Belkin Reviews

Pros

Great company spirit. You really see how far you can go personally because of the demands that are placed on you to increase sales. This pressure helps to build a family atmosphere. However, there are quite a few people for whom this is a perfect fit.

Cons

Lack of vision communicated from the top down. Job parity also became a big problem because there were so many different titles that may or not match the work being done or the salary that was paid. Many saw this as particulary demotivating becuase they felt that they working too hard and being underpaid or did not have a clear idea of where they could go in the company.

Advice to Senior Management

Understand that the people are the most important part of the organization

Pros

Lots of opportunity to make a difference and exposure to people who are great in the industry. Belkin is not so large that you become a "cog in the wheel"- you can see your work in action.

Cons

The company is transitioning to a new culture, relatively new sr. management staff, new values, new building, and so there's a lot of change, a lot of which is positive, but it is hard to figure out who's doing what, accountability is lacking, things don't always feel fair.

Advice to Senior Management

Slow down and let people digest the changes! We're working our butts off for you!

Pros

The place is looking to make changes. There is a momentum to get things changed, and for the better. Also, we are going to be moving to a brand new corporate headquarters in Playa Vista.

Cons

There are some hickups as Belkin tries to change. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Also, there are multiple cases of a BU coming up with an idea and then having that idea taken from him and given to another BU whose business line is more closely related - it tends to inhibit creative thinking.

Advice to Senior Management

There needs to be some way to monitor, and improve, morale...which seems to be dangerously low.

Pros

You'll work with people who are genuinely trying to be innovative. Unfortunately, they're blocked by management at every turn.

Cons

Communication is reactive rather than proactive. You never know from day to day what the goals and expectations are, and they seem to change based on the whims of management - then change back. You're always reacting to the latest directive from above. It's virtually impossible to get anything accomplished.

Advice to Senior Management

Let go of the reins a little. Let people be creative - after all, that's what you hired them for, isn't it?

Pros

Great place to learn both what to and what not to do. Due to the lack of clear job definition and support structure, you will get to do everything and learn from it. Although struggling, the management attempts to make the place better. Great lunch options in the nearby Gardena/Torrance area. Compton is not as bad as people think - the office is right off the freeway.

Cons

Company management is very cliquey. If you're not in the inner circle within the first year (maybe two), there's no way of making it in Belkin. No clear career guidance is given. Low morale, HIGH turnover.

Advice to Senior Management

Really listen to the employee base. Understand that the abnormally high level of turnover is either bad hiring practices or bad people management. Please do something about this by doing more implementation of the values stated. Try to really take risks rather than just talk about taking risks.

Pros

You get to learn all facets of the business.

Cons

Compensation and promotions are completely arbitrary. No sense of fairness.

Advice to Senior Management

Just as it is expected of us to get the job done, Senior Management needs to get it done by providing fairness to the employees instead of just talking about it.

Pros

good reputation with accessory products. generally the people hired on at belkin are good, hard-working people with tremendous potential. the executives and senior management seem to be genuinely concerned with the welfare of the belkin employees. profit sharing and benefits are very fair and the company is working very hard to create quality products and build a premium brand.

Cons

no forward looking strategy or alternate markets. very retail focused and driven by very few large customers. although innovation is frequently encouraged, seldom is true innovation actually practiced. there is no cohesive plan to take the comapny to the next level and is pretty much a one trick pony

Advice to Senior Management

take risks, calculated or otherwise...try something new