Company: IBM
Date: 2011-01-20
Overall rating: 2/5
Employment status: current

Don't go there
Pros: Good training, good methodology.  Quite a lot of flexibility.
Cons: IBM are keen to outsource as many jobs as possible in order to maximise profits.  As an employye its extremely frustrating, for example this week we received an email from management saying that the 4th qurater results were fantastic, with record profts and earnings per share of 16%, yet I haven't had a pay rise for the past 5 years, and it is the same for most of my colleagues.  Every year the same thing happens, its like they're trying to frustrate us into quitting.  

The company is geared up for financial performance, but as an employee you'll get very little in the way of salary and benefits, but a heck of a lot in the way of work, pressure, unusable tools, and reporting procedures that add to an already heavy workload.

I have spoken to a lot of employees around the world, and my advice to you would depend on where you live:

If you're in the US or Europe you'd probably be better off avoiding IBM, but try to check first with local employees as a lot depends on your role and the department you work for.

If you're in a developing country, it might be worth starting at IBM to get the training, then leaving to get a better paid job elsewhere.  I have heard from colleagues in India that IBM pay well below market rates there, but its not bad for starting out as its a good calling card on the resume and the training will come in useful.