Avanquest Software Reviews

Pros

I don't know how the rest of the company operates, and I'm only familiar with the Nova Development division which operates out of Calabasas, CA... Good people. No drama. Casual atmosphere. Easy going management. Stable company. No one gives you a hard time, and everyone is easy to get along with. People laugh and joke with each other all the time. In some positions, company is flexible with the hours. Excellent learning experience, if you want to learn new and different things, this is the place to work. They're open to new ideas and they're always welcome. They have quarterly meetings with the employees, letting them know what's going on in the company.

Cons

I'm not too sure how the rest of the company operates, but my views are only on the Nova Development division which operates out of Calabasas, CA... Hard work is not properly rewarded. You can work hundreds of hours of over time and all you will get is a "thank you". Opportunities for advancement are hard to come by. The overall employee turnaround is fairly high... If you do an absolutely amazing job, do things that no one else can, do the work of litterly several people, you will get a 4.5% annual pay increase. If you only do great at your job and do what your job description requires, you will only get a 3% increase at most.

Advice to Senior Management

Once in a while, reward excellent and hard work with monetary compensations, and not just a simple "Thank you" :)

Pros

It's a low stress environment. This is a good thing if you're good at your job and self-motivated and can get things done. You can operate under the radar for a long time and it's strictly 9-5.

Cons

Unfortunately, the low stress culture allows a porous opening for dead wood employees to hang onto their positions and drag down other employees. Make a mistake? No problem! Forget a deadline? Oh, things happen! People either take advantage of it or don't have any motivation to do their jobs with any semblence of accountability. The offices are also horrible: essentially a rundown strip mall office complex where employees are mixed among other companies. The physical environment can be depressing. The software list itself has some good titles but mostly substandard; it would be embarrassing to pass some of the titles on to friends. The stock price has fallen 90% in the past year but the employees got only upbeat reports in the annual dog and pony show and then co-workers mysteriously start disappearing to "pursue other projects". Makes people really want to keep their heads down, shut up and avoid being laid off.

Advice to Senior Management

Set clear goals for employees, make everyone accountable, communicate honestly, stop the culture of operating like a 2nd grade class where everyone gets a pat people on the back for showing up.

Pros

A good opportunity to start a carrer into the high-tech business. The jobs are really interesting

Cons

Lack of recognition, low salaries, poor communication. There is not a lot of communication. There are a lots of rumors in the company. Regarding the strategy and the employees do not trust the leaders that much because of this lack.

Advice to Senior Management

Stay in touch with the people. Have the decency to give an extra bill when necessary. The salaties are too low. No matter how you perform, it's hard to trusted and the management should have the guts to give more to those who deserve it. Because most of them, they really do.