Hello,
I applied to GDS Cardiff. There seems to be so many reputable messages about GDS and equally, so many extremist (negative) messages about it. I really need some guidance about this. What goes on once we enter the branch? I am from India and I would need to spend so much of money coming all the way to UK + my accommodation, etc. I'm from a middle-class family. Some insider info from you could help me make a wiser decision. I read some posts saying there is sexual abuse, too much drinking, late night partying, "ethical-lying", drugs.... what's going on? Kind regards.

gds international, gives people like me, who never went to uni the chance to make somthing of my life....

im very greatful for the oppertunity to work for this company and very honoured to meet my co - workers.

all you people who have joined this group, either got fired because ur not very good at you job or because u have no drive to suceed.

get a life, and start living.
instead of coming on here to complain about somthing you wasnt good at.

bristol head office.....[***] rules!!!!

Diane Rai - I am sure than I will get bad mouthed by many of pro-GDSers here, but I can only give me account of what it was like to work here.

I worked in the Bristol office and lasted a month before I had enough. I lasted the longest of a group of eight who started at the same time. I can honestly say this was the biggest mistake of my career and wish I had left sooner. As for the working environment, the management strive on humiliation. I have seen people be forced to do 200 sit-ups while everyone was made to watch, just because they were 20 seconds late back to their desk. Lies were encouraged and if you weren’t lying you were asked why, or should I said shouted/screamed at why. Sitting was not allowed – chairs were taken away. Drugs were rife. I would say over 90% were addicted to cocaine. Personally, who at the time was a 20 year old female, was sexually harassed by 3 members of the management, including one incident when my manger asked to see me outside, and he dragged me into the disabled toilets and tried to force himself upon me. They had strippers called to the office, and it was compulsory to party with the company on Fridays.

As for future prospects, a potential employer at the time (who I went on to have successful career with) asked me for my honest opinion of the company as he was aware of them. I answered truthfully about my time there and was told in no uncertain terms that if I was not under that opinion I would not have gotten the job. They are notorious. Please don’t make the same mistake.

If you have a compelling proposition you do not need to lie. A good sales person does not need to lie. Good management do not need to take an intake of up to 10 every fortnight on the hope at least one will stay. Good management do not need to use bully tactics to gain the respect of their employees.

Maybe things have changed in the last 7 years, if they have I apologise, but I doubt they have.

Diane, I was at GDS for the best part of a year, I made far better money than I would have in any other industry or with any other company.  It taught me skills that have helped me immeasurably moving forward in my career.  Employment wise it's a pyramid scheme getting thousands in for a week long interview, hundreds who don’t last more than a month or two.  If you can handle the pressure, you can make serious money and move up the ladder very quickly.  The commission structure is paid for by not having a product- there certainly are a few flagship publications but the majority never get released.  As a result, it is impossible to go through normal sales channels so you’re taught underhand tactics for getting contact details for CEO’s and aggressive negotiating.  When I left, I hated this company- it is a scam, web 3.0 brings power to the consumer and it’s only a matter of time before these conversations begin to affect GDS sales.  It would, however, be hypocritical to tell you not to work there as you can gain skills and knowledge that cannot be learnt anywhere else.

No Circulation, crap content, Spence never opens the books, most industry leaders know them or heard of them GDS= SCAM.

They have titles like World Wide Sales Director who is 27 years old and keeps saying Oookkk, and are you well! They keep changing Publications and Offices!

Had a number of altercations with Gartner and other legitimate Publishing Houses....

80% of whats they do is illegal like calling pretending to be from the hospital to get my cell phone number!

Blog are filled with data on them and a couple of lawsuits they've managed to get themselves into!