CSID Reviews

Pros

I waited until I was here 6 months before reviewing to make sure what I'm seeing is the norm. This is an exceptionally great team with really smart, hard-working people, that are friendly, always willing to help and have a sense of humor. I've worked for a lot of companies - start-ups, mid-sized and giant corporations and this is one of the very best. Benefits including a PTO policy (there isn't one) are exceptional. They really go out of the way to think of things employees will care about including community service, on-site Yoga, and on-site workout room w/equipment. Lot's of spirit (Halloween is crazy) and I've seen them generously share in a couple of bonus $ events. The company and market is really hot right now and I would strongly recommend this company to any prospective job seeker. We actually have an Architecture group, a UX team and dedicated Scrum Maters. Documentation is up to date not an afterthought. The Agile process is very much alive and well. Wow, there is a lot of work here and the learning curve is challenging, but everyone is happy to answer questions and help where they can.

Cons

I really can't think of any - sure we are crazy busy here, but some how we manage to get it all done.

Pros

CSID is everything "Austin" about Technology - a group of highly-motivated, hyper-intelligent individuals going all-in to work toward the lofty goal of dominating an emerging marketplace...all while maintaining all the quirkiness, kookiness, and "work hard, play hard" ideologies of a truly Austin-based company. As an employee, you are challenged daily to deliver at the highest levels and acquire the latest skill sets in order to keep pushing the envelope. Mediocrity is not rewarded. But if you're not having fun while grinding your way to the top, it's your own damn fault - the work environment here embraces openness and humor to offset the typical rigidity and seriousness of corporate America. All voices are heard and have input, and you'd be very hard-pressed to find a better group of coworkers to embrace as your "work family." Work/life balance is taken extremely seriously, and employees are afforded the flexibility to handle living in the real world.

Cons

This place is not for the weak of heart or easily-deterred! This is a challenging work environment that demands peak performance and effort. Not really a con at all, but the most stressful part of working here.

Pros

CSID goes out of it's way to provide employees with excellent benefits, a fun work environment, and a culture that promotes education and advancement within the company. We work hard, but we also play hard. The open vacation policy, and limited but effective requests for overtime work to accomplish certain goals, shows that management knows our personal lives matter very much, and they know when to draw the line. It seems like everyone at CSID is committed to the success of the company, from upper management and the CEO down to the average employee. This is the best place I have ever worked, and that says a lot. I have worked for some of the most successful companies in the industry during their formative and most explosive years of growth, and the feeling here is the same. There is a current of excitement about the future of the company that is palpable.

Cons

The Agile approach that many departments have been trained in, and are now using, has been really beneficial to the focus and productivity of those groups. It is unfortunate that the offshore teams have not aggressively adopted Agile, and that it also takes so long to implement changes to some of our core services that are being serviced by those teams. I think those two issues are related.

Pros

CSID means business -- it's a company professionally run by grown-up *people* who understand the industry and how to attract quality team members to accomplish the business goals. I emphasize "grown ups" *in contrast* to the many companies whose progress and success is impeded by a lack of maturity and professionalism. As for the hiring process, it was truly refreshing to be treated like a respected human being. Other companies are trending towards de-humanizing the hiring process to the point where, in my opinion, they are missing quality candidates [with wisdom and experience] in favor of test-takers. All the same to me though: advantage CSID. CSID's intentions were always clearly communicated, their offer was very competitive (with benefits) [in writing], and once a decision was finalized, their [stellar] HR and IT departments moved at light-speed so I could begin work in just days, not weeks. I was fortunate to have multiple offers during my search, and for all of the above reasons, CSID beat the competition by a large margin.

Cons

None -- I regret not finding CSID sooner.

Pros

Great culture when it was CSID as an independent company, questionable not that Experian has bought and taken over the company. CSID achieved great things including beating out large companies for business as CSID had the better product, service, and people. The people and the culture they created was the greatest pro along with the benefits the company provided including all those fun activities. Sad to see those days are no longer with us.

Cons

Like many start-ups, this is a David and Goliath story. But this time despite Experian's multiple assurances from their top management team in all employee meetings with the CSID staff in Austin, San Diego, Boston, and London that things would not change they have and not for the good it seems. This time Goliath beat David and is still beating him. Key players in the team have already left the CSID team even though assurances were given by Jennifer Leuer and others who came in from Experian said they wouldn't, many more are looking and the tap is opened for people to exit because Experian did not keep their word. Sad but an all to common true situation you can't believe what you are told and committed to as an employee. I along with many of my team mates are looking to leave the company.

Pros

My great coworkers are just as passionate about our industry and current trends so we end up suggesting using them to management and they are open to our ideas. Recently moved to a new Headquarters Open and Collaborative environment. Fully stocked fridge with snacks Very friendly environment to grow at.

Cons

With our growing people and technologies, there hasn't been much change in creating processes that scale. A lot of the day is putting out fires for x, y or z client. Still using legacy tech to keep things running for the core product without a foreseeable plan to do a refresh. Everyone is so busy with work that you don't know what people on other teams do. Un-communicated roadmap of the products we build and a lot is customer driven or driven by people who are locked in an ivory tower and focused on the next industry buzz words they hear. Be expected to occasionally put more than 40 hours when times are critical. The perception has been that they will want to bring someone outside than promote from within to mid level management.

Pros

The benefits and pay are good enough to take out of the equation. There is an open vacation policy here which is a big factor in work-life balance and flexibility. Very convenient commute if you live in South Austin (where it seems tech offices end at the river). There are enough snacks to make you gain a few pounds, but you can work it off in the gym, playing ping pong or the pinball machine, or using one of those fancy standing desks (if you're into that sort of thing). The company strikes a good balance of offering fun activities without being over the top or heavy handed about it. At least in the dev group, management knows what it's doing, but I couldn't speak to other departments.

Cons

The business side of the technology is exciting (Cyber data is only growing) but the technology itself is less than exciting. If you're looking for a place to use only the latest adopted technologies, this isn't the place to do it. However, they'll pay you well and won't work you to death, expect you to work ridiculous hours, and there are many good managers looking out for professional development.

Pros

The community here at CSID is not only very bright with a diligent work ethic, but also very personable and welcoming. Since beginning my career at CSID, I have received nothing but acceptance from my fellow employees and enjoy the challenging tasks that everyday brings. CSID has great employee benefits as well! I have been very pleased with my overall experience working here and am excited to see what lies ahead for this great company.

Cons

There are no cons that come to mind. I have had a wonderful experience so far!

Pros

You are valued and kept in the loop with quarterly meetings on how the company is growing and how that benefits you. Tons of room for growth and advancement within the company in either your current department or in other departments. Treated as an individual instead of just an employee.

Cons

Nothing really comes to mind. Ive thought long and hard about what could possibly be a con and all i see or great reasons to continue my success at CSID

Pros

Great compensation, benefits, and growth potential across almost all departments. The majority of senior leadership was incredibly dedicated to their respective teams, and highly intelligent. The work / life balance for most departments was great.

Cons

The niche industry CSID operates within can have a lot of volatility which puts a number of the senior leadership members on edge. Produce enhancement delays were the norm during my time there, but had at least improved dramatically by the time I left. CEO's general lack of integrity, or for that matter presence in the Austin office, was a complete joke.