Affiliated Computer Services Reviews in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Area

Pros

To learn how to make do with low budget and even lower resources in terms of people. How to prioritize according to the business needs at the time and how to handle the constant fire drills. Flexibility is expected and if you do not have it you are out - so you learn that quickly. Some very bright people are hired - not sure how long they stay though - but if you get associated with some of them then you can learn a lot. Each employee gets to do 1.7 jobs after about six months in starting the position they were hired into - some study brought that out - so you get to add to your resume quite a bit while at ACS.

Cons

Sometimes a feeling not being treated like as asset and more like a liability because they PAY you after all. You can burn out within a year with 1.7 jobs. You might be on a bonus plan but they find every reason NOT to pay you or to delay it by 3-6 months (they do the same thing with their vendors). You have the risk of being hired for a job but then it changes and you might not make the expectations for that new job (usually the new job is an additional title); expect then to get fired and walked off.

Advice to Senior Management

Develop a community atmosphere for not only those that are technical but even for those that would want to develop one for whatever reason, social, for health, for work, etc. The new branding effort is awful - whoever thought to add Deason to it alongside the word "integrity"? The old branding fit the mindset of the company better. Lynn Blodgett should be more physically visible instead of hiding out in SLC, along with other top management, but I suspect they don't have time to do that - manage - because they have 1.7 jobs!

Pros

Advancement opportunities, learning, meeting great employees.

Cons

Leaserships' lack of communications, Benefits.

Advice to Senior Management

Communicate more with your employees. some decisions made might seem like a great move from the leaders' prospective, but a bad move from the operations's leaders prospective. get operations invloved, get more feedback.

Pros

You are given the opportunity to expand and it's also a great opportunity to gain your teflon coating. There are silos of great people and managers. I viewed it as a great training ground in many ways. It is growing, so there are plenty of opportunities to grow with it.

Cons

it can be a "throw your neighbor under the bus" atmosphere. they will burn you out. as long as you're willing to sacrifice your health and family, they will let you. very poor work/life balance. There is management in some areas that have reached their Peter Principle, but continue to be promoted because of who they know.

Advice to Senior Management

advance people on their skills not on who they are related to or know.

Pros

If you negotiate a good salary up front and don't screw up, you will be able to keep it.

Cons

There is little mobility outside your business unit.

Advice to Senior Management

Fire your marketing staff. They embarass the company.

Pros

The best reasons to work at ACS is working in a dynamic and innovative industry that allows the understanding of operating a company at peak effieciency on a global stage. ACS is a global presense and is furtile ground for the most forward innovative thinkers. It is a place where you can take a concept and make it a process. Take a vision and make it a corporate goal. It is a firm that drives the best out of a person by force, pushing you to the peak level even beyond your wildest dreams. The good part of ACS is the flicker of diamond that is held in the lump of coal that we all search for.

Cons

The clear downside is the lack of communication if a discernable vision by senior management other than the acquisition of firms and client growth. Another part is the burnout. Although there is a constant drive that become the slow background music that you tend not to hear anymore when completely focused, this will, not can, will lead to a burnout that causes some former colleagues to quit in mid stream. This respresents the turnover that ACS in reknown for. The constant pushing to meet deadlines and operational objectives that many see as completely impossible. This is the cake, the icing is that recognition on any firm changing projects go through so many filters or buffers that the person on highest levels may not even know your existence let alone give you recognition(even if it is "job well done"). Middle managers keep a tight rein on the flow of information good or bad, this includes recognizing talent and ability in people to push the ACS that needs to take over and become the market leader in the industry.

Advice to Senior Management

To allow the overflowing pool of talent to lead the firm into greener pastures. Do not allow middle managers to stifle growth, but to drive it a amicable way which will in turn cause innovation far beyond current levels.

Pros

My office is Close to home.

Cons

Lower pay, no bonus, low vacation, low 401k matching.

Advice to Senior Management

Increase 401k matching, base vacation on past experience not time with the company, add bonus for all.

Pros

The people that I work with directly

Cons

No advancement - disorganized senior management - No future planning - No training

Advice to Senior Management

Respect and trust you employees