Company: IBM
Date: 2011-06-03
Overall rating: 2/5
Employment status: current

Still good name - but company culture is declining
Pros: IBM Research has a very good reputation and therefore it is might be good to have it on your CV. Especially starting a career it might be worth to give the company a chance. 

There are good and smart people with which you can work. Depending on the are you might also find interesting projects to work on.
Cons: The major issue with the company is that they are heavily saving on the worst things you can save which makes the work environment not fun. If they would just increase the spending a little bit it would be a real great place.

Office Location - in the middle of nowhere with no public transportation (you NEED a car)

Office Building - Worn out, small cubical like offices without windows (!). Be prepared that you won't see daylight until you get promoted which seems to be something like after 5 to 10 years :-)

Cafeteria - Bad quality and overpriced. IBM does not sponsor anything - you even have to buy your coffee - which you can get until 3.30pm - after that good luck in surviving the rest of the day as there is no infrastructure around that place!

Office Material - This is the "bring your own office materials" cost cutting thinking - seriously!

Hardware - Depends on the funding of projects - but in general I made the observation that people buy hardware from their own money (!) to accomplish their work! I seriously never saw something like that in a company! 

Company Activities, Teambuilding, ... - Yes - you can join the parties over a webcam and sometimes they give you a cup of free coffee to enjoy yourself!