Cortera Reviews

Pros

Cortera has evolved dramatically in the last year. Senior management has been upgraded to an extremely compitent and supportive group. In the last year, the work environment has gone from rough and negative to one of the best work environments I've seen. They have begun to promote sales reps to middle management and turn over is down to a minimum. Jim Swift has put together a very innovative and cutting edge company. I enjoy my place at Cortera not just because of how it is but where the company is going. I highly recommend this workplace now with the changes that have been made.

Cons

The marketplace Cortera is competing in is very challenging and high paced. This is a place for very motivated and career driven people. It's very demanding.

Pros

The data has potential and is fresh.

Cons

Cortera's work enviornment is negative and demeaning. Management can't decide how to run the business and take care of a sales team. There is high turnover and low pay - stay away.

Advice to Senior Management

Sell this business

Pros

Although I only worked at Cortera for a short time, I had a very positive experience there and I enjoyed going to work everyday. I learned so much at Cortera that I will take onto other positions in the future and am so appreciative to everyone that helped me along the way. It's a positive, honest sales environment with great teachers who are dedicated to achieving goals and making the company successful. I would recommend any hardworking, positive, professional sales rep to work there.

Cons

Since Cortera is still somewhat new and trying to figure out everything changes are made all the time. For me personally, I don't mind but I know that some people don't like that very much.

Pros

They'll hire anyone and it's a decent time filler for a paycheck while you look for another job (everyone who works there does).

Cons

I didn't meet one person who liked working there. Actually, they all hated it. Every single person hated it. It was so depressing and I wouldn't recommend this job to anyone. They treat you like a child. They only want/let you to use the bathroom on the designated break times. You work on a dialer, so don't think that you're actually in sales. You're in a call center. I'd rather cold call people to ask if they want to switch their phone service because they may have actually heard of the company that you're working for. No one knows what a Cortera is. You're opening pitch is "Good afternoon. This is _____ from Cortera. Can I speak with your CFO?" Who's gonna patch you directly through to the CFO of a multi-million dollar company? The dialer calls Joe's Welding and then calls NIKE. "Hi, can I speak with the CFO of NIKE?" Come on...
No matter what they tell you, you cannot make money at Cortera. The best, and I mean BEST, salesperson makes $1000-1500 a month in commission. That's the best. Ask to speak with the person that they say is making 100K a year. Send them my way, 'cause I'd like to meet them.

Advice to Senior Management

I wouldn't even know where to begin. Here's an idea, hire some good people and pay them propoerly to sell for you. Don't hire everyone through a temp agency for the first 3 months (I almost forgot to mention that fun) and fire everyone that you think sucks (which is about 90% of their hires). You're not an actual Cortera employee until you sell 6 deals (that's what it was when I was employed there. It probably changed by now since everything changes there daily).

Before you accept the job offer, just tell yourself "I CAN DO BETTER."

Pros

Cortera has gone through many positive changes over the past year! They made great hiring decisions to lead the Sales team, changed their sales strategy and improved company morale. Besides a competitive base salary and commission they offer excellent benefits. I am proud to be an employee of Cortera and very excited about the future growth of this company.

Cons

Since the company is growing, there are frequent changes but mostly to increase efficiency and sales. You must be flexible to go with the changes and must be driven to be successful.

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to keep up the morale in the company and to give positive feedback when earned by your sales team.

Pros

Competitive base salary, great commission plan and benefits. Opportunity to learn different products, markets and functions. Friendly and motivating executive team. Management cares about employees, culture and always improving their communication with the Sales team. Positive CEO who is easy to approach and well respected among the employees.

Cons

Ground floor opportunity! Must be flexible and willing to learn new products and flexible to go along with changes.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the positive feedback and communication with your Inside Sales team!

Pros

Cortera has a very nice building, clean office, nice cubicals. People dress nice, there is opportunity to have a few laughs.

Cons

Cortera does not have a clear focus and therefore can't make money on their online commercial credit report. They change management often and provide no direction. Often management guesses on what they think might work but the sales program continues to fail.

Advice to Senior Management

It's time to move on to another business plan that will generate revenue. Consider moving away from the credit reporting - can't compete with D&B. Jim needs get out of his office, stop dreaming and realize this business is failing.

Pros

Data is priced low which generates interest with prospects.

Cons

The average tenure of a salesperson here is very short and there's a long history of frequent layoffs. You will lose most of the deals that you compete for which makes it difficult to make money. Even when you get a deal, the price of the service is so low that there's little chance of making serious money in commissions. Very restrictive non-compete is required to work here, beware if you want to stay in the industry after you leave. As others have stated, you will come to work and leave work with an ache in your stomach because of the stress.

Advice to Senior Management

I have never heard any positive messages or praise for employees on a "job well done" from senior managment.

Pros

They always give you positive feedback on the things you do right and let you know how to fix the things you do wrong. They also treat you like a human by understanding that life happens even outside of work.

The workload is big, but you work as a team to get through it. This isn't a job where you show up, stick around for a few hours and then go home, it's something that challenges you to achieve your best.

The execs are approachable and will listen to any issues or suggestions you have.

Cons

Keep up the good work on getting employees engaged with clear directions at all times. Provide and sponsor more avenues / acitivites for social interactions among employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Stay the course; we've got great people and great customers. Provide health benefit options for employees to choose eg: hmo, ppo, etc.

Pros

Cortera has a terrific concept and the potential to be an excellent candiate for acquisition. The data is commerical credit reporting at a very low cost.

Cons

Cortera recently hired then fired a Inside Sales Manager from D&B. The assumption is that if they mirror D&B they will be successful - this is wrong. D&B is an icon that credit manager rely on.
Also Cortera has a field rep managing the inside sales team. He referrs to everyone as boys and girls, not sales professionals. He truly belongs in the field and show respect for employees

Advice to Senior Management

Jim Swift needs to assess the operational performance instead of sitting behind his desk. It seems his eyes are closed to the pitfalls. It's a shame.