Downards spiral - Recruiter AMS Employee Review

2.0
Oct 17, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- A good portfolio of blue-chip clients. - Opportunities to move around the company if you know how to navigate internal mobility and are proactive in seeking those options out. - A good option to exit an agency environment if you're looking to step into a different type of recruiting career. - Has some fantastic people managers.

Cons

- Recent private equity sale has put an enormous amount of pressure on staff to operate way over capacity for extended periods of time. Any value placed on "work life balance" has been totally and utterly diminished. Some London accounts are operating at massively high volumes and are crushingly understaffed with no end in sight. - Senior Management team is relatively aloof and disconnected from what is happening on the ground. - AMS struggle to push back to clients; many accounts show rapidly increased SLA targets, some of which are completely unrealistic and unachievable. - Working over capacity (and delivering on it) is not proportionally rewarded; decent pay rises are given to those who "work" the system and shout the loudest. - Some promotions are questionable and it is not obvious or logical in why or how they have been attained.

Explore other reviews about AMS

5.0
Dec 3, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

No micromanagement Great work life balance

Cons

Bonus can be hard to obtain

1.0
Apr 27, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible and remote working Great company but with the right leadership

Cons

Since the leadership change last year, the culture within AMS has deteriorated significantly. The new CDTO’s approach has created an environment that feels increasingly toxic and unsustainable for many employees. There is a strong sense that every problem is expected to be solved—or sidelined—by AI, often without realistic planning, sufficient resources, or input from the teams actually responsible for execution. This has led to confusion, constant shifting priorities, and a lack of meaningful support for getting work done effectively. At the same time, workloads have increased to an unsustainable level. Expectations continue to rise, but without additional resources or clear prioritization. Many teams are stretched thin, juggling multiple high-pressure initiatives with tight deadlines, which only adds to the stress and makes it difficult to maintain quality or balance. More concerning is the leadership style. Communication often feels driven by pressure and fear rather than clarity or collaboration. Many employees feel they are operating under constant scrutiny, which has contributed to widespread stress, anxiety, and low morale across the department. It’s becoming common to hear colleagues express reluctance to come into work, not because of the workload itself, but because of the atmosphere.

6
avatar
AMS Response
3d
Thank you for taking the time to share your honest and thorough feedback. We appreciate your recognition of the flexibility and remote working environment at AMS, and we’re encouraged to hear you continue to see strong talent and potential within the organisation. We’re sorry to hear that your recent experience has not reflected the collaborative and supportive culture we strive to create. We recognise that periods of transformation and evolving ways of working can create pressure for teams, particularly when priorities shift quickly or workloads feel challenging. Creating an environment where colleagues feel supported, listened to, and able to contribute openly is extremely important to us, and we take feedback relating to culture, wellbeing, and leadership seriously. We would encourage you to continue raising your concerns through the appropriate internal channels so they can be heard and constructively addressed. Thank you again for sharing your perspective.
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