Nortel Networks Reviews in Raleigh-Durham, NC Area

Pros

Ability to move within Nortel and acquire new skills.

Cons

Executive Management looked at the short term and not the long term.

Pros

Good benefits and good pay

Cons

Negative environment once the company started going under

Advice to Senior Management

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Pros

Great products. Great work life balance. Work was definitely challenging. Benefits were decent. Coworkers were great. Attractive office and work environment. Good location.

Cons

Company was terribly mismanaged. In my opinion, too much was outsourced with ridiculous contracts made with contract manufacturers. (Some of which I understand was necessary). Corrupt & self serving top brass.

Pros

Flexibility, Friendly family environment. Great Pay

Cons

Too aggressive on growth. Portfolio too broad

Advice to Senior Management

Focus and shrink portfolio

Pros

Great Culture
Learning Opportunities
Growth opportunities
Good benefits

Cons

the accounting scandal broke the company's back
the economy finished off what the accounting scandal started

Advice to Senior Management

Could have saved the company by selling off non performing assets sooner

Pros

Competive pay, opportuities for advancement

Cons

Company file for bankruptcy in 2009.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't just use nepotism as a way to promote people but make sure they have the skill set for the job.

Pros

Workplace environment (quiet), telecommuting options, location, available parking, benefits plan,

Cons

Flawed management practices, too much focus on LEAN/Six Sigma, not enough focus on employee development, zero training for Nortel standards and practices.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to staff - from the ground up.

Pros

They did give great benefits, and promoted a good work/life balance. If the brass didn't run the company into bankruptcy, I would've enjoyed a very long and successful career there. Started off with 3 weeks PTO, and they shut down for the Christmas holiday, so you really got 4 weeks right when you started. Benefits started on day 1 of employment.

Cons

I wish I could've been there before the bankruptcy was eminent. It really seemed to be a great place to work. The people were all very nice and helpful, and they had a lot of good things going on. However, the brass seemed to care more about lining their own pockets when they saw the ship sinking than trying to save the company, which I think is really too bad.

Advice to Senior Management

Be honest and straightforward. I know sometimes you have to say the company line and act like everything is going well and things are getting back on track, but you knew for months this was going to happen, and you simply kept up the positive speak when you knew nothing was going to happen.

Pros

Great pay and benefits. Interesting and market leading technology. While the company rewards "sticking to the status quo", there are pockets of innovation with less recognition and reward, but with higher personal satisfaction.

Cons

Industry decline and overall missteps by management have placed Nortel in bankruptcy. STaff are all solid performers, but many are "RIP" (Retired in place). Innovation is no longer rewarded, and maintaining the status quo is the easiest way to succeed.

Advice to Senior Management

Make some hard choices: portfolio rationalization *MUST* occur. If the intention is just to milk the DMS/VoIP cow, the company should be more drastically downsized than it currently has been.

Pros

I worked with some great people while I was there. I was given immense flexibility to structure my own job the way I saw fit.

Cons

Company has gone bankrupt. So, you know, that's a problem.

About a year before I left, they removed every third lightbulb in the building to save money.

You can do better elsewhere. That goes for current employees as well as prospective employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Polish up your resume. I hear the healthcare industry is expanding--you might try looking for work there. The military is expanding as well, so try employers that supply them.

Good luck, y'all.