IBM Reviews in London, UK Area

Pros

Kudos of working for the largest technology services company in the world
Chance to work on a vast array of projects and technologies
Chance to work in a vast array of sectors and industries
Chance to change career direction if required
Moving projects often feels like a new job so things stay relatively fresh
Chance to work with some extremely talented individuals (technical and people skills)

Cons

Increasing focus on high performing culture means that those who want to stand still are not allowed to or will receive poor appraisals.
Poor appraisals will mean little chance of promotion or salry increases
Work-life balance has become increasingly irrelevant
Sam is focused on achieving his EPS target at the expense of everything else - including pay rises
So, Global Delivery strategy is the way thta company will reduce costs and achieve increased profits. However, to achieve this there is an increasing reliance on 'the few' managing 'the many' offshore.
Management by instant messenger or poor telephone lines is not conducive to effectiveness or stress levels

Advice to Senior Management

Investment had better be made into the 'western hemisphere' resources otherwise when the economy begins to pick up lots of the capable resources will leave the company leaving them with the ones they would rather sack or are not up to their high-performing culture

Pros

Lots of opportunites to work with varied partners across UK. You are able to move jobs within one big organisation.

Cons

Too much focus on making profit, cutting cost and no consideration on looking after employees. Employee moral is at all time low. Latest redundancy package for those near retirement means we no longer have experienced executives. IBM = i've been married. Say good bye to your home life.

Advice to Senior Management

Employees of IBM are faced with long hours, stressful jobs and expected to work anywhere without any consideration of family life/work life balance. You are driving your talent away.

Pros

- IBM on your CV
- Mutual respect of fellow slaves

Cons

- This company has lost the ability to innovate. Where are the new products and services?
- Management are all spreadsheet jockeys. No coaching.
- Morale is extremely low
- Bureacracy is killing the business
- Senior management just milking the cash cow of developed countries
- Management cannot be trusted

Advice to Senior Management

- Respect your employees
- Reward innovation

Pros

Strong culture and ethics
Excellent training and opportunities for growth
Strong business model and diverse portfolio
Opportunities exist to take on different roles within the company

Cons

Salary is lower than at competing firms and the opportunities to increase salary within the company are limited
The company is so huge it is possible to be lost inside the firm

Advice to Senior Management

Ensure retention amongst the most talented young professionals is addressed to ensure a strong future for the firm

Pros

Good place to work if you like an international environment and an employer who allow you to work where and when it suits you. Lots of opportunities if you are prepared to move to growth markets. In general a very professional organization with high ethical standards, good processes etc.

Cons

Compensation is in general not competitive, career opportunities are limited in mature markets. Other benefits are non-existent. Very difficult to influence anything and a lot of "red tape". Only on-line education permitted.

Advice to Senior Management

Reward high performing individuals better, view education and development as an investment and not only as cost.

Pros

Work life balance is encouraged, but this depends on your manager.
Get to work with the latest technologies.
IBM is a leader in the Industry, and having its name on your CV is definitely good for your career.

Cons

Pay is average in the industry. No increments this year.
Training budget was cut to zero last year.

Advice to Senior Management

Invest in People. They are your asset, not a cost base.

Pros

good name on the cv but that's based on history not reality

Cons

-Expected to travel anywhere,
-Paid less than equivalent jobs elsewhere,
-Under-utilise prior experience - some of us have worked before joining !!
-Brow-beaten workforce, depressed by objectives/appraisal system designed to encourage staff turnover and reduce payroll and bonuses

Advice to Senior Management

Realise its the people that company performance is based on - they are the assets.
Start paying people properly and provide better development opportunities

Pros

Good for young, aspiring individuals looking to gain broad experience in an industry sector and learn valuable skills through a consultancy environment. Good for senior level executives coming in from industry backgrounds with a lengthy rolodex of contacts and good sales skills.

Cons

Not good for mid-career individuals. Lower than average salaries. Miniscule/non-existent bonus pool (6% of salary for very few top-end staff with 2%-3% being the average rate) to compensate staff for working demanding hours and being held to a high standard of delivery, especially within the Financial Services Sector. Inflexible toward staff aspirations as project placement is dependent upon staff and partners hitting a high utilisation target as opposed to placing staff in roles on projects where they can utilise their strengths and grow professionally. Very political - consultants/managers have to meet & greet (kiss up to) partners and associate partners from day one to get staffed on the best projects and roles. Fall out of favour at any time and be relegated to less than ideal projects.

Advice to Senior Management

IBM GBS FSS - priority should be on utilising staff to the best of their abilities and where the greatest value will be added to IBM and in-line with the staff's strengths and aspirations, not solely dependent upon whether it impacts a particular partner's or service's profitability. Resources should be fungible. Alignment of staff to sectors/practice areas greatly limits growth for staff perspective and achieving optimal results from an IBM project delivery perspective.

Pros

Excellent benefits and company atmosphere. A lot of opportunity for career advancemenet and exposure in different cultures. Would highligh recommend.

Cons

Very top heavy - could translate into the redundancies in the future. It is also difficult for the decision making.

Advice to Senior Management

Excellent benefits and company atmosphere. A lot of opportunity for career advancemenet and exposure in different cultures. Would highligh recommend.

Pros

Very good for educational opportunities and the ability to move between job roles.
Management are happy to support any career changes you wish.

Cons

Remuneration is below market average. I joined on the graduate scheme 3 years ago, since when my responsibilities have increased considerably. Salary, however, has not & there is no outlook for it to do so. Talking to colleagues, this is a common theme - people chose to work at IBM not for salary but for the additional benefits which they offer.

Advice to Senior Management

Review the benefits package paid to top performing employees. It is very common for graduates to join IBM for a few years, get a lot of education & career development then move onto different employers, who frequently offer up to double the salary available at IBM.