Sallie Mae Reviews

Pros

Your managers are professional but are friends. You can go to them with anything. Up level managers have floor meeting where they keep you informed of changes and new policies within the company.
The office is just like the show "Office" very fun working envornment. They don't drug test once hired unless you come to work drunk or smelling..

Cons

Pay sucks. Bonus structure is a joke. High turnover

Pros

Fair to above average pay.

New products that have been introdued into the market place have considerable upside (Smart Option Student, Credit Card and Bank products).

Stock Options for all level of employees.

Cons

SLM has been cutting expenses (people and sites) aggressively the last 3 years. While it is a necessity for the future, it makes it an uncertain place to work.

Very little Leadership and and Management Development for mid level management.

There is some favortism for ex MBNA/Bank of America Leadership that joined company 2 -3 years ago

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to be honest and try to finish the cuts so the compnay can focus on future growth.

Pros

A respectable paycheck and benefits

Cons

Little or no opportunities for advancement

Pros

The benefits package is decent. The office facilities are generally pretty decent too. Many of the offices have a cafeteria and or a fitness center.

Cons

There is little communication between management and subordinates. When changes are made that affect jobs, I feel that the managers do not keep employees fully apprised of information as it comes up.

Advice to Senior Management

I think that management should get back to the basics of management. Many managers have lost sight of how to manage. Perhaps some management courses are in order...

Pros

There is a lot of large project work and the IT work is very broad company wide. Lateral movement is possible. Pay is fair and minor salary bumps are common despite the economic downturn.

Cons

Management is terrible. Every team is understaffed and overworked, just hoping not to be laid off. Business leaders are actively trying to cut employees in every way possible. Questionable if there is any sustainable business model for the future. Managers veto vacation days regularly. Dress code and conduct seems to be a moving target. Some good talent has been cut despite teams carrying dead weight in management and business roles. Business side employees are clueless and territorial. Office conditions are dungeon-y.

Advice to Senior Management

stop coasting on your 20 years at SLM and do your jobs for once.

Pros

Solid benefits
Quick promotions for top performers

Cons

Company is shrinking due to changes in legislation

Pros

- benefits

- opportunities. Once you are there for nine months you can post in other positions and people were taking new positions all the time.

- I said good for college grads because you start off with a low salary and entry level position but if you have the time (3-5 years) I could see someone becoming highly successful

- If you like OT, then offer a lot of it

Cons

- Inconsistent information. I was told the hourly wages during the interview and come offer time it was less then discussed and not negotiable.
- The department I was in had no direction and was in constant flux
- No feedback or direction from Team Leaders
- Did not like the incentive plan. No matter how hard you worked the statistics were never accurate and a lot of your figures came from accounts colleagues resolved
- In order to be a top performer and get better incentive you would need to work a lot of OT
- There were different policy from team to team in the department, no consistency

Advice to Senior Management

Create a more uniform system when it comes running a department. Come up with a an incentive plan that pays you for the work you do and does reward people who know how to work "the system"

Pros

Opportunity to get great bonus checks, no standing or walking around, benefits are offered, paid holidays ( restrictions apply to this). Monthly contests to win prizes

Cons

Basically have to overwork yourself if you want to hit goal, if you don't do a satisfactory job in relation to goal, you will be terminated after a certain period of time (3 consecutive months). No life work balanace

Advice to Senior Management

Make it possible so that employees dont feel over worked and drained from this job

Pros

Nice work-life balance, flexible schedule. Nice coworkers to work with, they're willing to help you with company knowledge. Great benefits and time-off.

Cons

Management is all over the place. Not a strong leadership and some execution of employee relocation was underestimated. Not much better salary wise compared to other financial companies.

Advice to Senior Management

listen more to employees. Incorporate more employee's inputs to management decision. Be more thoughtful about annual raise compared to Executive/Officer's annual raise.

Pros

The work supports the education industry

Cons

too few subject matter experts in a confusing industry, too many managers with no knowledge

Advice to Senior Management

They should better appreciate their legacy workforce