I could go on forever but I’ll start with what I wish someone had told me when I was interviewing because I truly had no idea what I was walking in to. IG was my first real job after college, and I’m not blind to the fact that first jobs are hard. I can handle tough but this went beyond “tough.” It was unhealthy and toxic and genuinely messed with my confidence to the point that it made me question whether I was cut out for a career I’ve know realized I’m great at. Insight Global is truly one of the most manipulative, shame-based environments I’ve ever been in.
I didn’t even realize how abnormal everything at this company was until I left. I remember I used to be scared to ask to take a full lunch break (meaning an hour long) because I thought I’d be viewed as “slacking off”. I genuinely thought that was normal - because they told me it was and they took advantage of the fact that it was my first real job. They would tell us that being “gritty” meant sacrificing short term comfort for long-term success (it really was t it really just meant tolerating constant stress for very little reward That was the whole mindset -being miserable was just part of the process. Leadership alwayssss talked about was “shared values”, but no one followed them. - it was literally just a script they used to keep you in line and then used “grit” as a way to excuse toxic behavior - like if something felt wrong, it was just because you weren’t tough enough.
Oh another good one- They’d do shoutouts at Zone (the 8 am meeting) for people who worked late nights (basically people overworking) and celebrated it like it was something to aspire to. You’d be encouraged to open up because “we take care of one another,” but the second you spoke up about being overwhelmed (or really anything) you were seen as not being able to handle it. You’re constantly being evaluated, and if you’re not “on,” you’re labeled lazy or not cut out for it. You’re overworked, underpaid, and constantly made to feel like it’s your fault. Below $40K salary. 8am sharp meetings every day with the whole team. And, If you’re late by 30 seconds, it’s a HR write up (announced to the whole team as well to which you have to apologize for being an inconvenience)
Looking back l I see it all so much clearer- it’s just wild how much it clouded my confidence. I ended up getting a senior recruiting role literally two weeks after leaving IG where I’m respected, paid fairly, and actually supported. It really confirmed for me that I was never the problem and made me but just made me realize how much IG made me doubt myself when in reality, I was capable the whole time
