AOL Reviews

Pros

The only pro was the flexibility in work hours. If a family emergency came up, there was leniency in taking the day off. The gym on premise was a great pro, as well as some of the people working there.

Cons

Poor communication skills from management. No clear cut goals on projects. People always changing their mind which delays any true results. Sr. managers are cruel and degrading to fellow employees, which makes the "yes" people follow in their thinking. Overall cluster of a place that has ex-Googler's trying to make a name for themselves, but epically failing at it. The biggest issue that combines all of these problems is no accountability.

Advice to Senior Management

If you want something done a certain way, dont make it a riddle for someone else to figure out, communicate those goals for fast and easy results. Get off your high horse and create an education series for all employees in how to act professional and treat people with respect.

Pros

Most of the people are pleasant and helpful.

Cons

Layoffs are always looming, resulting in too much stress.

Pros

Great People!
Great Office
Fun Events
Good Pay
Work Life Balance

Cons

Slow release cycles
Sometimes product goals are not clear

Pros

lots to do, plenty of challenges

Cons

people leaving all the time mean you never know who will be around to help long term -- low morale around the Dulles based staff and in NY from the non-Huff Po content teams.

Pros

Relaxed work enviroment
Potential to learn allot
Very good health insurance

Cons

Do what I say, not what I do
Very long hours
Layoff's have left nothing of a skilled work force, only dead wood
If you follow blindly you will do fine at AOL, but have an independent thought and your in trouble
Way, Way, Way to many scared people looking to protect their jobs at any cost
Clicks are alive an well. Middle management has honed their skills at survival no matter what
Sr. Management is focused on cutting cost which means lay off technical people and outsource
No imagination at all. Survival mode

Advice to Senior Management

Get rid of every manager with four plus years at AOL and start over. Middle and upper management has learned to survive at the companies expense. If your really mean what you say, Then stop letting the AOL establishment blow smoke up you dress and clean out the BS. Tim Armstrong is beginning to realize how much he bit off.

Pros

Pay, Benefits, Time off, Casual

Cons

Very long hours - early morning conference calls and late night conference calls with Bangalore make for horrible work/life balance.

Management is absolutely clueless. I had a new manager at least once a year and I believe ONE of them knew what his team did - and knew how to do it himself. Too many managers, not enough people to really do the work.

Upper management is even worse - don't get me started.

Advice to Senior Management

Oh, just sell it off and put everyone there out of their misery.

Pros

People working there are awesome

Cons

Old company with no future growth prospects

Advice to Senior Management

Recruitment needs to be better

Pros

Good work, Good food and open culture

Cons

Bangalore commute time, too many re-orgs

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the good work

Pros

- cheap healthcare
- 3% for 401k matching, no vesting
- competitive salary (at least in ventures. i hear patch pays next to nothing)
- normal cafeteria plan stuff

Cons

- all big decisions are in new york or viriginia
- ability to influence company direction is low

Advice to Senior Management

you need a strategy for video
you need to move
disruptive doesnt mean displacing successful technologies for moveable type

Pros

San Francisco office is well-designed and intended to be a collaborative work environment. Benefits are good, pay is good. HR/infrastructure works well and isn't full of red tape.

Cons

Always in fear that the company is going to go under one day. I believe in our mission and our goals, but it's continually not reflected in the numbers.