National Instruments Reviews

Pros

Benefits, work product, people, balance of work and personal life.

Cons

Company is still young, growing pains expected

Advice to Senior Management

Keep the good communication going.

Pros

Innovating on the leading edge of technology, having the opportunity to take on responsibilties, and knowing that my efforts will have an impact keep me excited for work everyday. Life/Work balance is at the heart of the company.

Cons

The logistics of completing tasks (paperwork) can get a bit out of hand; however, there is plenty of help to get it done.

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to place emphasis on transparency from the top down and maintaining the company culture. I am happy to have an exciting workplace to enjoy everyday.

Pros

Great advancement opportunities if you are in the right department. Stuck out the recession. Officers take a larger pay cut before the employees do (which is smaller).

Cons

No different than other companies, but management can favor more tenured, less knowledgeable of current conditions employees because they have been there so long.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep doing what you are doing. You have a great base, but recognize the innovation and ideas that a pair of fresh eyes can bring

Pros

Good working atmosphere. Correct programs and benefits. Altough not a small company, the enviroment modern and nice. The caffeteria is also a good system there.

Cons

The management don't promote the old fellows. A lot of good employee left this company because the management didn't promote them. The overtime in the production is extremely high!

Advice to Senior Management

Please try to work with open open eyes and keep your key persons, don't waste them.

Pros

Good company to start a career with, especially if you only have a bachelor's degree in engineering (more about graduate degrees below). Good people. Laid-back atmosphere. Open communication. Volleyball. Deck parties.

Cons

Absolutely ridiculous salaries. Non-respectful of graduate degrees (company gave 1.5K raise over other bachelor's candidates for a 2-year full-time master's degree !!!!). No great bonuses or salary raises in following years either.

My advice: Ok to be there when you are young (22-26). Enjoy the time, make some friends, play volleyball and drink beer at work (yes, it is allowed). Leave when you start having a family/buying a house to get some real value for your education and qualifications as a few beers during the deck parties don't pay for your mortgage/wedding check at that point of the life.

Advice to Senior Management

Look around and increase the salaries !!

Pros

good salary, intelligent people, great atmosphere, great tehnolology, good exposure and growth, casual work atmosphere and you get a lot of international exposure

Cons

too much work will be expected off you, you will have to travel over 70% of the time, limited growth

Advice to Senior Management

reduce the hours, take more interest in employees, fire the incompetent ones no use being polite, appreciate every now and then

Pros

Leadership in test and measurement area, quite

Cons

Could be much better in project management and people management.

Pros

The environment is healthy, relaxed and open.

Cons

Salary is below average, still nothing to be concerned.

Advice to Senior Management

Improve the salary basis.

Pros

NI has a great culture, honest management, competitive pay, great benefits, awesome products, an on site doctor, on site gym, three cafeterias, Austin is a great city. It all adds up to a great place to build a career.

Cons

You might be able to make a few dollars more somewhere else, especially mid career, but if you stick it out and perform you will be rewarded. This is a rare company that you can spend a career at.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep your eye on the 100 year plan and do not fall into the trap of paying attention to the analysts quarterly expectations.

Pros

good co-workers, on-site doctor and gym, CEO and founder still at helm

Cons

poor pay structure, consensus-driven decision making,promotions too entrenched in social circles/playing politics, middle-management sucks, limited/slow growth opportunities

Advice to Senior Management

consider trimming the fat - lots of inefficiency hiding in the middle layers of the company,...makes growth for true innovators difficult as promotions/ideas are controlled and people are forced to under perform to keep their jobs