Certona Reviews
Updated Apr 11, 2019
- Helpful (4)
"Excellent Technology At the Time"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookNo opinion of CEOI worked at Certona full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
They were definitely leading the pact at that time in regards to a technology running on a neural network, providing clients with the ability to provide customized shopping experiences.
Cons
Having all of your Sales Reps under a Golden Handcuff Policy is a horrible way to try and retain good salespeople. Also, please don't have them selling "vapor ware" to their clients.
Advice to Management
Find a way to cut down on your attrition rates which seem a bit high at this time. Too many layers of management and hopefully you are becoming more proactive and not reactive to the marketplace and your clients.
Certona2018-02-07 "Overall Good"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Certona full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
Laid back environment. Schedules are flexible.
Cons
Disorganized. They need a clear process
Certona2019-04-01- Helpful (2)
"Keep looking"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI have been working at Certona full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
Working with some great people. They know what they are doing.
Cons
Reverse discrimination. Kept out of meetings and discussions because I only speak English. Management was some of the worst I have worked with. Now being acquired and a lot of good talented people being let go just to save money.
Advice to Management
Stop looking at saving money and letting good people go. This causes stress on those left to carry the burden.
Certona2019-04-11 - Helpful (6)
"Great people, weird management, bad business process"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookDisapproves of CEOI have been working at Certona full-time for less than a year
Pros
People and corporate culture are very nice and friendly.
Cons
Company is trying to transition from startup-like operations to a mature business process in a competitive environment. Management however still lives in the good old days and expects sales people to perform the way they did when the industry was at its infancy.
Advice to Management
Build a solid business process and support teams to answer the requirements of competitive environment.
Certona2019-01-09 - Helpful (3)
"Former Certona Employee"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Approves of CEOI worked at Certona full-time
Pros
Great CEO, great product, nice central office location
Cons
Company holds on to managers who bring down employee moral which makes employees want to keep job hunting. Micro managing environment
Advice to Management
Listen to employees more, especially when it's related to management styles and complaints. Re-org, if you have to, so employees feel like they are being heard and their concerns are being addressed.
Certona2018-11-08 - Helpful (10)
"Stay clear if you value culture, fair pay, benefits, and work/life balance"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI have been working at Certona full-time
Pros
The people you work with on a day-to-day are usually great people to interact with.
Cons
- Pay is lower than market average. - NEPITISM. So much of it. I find it extremely difficult to work for a company that prides itself on hiring family members to fill roles regardless of if they're actually qualified for it. - Benefits are garbage. You pretty much only get a choice of HMO unless you want to pay 2.5x the amount for PPO. Combine the complexities of having HMO (endless referral appointments and... clearances) with bare minimum PTO and your plans for work/life balance (aka vacation) are now out the window. Dental and vision coverage are also way better than medical coverage offered. - They claim to offer freebies like a snack closet except 1) people hoard snacks when it's filled, and 2) apparently management complains about how much money is being spent on snacks which can sometimes lead to lighter snack replenishment days. - Work events. The company holds monthly events to encourage socialization of coworkers except these are planned with a school lunch budget, but these events come off as placating. It feels more like a box that management can check off to say they did something rather than actually doing stuff employees want to do.
Show MoreAdvice to Management
I would say "listen to your employees" but we all know that's easier said than done. What really needs to be done is to clean house. Hire leaders, not managers. Think about product scalability rather than digging your heels in every time someone tells you something is outdated and awful. Stop being petty and condescending to your team (and in some cases, sexist). Promote collaboration. Promote communication. Be... respectful to all, not just those in your "position" or "standing." Stop hiring family members unless they're actually qualified. Say hello to everyone you come into contact with. The higher up you are, the more responsibility you should have including making everyone feel valued and welcomed. The higher up you are, the more visible your actions are and should be and not hidden behind closed doors.
Show MoreCertona2018-09-17 "Certona Rocks!"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Certona full-time
Pros
Great place to work, they are leaders!
Cons
Benefits are not the best
Certona2018-05-18- Helpful (9)
"Great Technology -- lack of proper management and focus"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI worked at Certona full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
Snack cupboard gets filled on thursday Good technology when it is working. Honest and fair subset of employees who help each other without question.
Cons
Pay scale is far below average for comparable positions. With no org chart or defined responsibilities between groups, the technical side of the company is chaotic at best. Annual reviews are always months late, only delivered orally and not available in written form. Toxic work environment where favored employees are allowed to demean and belittle others in email and at meetings repeatedly. Being the victim... of these unrelenting and management ignored attacks is my primary reason for leaving. Overall poor work environment leads to tremendous turnover and low morale.
Show MoreAdvice to Management
Fix the toxic environment by reigning in the long term employees whose actions are cruel and divisive. Spend time on what matters -- no amount of snacks in the cupboard or puzzles in the lunchroom can counterbalance the lack of leadership, sloppy managerial oversight, or fuzzy focus. Spending millions on an office to make it look like a coffee shop lounge while keeping wages far below industry standard and giving... tiny raises sends the wrong message about what is important.
Show MoreCertona2018-04-15 - Helpful (1)
"Account Manager"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI worked at Certona full-time for more than a year
Pros
Amazing co-workers, smart and innovative and so, so, SO helpful in every capacity Solid product, leader in the space and has great momentum Growth opportunity, learn new things every single day
Cons
Pay could be better for the workload but is comparable to other positions in San Diego Culture can be improved, it's made huge strides in the last 2 years but to continue to retain talent, keep employees more balanced in work and perks
Certona2017-12-21 - Helpful (9)
"Stay clear!!"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI worked at Certona full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
It's a paycheck until they take it away with no reason!
Cons
Management has no clue what they are doing! They are currently clearing out the current operations team, who built them up and got them to where they are, in favor of their own custom built teams with the same experience of not less! They do not care about the employee and there is zero career advancement opportunities here. Do your career a favor and look elsewhere. They are about to become a sinking ship.
Advice to Management
Clean out the operations management team! They are severely inexperienced and will be the demise of the company. Your employee is your life line. Treat them that way!!
Certona2017-12-29