Former Employee - Senior IT Specialist, Microsoft Practice in Cincinnati, OH
Former Employee - Senior IT Specialist, Microsoft Practice in Cincinnati, OH
Doesn't Recommend
Negative Outlook
No opinion of CEO
Pros
You will meet amazing people from all over the world. If you love being a road warrior, this is the organization for you. Airfare is always economy, car rentals are always Hertz, lots of hotel options are negotiated rates. Loads of IBM-related discounts. MacBooks are now being issued to consultants, for those who prefer Apple to Lenova. Many, many, many well-defined business processes and supporting IT systems.
Cons
Must meet billing targets to remain employed. 44 hrs/week is typical, although everyone actually puts in closer to 60 hrs/week of effort. Seriously - you may be a rockstar in all ways measureable, but if you miss your billing utilization target, expect a negative review. Must be willing to use Lotus Notes. Got kids? You might want to wait until they're in college before joining Big Blue, assuming you actually want to particpate in their childhood...
Advice to Management
The "up or out" mentality that prevades the endless layers of management has cost IBM many extraordinary IT professionals.
Good people to work with, great working atmosphere, nice starting job for experience.
Cons
Company lies regarding career development and salary growth. Let me warn you, once you enter with your base salary it will NEVER EVER change. They will tell you any excuse (freeze, low profit, etc) and in the meantime they will suck all your experience and skills.
My advise, if you are an average joe, fresher. Join to learn some minor experience and leave after 1 year. If instead you are a senior, ask for high expectations as they will never change that later, if they refuse it is because they were already lying at you and are trying to scam seniors for low budget for low position works.
Advice to Management
Stop giving false promises (regarding career growth) when later you simply jump out to other departments. Anyway, I know you won't do it because you are instructed to lie as to keep your employees.
Former Employee - Principal Datacenter and Cloud Specialty Seller in Cincinnati, OH
Former Employee - Principal Datacenter and Cloud Specialty Seller in Cincinnati, OH
Recommends
Negative Outlook
Disapproves of CEO
I worked at IBM full-time (More than 5 years)
Pros
Great brand name. Nothing works better than to have a brand name that everyone knows and a reputation of finishing the work regardless of the price even if they loose money.
Cons
1st line managers only last about a year so you get a new boss every year. I had 8 in 7 years. One boss had me as an employee and we never met each other. You get the feeling that your not part of a family you are only a number. They will never pay for training to keep you qualified for your job.
Advice to Management
Employees are people too. All people desire to feel needed and important at their job. IBM is too focused on Wall Street and manages a 9 month sales cycle weekly. Do you really expect something to change every week?
IBM Response
Jan 4, 2017 – Program Consultant - IBMer Engagement
Thank you for your input. We are happy to hear you had such a positive experience with IBM!