The Scoop

After a 16-month acquisition spree, the agency began a comprehensive reorganization in the fall of 1997. The firm was broken up into seven units, and the whole shebang was renamed the "McCann Erickson WorldGroup." Each division specializes in a "designated growth area," such as promotional marketing, new media, and corporate identity consulting. Like most big agency groups, McCann-Erickson wants to offer advertisers a broad spectrum of marketing and communications options. Large accounts include the consolidated global business for Motorola and creative duties for Mastercard International, and Avis, Boeing, DuPont, Sprint, and Gateway. McCann is the biggest agency in the world, bringing in $20 billion in 1999 and garnering Advertising Age's U.S. Agency of the Year award. In further growth news, McCann merged with Anderson & Lembke to form its first integrated online and offline agency. The acquisition of Nationwide Advertising Service brought a company skilled in recruitment communications to McCann, which will operate as an autonomous unit. Due to the prolonged expansion, McCann is no longer restriced to businesses headquartered in the states. The South African Government's Communications and Information Services department signed over its $25 million business to Universal McCann, the media divisin of McCann-Erickson Worldwide. McCann is making a foray into custom publishing, having formed the Publishing Agency in a joint venture with fellow Interpublic Group subsidiary Cambell-Ewald to develop print materials.

Getting Hired

Entry-level job openings are listed in the recruiting section of the company web page, located at http://www.mccann.com/rct/index.shtml. The site gives a thorough description of life at the company, job functions, and career paths. You can make inquiries to different departments or simply send your resume using the online application. As what human resource officers call "an old-fashioned company," McCann-Erickson favors applicants who have attended top schools and earned high grades. Once you've scored an interview, insiders say appearance is an important consideration. "You should basically think corporate with a bit of a fashion spin." Another source adds: "no piercings, cool dye jobs or obvious tattoos, unless you're a very talented creative with a great book."

Our Survey Says

All shades of characters, none too shady

Working at McCann-Erickson is "crazy - it's all kinds of things," reports one insider: "It's great, it's hard, it's easy, fun yet overwhelming." The corporate culture varies by department and group. "Account execs are considered stuffy but not more so than at any other place." Not surprisingly, "creatives are more laid-back," and they describe their environment as "loose" and "lively." "No matter what department they work in," sources say "everyone is busy most of the time," and they all work the hours necessary to meet deadlines. "There are all kinds of people here," says one insider, "jokers, slackers, serious people, workaholics, you name it." "The majority of them, however, are hard working, personable and good at what they do."

Dress: suits exude desperation

There is no mandated dress code at McCann Erickson. Sources say what you wear is really "determined by the department, the level of employee and those in charge of the specific group." "Account people like to dress up -- which is probably a good thing." "Some of them wear funky suits and funky ties," says one insider, "which only makes them look desperate." In the creative department, "some people dress up, some don't." Most will wear a suit or jacket if there's a client meeting, but "if you are going on a shoot or working in your office, who cares what you're wearing?"

Unified behind a sometimes frustrating bureaucracy

One thing people (especially creatives) dislike about the company is "all the levels that have to approve work." One employee describes this as "a bureaucratic tangle that sometimes suppresses good ideas." Another describes it as "frustrating" and "a pain in the ass." He complains that "you can do something you think is perfect and four people above you want to change it [usually account people] before the client has even seen it." Despite all this, insiders still say McCann-Erickson "isn't nearly as political as a lot of other advertising agencies." Employees have "a lot of McCann Spirit, and the whole agency seems to share in new business wins and things like that."

Raggedy decor, snappy benefits

The fact that "you don't have to fight your way through crossfire to get to your desk in the morning" makes it easy to ignore the "raggedy decor," carpets that are "not too clean," and "administrative systems that just don't work." "It's budget time in the big city and it has been for years," explains one source. Pay for entry-level positions is "lower than usual for the industry," and there are no annual bonuses, but "raises come regularly over the first few years." They do find the money, however, for "lots of parties and lots of rewarding people." Insiders say the agency "really celebrates and pats you on the back when you do a great job." The company offers good health benefits, a 401(k) plan, and pays for a car home if you work past 9 p.m. McCann also has an in-house training program -- the aptly-named McED -- that offers courses ranging from introductory advertising classes for entry-level hires to seminars for senior execs.

Not risky, but respected

"If you like change and want to be close to the edge, you won't find it at [a place as large as] McCann, but it's a widely respected name" that essentially "makes your resume glow in the dark to anyone who knows the industry." You'll find entry-level opportunities "rarely found elsewhere in advertising." The company's size also means that junior employees can "take advantage of a wide variety of career paths." Employees maintain that "it's a hot agency right now, and a great place to learn."

Employment Contact

Human Resources

Key Competitors

BBDO Worldwide;DDB Worldwide Communications;Grey Advertising;J. Walter Thompson;Leo Burnett;MacManus Group;Ogilvy & Mather;Publicis;True North;Young & Rubicam

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