IBM Reviews

Pros

Very laid back culture, people are down to earth. Very flexible work force. Management usually is very supportive except in crunch time. You get a lot of recognition for being an IBMer

Cons

During crunch time they take it to an unbelievable extent. Management is terrible at listening to employees. The communication channels break down rapidly in some key areas within the organization. Instead of making progress, we regress backwards.

Advice to Senior Management

Upper management need to make a 1-on-1 effort to reach out to the down below folks. There is a lot of penalty in open doors so folks are afraid to raise any concerns.

Pros

I work from Home
Flexible Work Schedule
Self Deirected

Cons

Little opportunity for movement around the company
Little opportunity for advancement
Minimal raises and bonuses

Pros

Benefits including health care insurance are available from the first day of work. Premiums for a family with kids (IBM PPO plan) are $319 per month plus $33 for the Basic PPO dental plan. The company matches 5% towards your 401(k).

Cons

There are a lot of IBMers who work from home. That's fine, but it is thing of the past. If you get into one of their Delivery centers, do not expect to be allowed to work from home. Due to a new "process" and "framework", all work now should be done inside those center (sort of "team work" or "team work environment"). So to summarize the Columbia (Missouri) delivery center:
- no work from home
- very limited-choice cafeteria with a coffee machine working only from 11AM to 2PM. They sell a cup of coffee for $1.39. So people bring thermoses.
- no free coffee (no coffee makers are allowed - so you cannot create a coffee club)
- no free hot water (to make a cup of hot chocolate or oatmeal). To fair, there are microwaves.
- no windows (there are windows but they are frosted, so you can't see outside)

Advice to Senior Management

have a box for suggestions. I bet you a lot of people would ask for another catering service and would love to have free coffee. We are IT folks, after all, and we drink coffee a lot.

Pros

Great Benefits Plans and Employee Stock Options
Great Employee Discounts with partner companies
Wonderful Vacation Time and Sick Days and Personal Days

Cons

OK Pay, must work your way up!!
Many employees but work in small groups!
At my location, no parking and added extras like other locations. (No gym, cafeteria, or lunch room)

Advice to Senior Management

I beleive too much is put on Managers and there is not enough time spent on individuals. Need more than yearly reviews to tell someone what they are doing wrong and need to improve on.

Pros

There is some good technology for a software engineer. However that technology is getting dated very fast. It is a good company to be in if you have some manager or lead associated to your job title. Managers and architects and leads do reap benefits of raises and bonuses. Financially company always makes profit.

Cons

No job security for US employees. Pay raise and bonus for technical engineers are almost non existent. If you are technical person be prepared to be abused especially if you are working in the US. Long hours with little or no recognition for work is standard practice. Especially in the software business unit. Technical growth opportunities just do not exist. Every year middle and upper management is looking to see how much of the work done in their groups/orgs in the US can be shipped and outsourced to India or China. The companies financial profits result in bonuses and raises only at the top.

Advice to Senior Management

Invest in producing and manufacturing in the US. The company has totally turned to a huge global services company. The upper management has no vision in establishing a manufacturing base in the US. They only seem to manage for the immediate quarter results, long term impact on the company is not something they serious consider.

Pros

Good opportunities
Not much pressure
Learn new technologies

Cons

Not much to add except lots of processes

Advice to Senior Management

None

Pros

Great people to work withy

Cons

Downsize every year. Very stressful every year wondering if this will be your year to get the ax.

Pros

Salary was at or above market level. Health insurance was superior. Access to technical information was excellent. Information sharing was encouraged. Technical training (when available) was excellent.

Cons

Many US jobs are being migrated overseas. This may temporarily increase the company's bottom line in the form of cost reduction, but also negatively affects morale among remaining US workers.
For those workers not receiving overtime pay (exempt employees) significant overtime work is expected, while hours for those receiving overtime pay (non-exempt) are kept to a minimum. All overtime must be approved (in advance if it is for planned work).

Advice to Senior Management

Realize that sending jobs overseas my result in immediate cost reduction, but it impacts the US economy and eventually will impact the company. If you pay all of your salaries to overseas workers, expect to obtain all of your revenue from those countries. You reap what you sow!

Pros

many talented people, good balance of work and life, pay is good, people are nice, benefit is good.

Cons

too many legacy systems to maintain and rules to follow,
too many managers

Advice to Senior Management

trim down the management, introduce more cool stuff

Pros

As a global large company, IBM has a fairly complete administrative system. People there are friendly and willing to share experience with others.

Cons

Employees will have to work with an extremely rapid pace under severe pressure. Sometimes even stay up for many days.

Advice to Senior Management

I think it is better for IBM to hire more international employees, since the cultural diversity will bring more new thoughts of develpment.