Bechtel Reviews in Houston, TX Area

Pros

Bechtel identifies and rewards talented people. If you are hard working and diligent person you will be recognized. Bechtel will throw fire challenge at their best people just to make them even better! Bechtel tries to avoid layoffs as much as possible.

Cons

Being a young engineer it is tough to keep up with pace at which projects go. Self learning is a must. There will be training sessions but no formal training. Tons of overtime may disturb work-life balance. Management is aware of this fact, but it is what it is. Good thing is, unless overtime is approved, nobody is encouraged to work on weekends.

Advice to Senior Management

None

Pros

Very good pay compared to other companies (in IT not sure about other departments)

Cons

politics - but that is any company

Advice to Senior Management

NA

Pros

Bechtel executes some amazing projects around the world.

Cons

Senior management is out of touch with the reality of the needs and desires of today's workforce and there is very little to no communication from management down to the troops.

Advice to Senior Management

Value your people, treat them with respect and not like slaves. Learn some things from companies that are ranked the best places to work. Happy employees are more productive.

Pros

It's a good company that has been around for over 100 years. We do important work that really improves the human condition by building facilities that create energy, transportation, and communications networks. The people are generally relaxed and there isn't a "back-stabbing" culture here. The compensation is above average and you have the opportunity to work all over the world if you want to.

Cons

Sometimes senior management seems to be out of touch with the workers and they often focus on the bottom line instead of employees. For example, we have to pay to attend our yearly company picnic and Christmas party. This year, Christmas lunches for departments were also discontinued. This would be understandable during a down year, but we've set records for revenues and profits this year.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus more on communicating with the employees about events going on within the company. Also focus on some of the little things that improve employee morale like Christmas parties and company sponsored events. These activities that cost very little mean a lot to how people perceive the working environment of the company.

Pros

The best reasons to work for Bechtel is the opportunity to get into any type of construction you can imagine. Bechtel is the most diverse company I have ever been a part of and the experience you can gain here is unmatched. Growth opportunity are high for motivated employees.

Cons

Salary is average or just below compared to a lot of companies. However, job security and overall benefits beat any other company I have looked at. Other downsides are that it can be tough to get visability in such a large company, but it will eventually be seen if the employee is persistent.

Advice to Senior Management

Continue supporting and promoting talented, motivated employees

Pros

Good place to gain some experience. Can give good exposure to Oil and Gas Industry depending on the group you join. Relatively more stable among EPC companies. Best place to work among EPC firms if you join the correct discipline

Cons

Very secretive. In the past few years bechtel has hired a lot of new employees. The stress was more on quantity rather than quality. This has led to decrease in work quality. But still much better compared to other EPC companies

Advice to Senior Management

There are some relatively inexperienced managers in the organization who don't know what they are doing. They are less concerned about the affairs in the group and the quality of work.
This is causing rapid attrition of employees in some of the best departments in Bechtel. The senior management needs to take some significant measures to improve the situation