Chevron Reviews

Current Employee – been working at Chevron

Pros – Lots of career opportunities.
High performers recognized.
Strong company values.

Cons – Too consensus driven. Lack of accountability for management decisions.

Advice to Senior Management – No advice at this time.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Chevron

Pros – Job Security, Pay, I can't think of anymore...

Cons – The hours are horrible at the Richmond Refinery. As a normal human being, I would like to go to bed when it's dark and get up when it's light outside. Many people go to work at 5, 6am and it's the norm, and therefore you are also expected to go to work no later than 7am. So much for work/life balance. Sure, you can argue I get to go home early. But what about personal preferences?! I'd like to have a good night sleep according to my own biological clock and get up to the sunshine. However, I think this schedule is location oriented. Richmond refinery is one early bird, same as Houston I believe, but people in San Ramon generally go to work a lot later in the day.

There is NO standard, or company procedure. If you like a lot of uncertainties, surprises, then this is the place for you. Surprises come up all the time, and there is no one way to deal with it. You make up whatever form you need to fill out, and you write up whatever guideline you need to follow. The rules are changing all the time. For example, I was promised a certain amount of money for my relocation lump sum written on a piece of paper, company document sent by HR. Only when I was receiving the money in my paycheck did they inform me that that amount was incorrect and sorry for the "misunderstanding" but I'm suddenly thousand dollars short. If I had known this earlier, I would have weighed the different relocation options differently. How could I have imagined that even a written document is no good in this company?

Discrimination against your degree and major. If you were a petroleum engineer, you get paid the most, then chemical engineer, and then the rest of the engineering disciplines. Unfair right? Since you all end up doing the same work. Too bad, so sad, go live with it.

Advice to Senior Management – Give a clear scope of what you want.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Chevron

Pros – Compensation, benefits, challenging projects and a flexible working environment.

Cons – They tend to throw people away after age 50.

Advice to Senior Management – Stop downsizing people who still have 10-12 years to contribute just because they make the most money and it's the simplest way to reduce the bottom line.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Chevron

Pros – The best reason to work for Chevron are that they pay way, great benefits and locations across the world to work. Supervisors are very understanding when you need to take time off or leave early/come late to work. I've never been questioned. There are many opportunities for growth and our bonuses/success sharing has always been great. I've definitely learned that working for Chevron is better than working at most other companies out there.

Cons – Many employees feel we should get a larger discount on gas and perhaps, when using our own debit/credit cards and not only when using a Chevron gas card. They are many, many processes and barrier to go through when trying to get things done. It can take a very, very long time to get something implemented.

Advice to Senior Management – To listen to the suggestions and comments of the employees, especially during townhalls.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Chevron

Pros – Diversity , professional , integrity, trust

Cons – Bureacracy approach, too much compliance training

Advice to Senior Management – Be aggressive in adopting new technology

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Chevron

Pros – It is a very big company with large amount of opportunities to advance and try new thing. Benefits are really good. The 401 K match is second to none. There is also pension. The atmosphere of tolerance is promoted. There is a great deal of work life balance. The amount of resources is vast. I really like the tools available to you for looking up different technical information, book travel and submit expenses. Most of Senior Management are very impressive and smart people, and they can be real role models.

Cons – I thing Chevron can improve on technical development of facilities engineers. In general company would benefit from accountability and team work between different departments. Some departments are overgrown. Some departments that are very critical are understaffed.

Advice to Senior Management – To develop technical and project management skills of facilities engineers

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Chevron

Pros – Work-Life Balance. You can set your own schedule around the core hours of 9-3 which is great if you commute in Houston.
Lots of potential for global assignments. Residential or rotational assignment exist on every continent.

Cons – Good ole boys network. If you not in the inner circle you'll always be a step or two behind in advancement and promotions.
They might promote Human Energy, etc, but at the end of the day employee's will take a back seat to the business and the gpeople making the decisions out in California.

Advice to Senior Management – The company revolves around more people than its US based employees.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Chevron

Pros – Chevron is safety oriented; they put safety first for their employees. This benefits both the employee and the company. Every employee is empowered to stop any job if they see something unsafe.
Another thing that impresses me is their Recognition and Award program; every employee is encouraged to recognize and award a peer for a job well done. Everyone really likes to receive these awards; people seem to try harder to do their best for everyone.
Our department is really concerned about Work/Life balance. Within our department, most are on a 9/80 schedule which means we have every other Friday off. Most employees really look forward to that 3-day weekend. When I need time off, it is usually not a problem to get my supervisor's approval. They encourage people to stay home if the weather is hazardous or if you or a family member is sick.
Chevron is a great place to work!

Cons – I have had a challenge to find a new career opportunity; I have been an admin for a number of years and am ready to try something different. Most jobs at Chevron require a specialized degree; my degree is in Business; I am sure I will find something; I just have to be diligent in my search.

Advice to Senior Management – I think senior management is doing a great job; they keep us informed and I am impressed with their leadership.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Chevron

Pros – Coming from another oil company, I have had an opportunity to compare/contrast the company culture and work experience.....and Chevron comes ahead, hands down. I enjoyed my previous company and did well there, but Chevron's commitment to their employees and stockholders while maintaining corporate integrity has been inspirational.

Like others mentioned, there are lots of opportunities to move up within Chevron if you are a strong performer, especially if you are mobile. I have heard from many people that once you are in, it's hard to get fired unless you are a really poor performer - they are more apt to "reshuffle" you than let you go. That, unfortunately, does lead to some people still with the company that should be eliminated.

Overall the company employs a high caliber of talent - people who enjoy their work and are extremely loyal to the company. They love the company so much they end up hiring their relatives and friends - there are a high percentage of people I have met that are somehow related to another employee (hence the nepotism mentioned in another post).

Cons – Salary pay is very competitive compared to other oil companies, although annual pay increases are on the modest side. While I don't 100% agree with the "good ol' boy" network comments others have made, I do agree that management typically promotes those that have qualities and characteristics similar to them. You don't need to be in the "in crowd" to get promoted, but you should have a personality and style similar to those higher ups.

It is also actively up to the employee to determine their future - the company expects people to network if they want a position, it doesn't get handed to you. This is where some "schmoozers" get ahead of the quiet bees.

Advice to Senior Management – Continue being honest and upfront with employees, even if the news is bad. Really live the Chevron Way - don't make it mindless rhetoric.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Chevron

Pros – Their willingness to help their employees become the best they can possibley be. The opportunities to promote and grow within the company are endless. There is also a sense of community, with many social activities planned for employees to interact and bond outside of work. There willingness to work around employees non work committments with the use of flex schedules is very nice. Only requirement is to be at work during "core hours" which is 9-3. Also pay up to 75% for continued educaiton.

Cons – Verry large organization, lots of red tape. I can also be hard to get to know coworkers on a personal level.

Advice to Senior Management – To think outside the box when considering candidates for certain positions. It seems they are too fixated on potential employees having engineering degrees, even in fields where that sort of technical background is not required.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend