Company: IBM
Date: 2014-09-06
Overall rating: 3/5
Employment status: former
Experience level: Confirmed

Big Company, Consulting Division Employees Disposable
Pros: Good benefits, great place to start a career, opportunities to work for and impact fortune 500 companies through consulting services if you can build up a reputation where managers are willing to bring you on multiple projects.  Great resume builder.  If you can land the right project/client you will work with nice colleagues and maintain a manageable balance/travel schedule.
Cons: High burn-out rate, very limited training on solutions or methodologies for which you are labeled as experienced or experts in for your clients, limited opportunities for advancement without getting the right type of project experience and exposure with partners.  Big blue can replace you with a new grad in an instant.  Long-term retention and grooming isn't the goal in the consulting arm.  But that's consulting for you.  Many times your ability to get promoted is based on how well your manager can vouch for you in the annual reviews in addition to your utilization.  It may be rare that you've ever met, worked with, or seen your manager.  Work life/balance depends entirely on the management of your individual projects.  I worked on projects that required 12 hours days on client site and weekend hours/conference calls.  Some of my projects were in the realm of extremely unhealthy - no balance whatsoever.  I found trouble projects to be common due to poorly written contracts and our delivery on our promises.  IBM had to throw consultants at troubled projects, at any expense to their employees well-being.  I've also been placed on some of the most successfully run, long term projects and it's a different world.  It's the luck of the draw and it depends entirely on factors you can't really control.  A good network can help you navigate.