Condé Nast–specific magazines unknown

“It’s what you make of it”
Pros:
I wanted to reply to the intern who posted that this isn’t a good place to intern at. I disagree. It’s really what you make of it. If you work hard and prove yourself they’ll give you awesome projects to work on and treat you like the employee you are. If you slack, they won’t. Simple as that and same as any other internship. That said, the program they have there is wonderful, and one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. And if you take an internship that isn’t something you’re interested in or that has nothing to do with the skill set you have to offer just because it’s Conde Nast, that’s your fault for settling, and yes, you will be miserable.

Cons:
Biggest (and really, only) con by far is trying to live in New York on a lunch stipend. Unless you have rich parents (can’t say I do), get saving up, because even living frugally you’ll blow through a few thousand dollars doing this.

Advice to Senior Management:
I would really like to see interns get paid, if for no other reason than unpaid internships make it hard for us little people to break into the industry. Otherwise, a great program for learning and making connections, and truly something I have no regrets for doing.

(Glassdoor.com from March 22, 2011)

“I was never too happy at Conde Nast, yet I miss the place like an abusive lover.”
Pros:
Beautiful building, beautiful people. Times Square is an amazing location, and I’ve always been proud to work there. You will meet some interesting personalities at Conde Nast, and of course there are the free clothes and makeup. I should also add that despite Conde Nast’s reputation as a cut-throat place, it’s also pretty accepting in that there is no sexism, racism, or homophobia.

Cons:
A lot of people are unhappy here. It’s true. Whether they’re dissatisfied with their salaries or the fashion/publishing industry as a whole (or perhaps it’s the fact that even senior level people work more than 8 hours a day), people do not seem happy to be working at Conde Nast, even though theoretically it should be everyone’s dream company. People cry, snap at each other, get sacked, send passive aggressive emails.

Advice to Senior Management:
Psst, senior editors: your assistants spend the day either stressing out or sending each other emails about how much they hate you or who is going to be let go next.

(Glassdoor.com from April 27, 2010)