F5 Networks Reviews

Pros

You work with some of the brightest people in Seattle, and there's a strong culture of support and promoting work/life balance. Also, you get one of best views of the Sound in Seattle.

Cons

We're growing so fast and resources are frequently very stretched. Also related, how we add head-count could be better managed for growth. Certain teams tend to be overlooked, but their workload increases proportionately with the addition of people in other teams.

Advice to Senior Management

Pay more attention to the teams that support some of the more visible teams. Their work and contribution frequently gets overlooked.

Pros

Great benefits are the number one reason to work here. 90/10 health care, decent dental and eye benefits, and good amount of time off (18 the first year then 20 up till year 5, then 25+), Beer fridays, decent off work activities.

Cons

Big company bureaucracy, each business group feels like separate company, not extremely family oriented (though somewhat understandable given the logistics.)

Advice to Senior Management

Make sure management is doing their job! Delegation is a wonderful thing, but sometimes it feels as if certain managers (unnamed) delegate so as to lessen their work load. But they get paid more for their responsibilities so should NOT put them off on their "underlings."

Pros

Good benefits package
Good technology platform - strong market position relative to competition
Positive cash flow, strong cash position, and good margins
Still in growth mode
Opportunity to work on unique business and technical challenges

Cons

Focus on margins - manager approvals for travel itinerary, bunk-up at events
Focus on stock price - look how much the company invests in buybacks
Moving from meritocracy to kakistocracy
Lake Wobegon Effect

Pros

world class group of people, F5 hires the best and you may not find a weak link if you tried.

Cons

can be very political in some pockets, some advancement will be based on those politics resulting in inconsistent treatment of employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Whatever you're doing, it's brilliant.

Pros

great technology and people. Awesome benefits and culture that make this an ideal place to work within the high tech sector.

Cons

As a inside sales rep you will not have many options for career advancement unless you want to move out of state. They are fairly good about promoting from within however.

Advice to Senior Management

great job and success to the management teams. This is probably one of the best places I have worked. Would highly recommend.

Pros

Opportunity to travel for the business. Needs of the business dictated travel (approved by management) to Asia and Europe. Some time available for sightseeing.

Cons

Very difficult to impossible to work collaboratively / cross-functionally. Most employees were only willing to work as a team when it was absolutely necesssary.

Advice to Senior Management

Create an effective feedback system to really listen to employee concerns. For example, have the opportunity for "skip level", confidential meetings with a persons amnagers manager.

Pros

Fiscal responsible
Great products
Great work place
Excellent benefits

Cons

Company is growing
Seattle based - San Jose needs more fisibility

Pros

Great company, great product, great reputation, great people, quality is job #1

Cons

Seattle, WA headquarters (beautiful but the depressing pacfic northwest), too many products - need to focus on a few good things and really take it to the next level, that's it.

Advice to Senior Management

None, very fair company. Before people criticize, think about F5 as compared to other companies you have worked for. Think about what you have in this economy. Thrifty is good!

Pros

great brand, lots of recognition, and good overall benefits. There aren't many companies around that have that combination in the area

Cons

can be a little maniacal at times, often times little rhyme or reason when it comes to promotions other than you made the club or not

Advice to Senior Management

you may be listening but sometimes you gotta prove it! Often times it seems like all you hear are the same guys and guys when there are others that want and can contribute

Pros

Great people who are very smart and think out of the box. The technology (TMOS) rocks!!
Hard work and teamwork is valued! You pushed to think out of the box and allowed to speak your mind.

Cons

Can be pigeon holed into one role.
Management team is becoming very political.
Influx of new hires recently who would never have been hired a few years ago.

Advice to Senior Management

Be aware of one of the main culprits of growing a company is the excess fat that is formed if decisions are made to quickly w/o thoroughly being analyzed. Many competitors are starting to catch up, so we need to put our ego's away sometimes and realize that some competitors have made big strides and we need to accelerate our development cycles.