Rohde & Schwarz Reviews

Pros

R&S cares about its employees and it is reflected in the cut backs from a couple of years ago where they cut everyone (and I mean everyone) pay by 10%. Not only were we able to get our 10% back, but we got our bonuses too. During that entire time, when other companies were trying to save money by cutting benefits, R&S elected to keep the benefits and 401K contributions the same. They were able to keep a strong and talented workforce.

Cons

Working for a German owned company half a world away is always a problem. Not only does the language prevent strong communication, but culture does too. For a company that has been around for more than 80 years you would think they would have worked out the communication issues. When departments won't talk, many efforts are duplicated. Many people have been making great strides in resolving this with new software tools, but people need to use the tools and that is where the problem lies. It's not that the "company' won't communicate with its employees, its the employees that can't seem to make the effort to communicate.

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to make efforts to increase the communication skills. Be willing to invest in the tools and technologies to make the sales guys more efficient and the support team in the offices too. Don't throw more people at a problem when a more efficient solution can be found, however don't hold back on resources when they are needed.

Pros

The German company is a very good company. Their equipment is excellent and has a good reputation. RSA is a sales organization for the main company. The perks are good and they pay well.

Cons

Sr. management is really poor. The leadership is non-existent. The US sales director is a monster and has evey other manager below him scared to death. If he doesn't like you, for any reason, you're OUT. Your real job performance doesn't matter. The only good news is that their competition knows it and he's getting a terrible reputation.

Advice to Senior Management

Get rid of him and you'll have a better company for it. The German mgmt is typically high quality. They need to open their eyes.

Pros

Generally everyone is very pleasant to work with and the benefits are great. Very flexible with scheduling.

Cons

Need to work on internal procedures for streamlining day to day processes.

Pros

Highly technical and good products

Cons

Career path is not clearly defined

Pros

Decent pay and benefits. Interesting products. 90% of the employees are friendly people who work hard. Secure facility. Convenient area to commute to.

Cons

Lack of communication between departments. Lack of clear marketing goals that incorporate flexibility. There's a need to branch out for new avenues such as social media. There's also a need for a revamped HR department.

Advice to Senior Management

The marketing department requires more organization in all areas, whether it's for new hires or campaign initiatives. Also, the same people work together so long that they forget how to introduce new people into the fold. There is also a lack of professionalism in the HR department - (example: person gets paid for 40 hours a week but comes in after nine a.m. and usually leaves before 3:00 p.m. How can someone truly expect HR to be taken seriously when they're rarely in their office when you need to speak to them? And when they look like they're abusing the system by being lax in their work hours?)

On the other hand, the expert knowledge of the products and industry in the company is fantastic. People are serious about their work and dedicated. It's refreshing. The IT department is very helpful as well.

Pros

Good salary, benefits and team spirit.

Cons

Many small principalities within the company block strategic initiatives.

Advice to Senior Management

Be more courageous with your decisions.

Pros

good engineering work with good colleagues

Cons

working place is not good

Advice to Senior Management

not bad

Pros

Great benefits & perks, fully paid medical, dental, Rx ect...

Cons

Management in the US is very inexperienced and lacks true leadership skills. There are no proper policies and procedures that are followed throughout the US company and really depends on a case by case basis. Be ready for managers who lie to your face and use information against you in a later conversation. If you don't fit in with their social culture, getting things done in the company becomes extremely difficult. Promotions are often based on who you know and who your circle of friends are. Managers also lack an understanding about proper sales forecasting and territory splits which can be directly related to lack of direct selling history.

Advice to Senior Management

Treat employees with respect, fairness and dignity. Lead the company by example and not by you're own personal expectations/agenda. Munich management needs to take away the amount of freedom given to US based management team. They are running your company into the ground and causing a horrible brand reputation.

Pros

team oriented work environment, good pay and excellent benefits

Cons

Difficult to make a career change within the company.

Advice to Senior Management

Be more transparent in your decision making

Pros

pay and benefits are great

Cons

leadership thought it was immune to the economic downturn

Advice to Senior Management

keep hears open to what's happening outside of the company