't think were possible.
Cons
If you have been actively pursuing a job here, you've probably noticed the heavy, recurring theme of 'work life balance' at VIVA. While there are plenty of cons to this place, specific and otherwise, this is the only thing that truly applies to everyone exploring a job opportunity at VIVA and you should roll this concept over in your mind very carefully before accepting a position here. VIVA's business model is based on the husband and wife owners' philosophy of giving the client whatever they need, when they need it, within a timeframe that seems acceptable and is set by the client. This is the precedent that all of VIVA's major business generating relationships are based on. This is how VIVA stays in the mouths of middling CMOs everywhere, and on a fundamental level, this is never going change. Ever. Once you really understand that, you can work at VIVA and appreciate it for what it is. Your time is not your own here. You're either a big cog or a small cog in a poorly ordered machine that makes every sacrifice to save face in front of a client. Even when that means working late, weekends, holidays, allowing countless and unrestricted reviews and change requests, what have you. This reality breeds a perpetual conversation within many of the circles at VIVA on how the everyday worker is woefully mistreated. It's true, but the incessant complaining becomes frustrating and pointless. It weighs on you and your project performance and has you assuming the worst with every new job that walks through the door. When people start quitting in large waves you find yourself envying them. The ownership responds slowly to morale problems with a variety of deflecting maneuvers. Myself and others sat through countless department meetings, mediator sessions, all-hands team building exercises and tote-bag giveaways. All the while watching a smiling man with a ponytail tell us how much we matter. How much our time matters. Didn't mean that working Saturdays, and Sundays without notice was going to end and it doesn't mean it now. This aspect of the VIVA life permeates everything you do, professionally and personally and it does wear you down. If this sounds bad and you have any employment option that seems even remotely better, you should take the alternative.
