What it does: communications and digital marketing, consulting, ecosystems and commerce.
Best known for: Isobar is a subsidiary of Dentsu Aegis Network, a multinational communications and media company that operates in 145 countries.
Staff stats: Approximately 6,500 employees.
The good bits: Employees have the chance to work for a multi-awarded company. Isobar has won more than 450 awards since they began in 2003.
The not so good bits: Graduates should look for a job elsewhere if they dislike strict deadlines and long work hours.
Isobar is part of multinational communications and media company Dentsu Aegis Network. The subsidiary began in 2003 as a digital agency. The company’s operations span 45 markets where they cater to clients’ brand marketing, consulting and online communications among other services.
Their clients include Adidas, Coca-Cola, Huawei, Enterprise, Philips and P&G. Isobar said that they have won more than 450 awards since 2018. These include several Clio, Effie and Webby Awards. Research firm Forrester also recognised the company as a leading commerce solutions provider in 2018.
Most individuals apply online for job vacancies at Isobar. The company also recruits prospective employees through campus job fairs and employee referrals.
Isobar may process candidates for consulting roles in just five days. An HR representative may contact candidates via phone after sending a confirmation email. Interviews can last for an hour to discuss the candidate’s competencies and skills.
Applications can take up to two months or more, depending on the role. Employee referrals seem to shorten the hiring process to two weeks. You should expect to share your reason for joining Isobar during the interview.
Online applications and employee referrals can take two weeks on average. Some previous applicants described the interview process as an informal one. The questions primarily related to their knowledge of Isobar’s business, personal information and skills.
Isobar seems to limit internship opportunities to certain countries like Switzerland. The availability of entry-level roles also depends on your location:
The company always looks for BA/QA experts, project managers, React/Vue JS developers, Sitecore developers, strategists and UX/UI/Service designers. These jobs, however, require at least one year of work experience.
Isobar accepts fresh graduates as junior editors and motion graphic designers and project executives. Junior editors should have basic knowledge of After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro. Business administration, communication or marketing graduates can apply as project executives, although the company will be more inclined to hire individuals with at least one year of experience.
Community managers, project managers and social media leads don’t need previous work experience to join Isobar. These job opportunities also don’t seem to require a university degree.
Isobar’s compensation package complies with the policies of Dentsu Aegis Network, but the actual benefits and salaries will still vary on a person’s home country:
Permanent employees who have worked for two years can enjoy an extra week of annual leave per year. They can also take up to seven half-days of leave every year, employee discounts, and free lunch and snacks.
Web designers earn at least HKD14,000 per month on average, so an entry-level salary in the same role can be lower than this figure. Employees have two days off from work, five company holidays, 18 days annual leave, and group medical and dental insurance.
Some employees said that they can work from home, while others enjoy flexible work hours. The company provides comprehensive health insurance coverage, free snacks, maternity and paternity leave, sick leave and vacation days.
An intern marketing strategist earns at least SGD765 per month on average. The median salary for an entry-level role like a content engineer ranges between SGD2,000 and SGD3,000 per month.
The workload can be overwhelming sometimes, but this is expected for a communications and media company. Some employees believe that joining Isobar is a great way to start your advertising career due to plenty of learning opportunities, despite the uneven work-life balance.
The hours are quite long with strict deadlines, but some employees said that flexible schedules and a friendly work environment make up for fast-paced culture.
Employees’ sentiments about the company seem to be mixed: some say that Isobar’s office politics and poor work-life balance can be off-putting, while others are happy with the company’s compensation structure.
Be ready to handle demanding clients. Some employees described the company’s culture as friendly and professional. Competitive compensation seems to be a huge reason for a positive work environment.
The company’s global business rivals include Hill Holiday, Pulp Strategy and Repindia.
Isobar becomes a good choice to begin your career if you’re willing to work long hours and deal with unreasonable clients. Students should improve their skills to increase their chances of being considered for internships. The same applies to graduates because the company always looks for people with a diverse set of skills.