IBM Reviews in Atlanta, GA Area

Pros

lots of opportunity to meet different types of customers
ability to be creative in your sales techniques

Cons

commissions were always very low

Advice to Senior Management

keep your best talent and invest in those who are working really hard (invest meaning training, seminars, conferences, etc)

Pros

Some good policies of old days are still existing, like relocation benefits but they won't last long
Flexible work timings
Presence in major cities of world

Cons

Moving away from Employee caring company to Employee sucking company.
Believe me IBM US is still a great place to be in. The subsidiary companies like IBM India, rather cost center like IBM India is a glorified body shopping shop for employees they ship from India. After few years you will realize what damage they did to your career.
Compensation - That remains pathetic in India and US ( IBM India only)
Health Benefits - They have increased the insurance contribution from employee to 100% in US and in India where insurance premium is to be paid by employer as per law, they have managed to reduce the coverage to 3 lakh (family) which in today's India is nothing.

Advice to Senior Management

Start caring about employees and stop treating them like machines to churn dollars.

Pros

Enjoy working with people who have a passion for the jobs they perform. Most IBMers are very knowledgeable in their areas of expertise and will help you wherever possible.

Cons

As in most companies, I believe we are working far longer hours then ever before. If you are an exempt employee, your hourly rate drops significantly due to the excessive nights and weekends worked. As much as you earn, when you look at an hourly rate, it's not always that impressive.

Advice to Senior Management

Seems like even in the best of times, IBM still does not offer much of a bonus or salary increase plan. Even as a top performer, you're lucky if your increase is 1-1.5%. I find this no way to retain top performers and talent. IBM seems to be moving towards a company that hires top talent, but that these people will only stay for 5 years. There is far more churn in attrition than ever before.

Pros

Flexibility, the work from home is a great option.
Unlimited sick helps too but don't abuse it or you'll be laid

Cons

Pay is way less than industry standard
Job loss is always constant since jobs are shipped overseas all the time

Advice to Senior Management

Paid Education and more pay is needed

Pros

Great people with a deep knowledge base.

Cons

Slow to make changes and easily lost in the population.

Pros

Great company focus on leadership. Vast knowledge resource pool to tap from. Great mentors if you are lucky to have one. An excellent brand in the market place. Benefits are very very generous.

Cons

They could pay better. Very difficult to get promoted and move up the ranks.

Pros

There are few flexibility options regarding working from home etc.

Cons

IBM is unable to market the value of consulting talent. The focus is into operations.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus on people management, enhance the training for leadership. The appraisal process need to be transparent.

Pros

- Work at home
- Management rarely stands in the way of job changes

Cons

- Pay, raises, promotions, etc.
- Health care costs increase greater than raises
- Only one goal. Increase EPS for investors
- Little training
- Little management support for getting job done

Advice to Senior Management

Stop opening each quarter with a picture of the EPS growth. Stop telling us how much money IBM is making while giving none of it to the employee. Only company I've ever worked for where after 5 years of record profits I bring home less money.

Pros

A wealth of opportunity to learn new technologies. Able to telecommute, good benefits

Cons

Not a company to join if you are looking for a long term career in the US.

Advice to Senior Management

American employees are more hard working, loyal, intelligent than most of the countries that you are outsourcing our jobs to.

Pros

- Never ending training available as long as you seek it.
- No matter what, IBM has a great reputation with large companies and some SMB.
- Great benefit package (medical, vacation, personal days, flexibility)

Cons

- Company is huge therefore the visibility of your business unit is limited to the ivory tower in NY.
- If you are talented and make your numbers, your manager will most likely not let you move however if you do not perform the same scenario applies. It's very hard to move.
- IBM lacks a CRM software and the entire business runs on an excel sheet.
- The administrative tasks take up too much of your time.
- Highly layered management. Sometimes makes you wonder what certain roles are for.

Advice to Senior Management

Trim management to remove layers.
Listen to your employees when it comes to the obstacles an inefficiencies of certain processes.
Eliminate the bottom 1/3rd (including managers) to allow for a fresh inflow of talent.