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Not the firm it used to be. Went from "Consultant of Choice" to choosing to get rid of half of its clients - Senior Project Manager Atkins Employee Review

2.0
Sep 13, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Atkins is great at recruiting (though poor at retention), so you are surrounded by highly skilled coworkers with great resumes. Their great resumes mean they can win and you can work on some once in a lifetime projects. The poor at retention aspect means you will have opportunities to step into leadership rolls on projects that you would not get at most other firms. Beware of getting tagged with the clients' dissatisfaction over staff departures though (it's hard to make a client happy when they are on their third or fourth project manager).

Cons

In order to meet the profit margins promised to its stockholders, Atkins is transitioning to a firm that only serves big clients or mega projects. Atkins is dropping its smaller clients by the 100's. If your specialty is big or even "mega" clients, Atkins is the place for you. If not, use opportunities from the high staff turnover to build your resume. But get out before you get the reputation of not being able to deliver finished projects to the client's satisfaction (because your project team members keep leaving). Find yourself a niche at Atkins where you can bill 40 hours a week to one project or client will keep you from suffering the weekly conversations about being more billable.

Explore other reviews about Atkins

5.0
Oct 13, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

A lot of work to be done Many opportunities to try different things

Cons

Advancement can be hard Working alongside underperformers

2.0
Nov 17, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Job and a paycheck but in a house of cards.

Cons

Wow, be careful! Atkins North America was acquired when Atkins in London bought a notorious US engineering based in Florida, PBS&J (Post, Buckley, Shuh and Jernigan). I didn't do enough research when hired and found out too late I was working for a company that has been prosecuted multiple times for serious illegalities, and some of the executives who participated but escaped prosecution are still there! PBS&J has been indicted for bribing government officials, illegal campaign contributions, and was a private company put on the chopping blocks to sell for being so poorly managed when several of the employees embezzled millions upon millions of dollars. As recent as 2016 the company was struggling financially because of legal costs and fines to the extent the focus became finishing out existing contracts rather than procuring new ones...an indicator they do not want new business and are likely to chop off the US engineering wing and spin those employees out to another company. Do your research before accepting a job there, the good old boy network that didn't previously get caught or prosecuted in the illegalities is still working there, and they haven't changed much in being secretive about what they are doing!! Get everything in writing as they are all about the bait and switch.

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