Oakland Reviews

Current Employee – been working at Oakland as an intern for less than a year

Pros – They adjust your work pace and tasks to your skill level.
Very patient.
The management and every civil servant in the Auditor's office is friendly and takes the time to teach interns and provide guidance towards your future.
You dont do "busy" work. The auditor's office has a culture that the intern is there contributing to the mission of the department rather than courier from the nearby coffee shop

Cons – As an intern, I don't get paid.

Advice to Senior Management – Just keep on doing what your doing.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Oakland

Pros – The people, residents are great and the City has enormous potential for quality of life and other amenities.

Cons – Old boys club mentality,not ready to make startegic changes to benefit at macro level. Politics, favoritism and not enough concensus among top managers.

Advice to Senior Management – Focus on sustainable projects that will benefit the City and not individuals.

Former Employee – worked at Oakland

Pros – Good pay and convenient location located just above the 12th St BART station.

Cons – There is a lack of knowledge sharing and willingness to change within the HR and Admin departments. I can't say how the others operate, but this was a serious issue in these two departments.

Advice to Senior Management – There are way too many people being paid to do very little work. Especially in the HR and Admin departments.

Current Employee – been working at Oakland

Pros – Doing work for the public good. Flexible work arrangements available.

Cons – Lack of resources, lack of mentorship

Advice to Senior Management – N/A

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Oakland

Pros – Good benefits even for part-time staff as well as better job security than non-civil service.

Cons – Civil service system convoluted; tends to reward longevity versus performance; very very difficult to get promotions. Despite union, many concessions made due to constant city budget issues.

Advice to Senior Management – Leave the ivory tower occasionally; visit the branches and see what happens in the trenches. Library management has absolutely no clue as to the working conditions faced by workers. Security is non-existent in many branches; as the economy worsens, staff are faced with more and more "challenging" patrons on a daily basis.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Oakland full-time for more than 10 years

Pros – Great people to work with. Salary is above average compared with the private sector. Benefits are much better than the outside but losing ground. Management is getting better since the hiring audit.

Cons – Many managers and supervisors from the "old guard" still employed. Very little chance of moving up since many management personal will not retire or find another job. It is because they do not have the qualifications (a 4 year college degree). New blood is needed at the top. Too many layers of management. Communication is improving but still room for improvement. Also harder to make a living with furlough days (between 12 to 20 days per year). Also, each employee must contribute 8 to 12 % of your pay towards their pension. Hard on employees. Actually witness a repo men towing an employee vehicle away.

Advice to Senior Management – Upper management is on the right track with streamlining each agency within the City. Need to reduce more middle management.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Oakland

Pros – Good pay & benefits, great location, easy commute by public transportation

Cons – Overall budget is in the red...layoffs...and no resources for employee training

Advice to Senior Management – Keep the good employees ...regardless of seniority or union rules