Robert Bosch LLC Reviews

Pros

Very friendly general working atmosphere,
feeling of equal worthiness of all employees,
working on and with newest technology,
ease of communication with supervisors and other colleagues.

Cons

I did not really encounter any significant cons.
One could say there are more prestigous companies
or better paying ones.

Advice to Senior Management

The cultural mix of people, especially in Palo Alto, has been great.
The free refreshments before the economic crisis had been a nice addition.

Pros

There are many opportunities to work overseas and to learn new aspects of business.

Cons

Everyday work is steeped in office politics and senior management is out of touch.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to employees, stop being reactive and start being proactive!

Pros

The best thing about working for Bosch is the size and scale. In addition to this If you enjoy traveling there can be plenty of that too, in the right position.

Cons

The worst part about Bosch is that it is consistently behind the times in technology and it is very resistant to change because of the office politics. Ideas are more likely to be swatted down because who thought of it then if it makes sense. Part of this is because the company resembles a billion tiny islands then any large single piece, each island has their "stake" and god help you if you trudge onto their sanctuary of control. The other part of it is that many people have to be with the company for 10 to 15 years before they make any substantial headway in promotion. Once they have the power they hold onto it FEROCIOUSLY! It is a German company to the core, and a natural born German will get promoted twice as fast as a natural born American regardless of your comparative work effort. Even people who have worked here for 20+ years will often be serving under a German citizen who has a quarter of the experience and seemingly just out of college.

The average age of a low level manager (less then 5 reports) is well over 40. The age of a director (15-20 reports) is very near retirement age. There is only one member of senior management in North America that is not German and he is in the account/tax division. I think Bosch is probably a better resume sticker then a career for this reason. Go in, see what working for a company with 300,000 workers is like and then GET OUT before the cubicle you started in becomes the cubicle you retire in!

Advice to Senior Management

Reduce office politics, reduce inertia that keeps the company from embracing new technology, reduce the resistance of moving up, and reduce the intercultural squabbles between Germany and the US.

Pros

Solid company financially. Should be around for a long long time.

Cons

European owned company, with little focus on the NAFTA market, and market practices.

Pros

This place offers a lot of room for growth and everyone there is very nice. The environment is perfect for older gentlemen.

Cons

The overall atmosphere at Bosch is a little dull and old and might not be the best choice for hot young workers.

Advice to Senior Management

Realize that your workers are getting a little old and the overall atmosphere needs an updating. This is a company that will be around forever so get it together.

Pros

People from all over the world, truly a global company.
Innovative, quality products.
Good benefits and decent pay.
Opportunities to learn and grow as a person.

Cons

Centralized structure can make team collaboration difficult.
Favoritism and politics can alienate employees.
Work and personal life balance should be valued more.

Advice to Senior Management

Upper management needs to listen to its employees more so that it can better understand its customers needs.

Pros

International experiences and job security

Cons

less competative salaries than publicly held companies

Pros

Very stable global player with high attention to innovation and long term growth. Private company with a longer term view. Ample opportunities for foreign assignments.

Cons

Compensation strategy is not high end salaries. In the last decade Bosch has migrated from an internationally minded company back to a German company -- divisional leadership boards all in Germany. Very high degree of control from Germany right down to the very details of every day work processes.

Advice to Senior Management

Regional leaders appointed from regions does not have the impact it once did since all control and decisions are centered in Germany. Bosch will not keep the best and most innovative talent if regions are not empowered to independently operate with their own ideas, self ownership and real local control.

Pros

Very secure company financially, very seldom if ever is there a lay off, benefits are pretty good when compared to other companies

Cons

Even though this division is in the USA, all the important shots are called from Germany, where they do not understand the market place or Bosch image in the USA. Have very complex methods of doing business.

Advice to Senior Management

Let the americans runs the business, and believe what the americans tell you about the market place the competition and the product needs.

Pros

Good professional / career prospects

Cons

lack of flexibility makes company slow to adapt

Advice to Senior Management

Need to listen more to the simple employees