ArcSight Reviews in Cupertino, CA

Pros

Intelligent co-workers, great atmosphere, interesting technology and work. The office is easy to reach and great for folks living near Cupertino. Politics aren't too bad compared to other places I've been at.

Cons

After HP acquired ArcSight, it's been going downhill, little by little. First, the benefits suck in general. Second we are now having to do things the "HP way" which means a lot more bureaucracy. Third, there is no IT dept, it's all self-IT which means you now have to spend your time learning how to fix your own computer.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep trying to hold on to what made ArcSight great, namely the people, and little social perks that brings the team together, and not letting ArcSight get lost in HP.

Pros

Great people (smart, nice, fun)
Open knowledge sharing
Free lunch on Wednesdays
Free snacks and sodas
Mature IT environment

Cons

Support organization management
Lack of career path
Rampant favoritism
Unfair promotion standards (or non-existent)
Support managers try to intimidate employees
Recent HP retention bonus ($1 Million paid over 2 years) for Support was distributed as follows (roughly): 70% paid to 11 people (management team, back line team and DBA's) and 30% paid to 25 Technical Support Engineers
Elitist attitude of the people who have been around from day 1 - do it our way or take the highway and don't suggest another way of doing it...

Pros

Nice Co-workers
In today's economy - salary is fair market
free lunch on wed
flexibly vacation/time off

Cons

Support Management takes the approach that you need to sacrifice your life for the company
Support Management does not consider the employees need for advancement and growth
Support Management only sees you as an asset for business needs
Support management squeezes the most out of you
Support Management takes an elite approach / favoritism towards promotions
If you are in a particular division of support - you may have a less stressful job - others are constantly stressed
Recognition is not about technical merit but on your ability to kiss-ass to management

Advice to Senior Management

Hire more headcount to reduce the unneeded stress
Listen to the needs to the employee - growth - even horizontal moves are ignored
Do not be in denial - almost everyone is looking to escape, however, the economy is not good - don't abuse the situation and promote growth and in return receive loyalty and excellent work attitudes

Pros

very flexible work environment
good management
food

Cons

Benefits could be better
More vacation time
Perks

Advice to Senior Management

Don't sell

Pros

a. Challenging environment
b. Close knit group
c. Good sales management
d. Quick ability to execute to address market needs

Cons

a. Cliquish w/ folks who have been around a while and do things in "their way" or the "highway"
b. No flexibility or family needs accomodation
c. Bull pen environment - with no privacy & noisy environment. Can't have quiet time for original thought. Factory environment to churn out code.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep the course w / strategic direction
Make it more conducive for the rank and file to balance work and life.

Pros

The Company has catered lunch on Wednesdays. The workers are friendly.

Cons

Director's like to yell, unpleasant and unprofessional.
Workers are warned not to approach other Department Manager's because they might have a temper tantram.
Some staff members lack very basic computer skills.

Advice to Senior Management

Treat both consultants and employee's with respect. It is unproductive to have "Director" or "Managers" that are preceived to have so much power and control that everyone else needs to walk on egg shells in order to get their work done. This is a small company with to many back stabbing and unhealthy management. They should clean house starting with the Director's. They should offer free training to their all staff on how to use MS Office Suite.

Pros

To better appreciate your former employer after joining ArcSight.
You will become a cynical demoralized candidate after the first interview.

Cons

Have to work 1 year before you can quit otherwise employers perceive a 'job hopper'.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop offering bread crumbs.

Pros

It was a Pre-IPO company when I joined. The space is very hot, since Security and compliance is a big deal these days. The engineers there are of above average quality, and they work very hard and they are very productive. There are some super people there as well. Benefits were fairly good although their 401k did not match

Cons

Low Pay, decent benefits, but not great.. But I really got ripped off in terms of pay when I joined. they low balled me into taking a pay cut, which I later regretted. Basically the biggest drawback is that it is a startup with low pay.

Advice to Senior Management

None.