Cognizant Tech Solutions – “Great for laterals, sucks if you join straight out of college”

Pros

Excellent Knowledge Management framework in place.

Middle management guys are a joy to work with, feels that you are working with a group of friends.

Opportunity to learn new technologies, if you are upto it.

Cons

Salary is too low,as compared to guys working in other firms with same work exp.

You are treated as a resource to complete the project & there is hardly any value addition to your profile, unless you fight for it.

Promotion is only for those guys who lick their Manager's ass.
The work force managers, are nothing but hell personified. The moment you are released to bench, you are asked to get transferred to Chennai, irrespective of your personal commitments.

Onsite oppportunities are limited to employees working in Chennai & Pune.

Preferential treatment to lateral joiness rather than employees who stick with the firm for years.

Too much South Indian influence.
Majority of promotions & salary hikes, onsite opportunities are given to South Indians.

Advice to Senior Management

Give preference to people who stick to the firm through testing times, rather than laterals.

Make the appraisal/promotion cycle, much more transparent.

Please be advised, that there are other people working in Cognizant than South INdians.

Please distribute the projects or accounts among other centers too, rather than concentrating only on Chennai, Pune & Kolkatta.