Valero Energy Reviews

Pros

I worked as a summer intern at the McKee refinery in Sunray Texas and I had a great experience. All the interns were treated with respect and we were given meaningful projects to do. Everyone working at the refinery had great things to say about the company and I will definitely recommend working for Valero to anyone.

Cons

I did not enjoy the location of the refinery because I was used to living in bigger cities. The electrical engineering department was too small

Advice to Senior Management

The intern symposium at SA was a great learning experience about the company, but it would be better if the symposium was not too packed with a lot of activities with the short time frame we had

Pros

Competitive salary, and good bonus potential. Good opportunity to learn new technology in a challenging atmosphere. Work / life balance.

Cons

There is limited upward mobility. Too many levels of management and not enough workers. Employee benefits seem to be getting worse every year.

Advice to Senior Management

Define a clear path for promotions. Keep the process consistent for all employees regardless of manager. Communicate more timely from the top down.

Pros

Stable, full-funded pension plan, excellent benefits package, good pay, good people.

Cons

No many downsides. Still a very good company to work for, especially at the larger sites. Smaller sites not provided with adequate staffing.

Advice to Senior Management

Make a distinction between smaller and larger sites and set expectations accordingly. Stop using Solomon EDC as the primary metric by which to assess one site against another. This is an over-simplified perspective.

Pros

They were very very personable and down to earth people. This is one of the better interviews that I have had in the past few years

Cons

I only wish there was a way for you to determine how well you did in the interview and what your chances are.

Advice to Senior Management

More choices for interns to locate

Pros

agressive expanding strategy compared to peers

Cons

too many "generals or the like" in a relatively small "army"

Pros

Industrial Knowlegde, Expierience and Pension Plan.

Cons

Does not recognise employee efforts and dedication in the work place.
They are quickly ready to suspend you for for any mistake and very slowly to recognise you for deserved promotions. They take alot of time away from your family.

Business group senior management does not understand workings of plants they make decisions for and do not seek input from the staff at the plant that do have the knowledge. Little opportunity for growth. Corporate office is dissengaged from the operations that actually make the company money!

Advice to Senior Management

Try improving economical crisis by improving plant efficiency and give more attention and recognitions to your employees that are your number one assets in producing positive economical income.

Pros

Great people to work with at the plant
Compensation is comparable to the rest of industry
Benefits are average to slightly below (depends on what site you work at)

Cons

Corporate benefits and perks are not the same as plants so don't let the "best place to work" fool you. That might be true if you are at Corporate Headquarters but not necessarily the same at other sites. Gym, flex time, cafeteria, pension, and flex dollars for benefits were available to the corporate group but not the plants in the business group I worked for. Cost of benefits at my next employer were much cheaper.

 Business group senior management does not understand workings of plants they make decisions for and do not seek input from the staff at the plant that do have the knowledge. Little opportunity for growth if you aren't in San Antonio. Corporate office is dissengaged from the operations that actually make the company money.

Too much emphasis on Volunteering and United Way. Nice things to do but it would be better to allow another person in an understaffed department rather than spending thousands to fly people around for United Way kickoffs.

Advice to Senior Management

Need more input from the plants. Don't assume you know what the plant needs if you aren't ever there and don't ask the people that are there. Corporate needs to get engaged with the plants. The plant operations are what make the money - not the corporate staff.

Pros

Great Customers, ever changing enviroment, Knowledegable associates, great customer service by most employees. HR is very knowlegeable. Variety, good products.

Cons

Middle Management ( area managers) unqualified for their positions, out of touch with the store and how they run, Wound up.

Advice to Senior Management

Talk to your Store Managers and Area Managers about how to treat employees! People should be treated with respect regardless of position in the company.

Pros

Salary and benefits on par with the industry.

Cons

Salary and benefits used to be pacesetting in the industry.

Pros

Valero has awsome benefits, probably the best benefit package in the oil and gas industry. Very friendly place to work.

Cons

I dont think upper management has the vision to grow the company.