General Motors Reviews in Detroit, MI Area

Pros

good work/life balance
lots of opportunity once inside GM.

Cons

There is a lot of opportunity inside GM to do different work but be careful what job you accept to get into GM because all that diversity is virtually impossible to taste; GM management effectively does not allow employee movement.
8 level and above "managers" and executives are useless and provide no direction. There needs to be a cleansing of the "stuck middle" at GM.
No accountability on any level at GM.
8-level "technical expert" is an oxymoron at GM.
What bankruptcy? The caustic culture created from years of no accountability has created a workplace and company that is rotten to its core.

Advice to Senior Management

Hold yourselves and each other accountability. Listen to the 6 and 7 level engineers, their concerns are legitimate. Get your heads out of the past, it's not 1966 anymore.

Pros

Excellent vacation and holiday time. Competitive salary.

Cons

Old culture. Good 'ol boy network still prevails. Middle management stifled in old ways.

Advice to Senior Management

Promote more progressive thinkers, and people who are focused on the people side of the business.

Pros

This is a place where you can get a stable salary with a great benefits package. There is much that a recent graduate could learn about how a business operates. There are "training" opportunties available, but not a lot of support around really providing additional "education" for employees.

Cons

This is a large corporation that is built with a number of competing silos that tend to guard their interests rather than cooperate with each other to get things done. In addition, if you are interested in moving out of the silo you are in, it can be difficult to make that transition, and HR policies are set up such that your current management can block any movement or advancement without much reason, and without recourse for the employee.

Although eductional and growth opportunities are available, they are likewise happered by this silo structure. I was block from taking part in a Masters program focused on electric vehicles (a strategic growth area for the company), since my current management in exterior design didn't view this as a strategically important education program for their group. I left to pursue this degree full time on my own.

Finally, although there is much that can be learned for someone new to industry, there is little opportunity to really have much of an real impact on the business. The status quo will rule (even if it is not working) and new ideas have a hard time being heard and adopted in the company.

Advice to Senior Management

There needs to be an overhaul in policies that allow employees a real opportunity to move, grow, and learn within the company. Power is given to direct managers, and those in higher management positions appear uninterested in dealing with such employee conflicts.

Pros

They are on the come back trail, but do you really want to be apart of the problem if need be?

Cons

The culture of the company is lacking in the sense that Detroit is a dead zone without any hopeful future.

Advice to Senior Management

Give more say to your employees, this work style will allow for more innovation and progression. This was not found during my time there.

Pros

Great people in general all want to do a good job. Good pay & benefits even after reduced some.

Cons

Depressing atmosphere low employee morale. A lot of pressure on employees that is not productive. May start losing the best hard working people. Individual mid-level executives can be brutal to people without any place for employees to turn to for help. HR not helpful to employee due to overwork and no clout. People end up working 10 or more hours a day no extra pay or recognition and no end in sight. Too much politics in middle upper management, not enough accountability for them. Their actions aren't necessarily done for the best of the company or the employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Middle level executives are too political and selfish about their careers (lower unclassified). They are not held accountable, partly due to some moving too quickly through jobs. Simplify the metrics and make them the focus. Value your hardworking & honest employees, be suspicious of the "yes" people telling you what you want to hear. Surround yourself with people who will be honest and not afraid to speak up, encourage it. Leadership needs to get closer to the employees - not the required Diagonal slice meetings, but much smaller less formal get togethers. Have individuals in the trenches that you can depend on to give you the honest pulse of the organization - your people are the most important part of the company and don't forget that.

Pros

Salary
Benefits
Work Environment
Perks
Work/Home Life Balance
Valuable experiences with a top tier internationally respected automotive manufacturer
Driven environment to suceed and to excell in all areas

Cons

GM has many locations in the midwestern US, therefore the weather can be challenging.
GM is working to transition from the good old boy network.

Advice to Senior Management

Overall GM is a great company to work for and is a place where performance is rewarded. If you are a hard working career minded employee you will enjoy working for GM. Continue to work to eliminate silo's.

Pros

Big company an opportunity to learn many diverse skills

Cons

No career growth you can stay in one area for many years

Advice to Senior Management

Keep your people engaged more. Offer opportunities to transfer with the company. Bring back some of the talent you had to let go during your hard financial times.

Pros

The employees are cooperative and great to work with. The working atmosphere is pleasant and non-intimidating. Most days are fast paced.

Cons

Not many downsides. The lunchbreaks that clerical workers take are lengthy and not regulated. Productivity is limited as a result.

Advice to Senior Management

Management should continue to lead the company on a prosperous course. Over the years we've become a powerhouse again since the '08 crisis.

Pros

Great Benefits. Comfort of a large corporation. Travel Availability.

Cons

Old Management Style. Stuck in comfort zone of old methodologies. Management decisions are not driven by data. Processes change before they are implemented.

Advice to Senior Management

Stick with a process fully to determine effectiveness even if it isn't your process. Implement and grow. You can't develop reliable data to understand where you are at if you do not.

Pros

good experience for a fresh student to find a job. You can get to know lots if people there, very nice peoplet here.

Cons

GM do not have much opening recent years, so it does not guarantee that you can stay there after you graduate.

Advice to Senior Management

I just think the air conditioning in the R&D center is not very good especially during the weekend, the others are fine.