Pros

The BlackBerry is a much loved product and is now a part of pop culture. It is a great feeling to work on a product that is used by so many millions of people around the world. The people working at RIM are generally very smart, professional, and ambitious. Many are former co-ops from the highly respected University of Waterloo. RIM has invented today's wireless device market on the strength of its employees' vision and sheer determination. The company prides itself on innovation and creativity. Inventors are awarded with a fancy annual banquet. RIM has a strong case for being regarded as the best technology firm in Canada. The firm works on many leading edge and emerging technologies, and everyone is highly motivated and driven to succeed. No-one ever watches the clock. The work is very fast-paced and requires a lot of multi-tasking but each day brings something different. The company regularly treats its employees to events like movie nights, cruises in Toronto, or very high-profile private concerts.

The Waterloo campus includes over 20 buildings and the company continues to hire aggressively. House prices have risen drastically over the last several years as the Waterloo area has experienced abnormal growth, but the cost of living is still considerably lower than in Toronto. The company is large enough that employees are not required to work the crazy hours associated with startups. There are occasional workaholics but most people make time for their families. The vacation time is quite generous, and there is a shutdown for Christmas. There are frequent seminars on health and personal finance. Gym memberships are partially subsidized.

Management is trusted and respected. RIM has been able to keep one step ahead of the competition over many years. There is a clear sense that the company is on the right path despite strong recent competition. The CEO's have created local research institutes and have helped nurture Waterloo as a bustling tech community called Silicon Valley North. RIM attracts the attention of the entire wireless industry and even governments, and it is inspiring to work for a leader.

The atmosphere is quite collaborative. Opinions are strongly argued sometimes but there is little conflict or confrontation. Everyone has a true love of technology. There is some competition for advancement but there is also a good level of trust between colleagues. There is a clear sense of pride of working at RIM and everyone contributes to ensure project success. It can be difficult to stand out in a field of high achievers but there is a good sense of working with the best. Successfully arguing your ideas requires high vocalness, confidence, and political agility but people will listen.

Cons

Decisions are very much driven top-down. It is difficult to make an impression if you are not part of the old network at RIM from the early 2000's. The company is top-heavy and not flat and efficient any more. It is often hard to understand who makes decisions and why they are made as they happen at a very senior level even when they pertain to small product details, and questioning these decisions is really discouraged. Going against the grain is risky from a career point of view. Mistakes are seldom acknowledged and arrogance from a product perspective is prevalent. Product priorities and timelines shift constantly.

Career progression is difficult as there is no clearly defined advancement path. Up until a few years ago, there were even no defined salary levels. Reviews are done annually and not taken very seriously. It is difficult to move around the company in different roles. The workforce is younger and many managers are inexperienced, especially in people management. Career prospects are highly dictated by who your manager is. Training is very limited. The company has grown tremendously since its early days. There is often an overlap of duties with project members sharing titles and focus areas, which is often confusing. It is easy to be pigeonholed into a particular niche for years from which it is difficult to escape without encountering resistance. Moving around requires fostering a strong personal network. Many newcomers to the company are friends of those already inside and it is difficult to find qualified people in Waterloo.

Communication can be difficult as documentation is poorly organized. A lot of discussion is captured in e-mail threads that have no permanence and it can be frustrating to understand an issue in full. Almost all communication is done through e-mail, with the phone being used sparingly, and at times this feels impersonal. Although having a BlackBerry is considered a perk, people are quick to fire off e-mails at any time of day and night, and employees are expected to respond immediately, hence the balance of work vs. personal life is difficult to maintain. It also means that people are quick to pass off problems to others simply by forwarding e-mails. The stress level at work can be very considerable and quick thinking is a must.

The working conditions are very drab. There is no cafeteria. Pop and snacks are not free. Even senior people work in cubicles, and many of the new ones being built are tiny and claustrophobic with very little window access. The office environment is plain and is not "fun" in any way. There should be places set up for group collaboration and breaks, but everyone meets noisily in cubicles instead. The office assignment is traditional with bigger titles earning bigger offices. Overall, there is insufficient privacy.

Advice to Senior Management

The company should start giving out stock options again to all employees, not just directors, or at least offer a stock purchase plan. The present profit sharing incentive on top of the base salary is small and is not affected much by individual contribution. Salary increases are conservative. Pay is relatively high for the region but cannot compete with Toronto.

Due to RIM's current ownership of the business market, innovation seems to have taken a backseat to reliability, scaleability and configurability. RIM is behind some competitors in certain technologies and especially in user interface, content, and services. RIM tends not to lead in many technical areas, but rather to perfect. This lack of risk-taking sometimes compromises first mover advantage in the market, especially the consumer one.

There should be a much stronger research arm. Currently, there is a strong product-to-market focus. A lucky few work on experimental research but almost all work is based on features that must ship, so there is a lot of ongoing maintenance, stress over deadlines, and little opportunity for experimental research or personal projects in an area of choice. The use of time for personally initiated pursuits is not encouraged unless one exhibits strong salesmanship. Strong academic credentials are rarely recognized and there is often a lack of rigour.