Company: IBM
Date: 2014-05-20
Overall rating: 3/5
Employment status: current
Experience level: Confirmed

"It was the best of times...it was the worst of times..."
Pros: Solid structure, assistance with everything from personal issues, to taxes/finances, to you name it.  Big Dog on the porch.  IBM's RA's, ("Resource Actions"...otherwise known as firing frenzies or layoff cycles...) do, at some times, get rid of the ash and trash.  And that's a good thing.  Good benefits.  Casual environment.  Fairly flexible in terms of personal needs (time off, work from home, etc.)
Cons: Easy to get lost.  Not supportive of the individual consultant all that much.  Tough to establish a personal network...took me well into my 5th year here to really establish a network of associate partners and partners that I could really trust...and were genuinely helpful...and seemed as if they were honestly looking out for my best interests.  Still feel like a 'contractor' to IBM, even though I am a full time employee.  Waaaay too many 'offshore resources' here in the USA.  Have received various bonuses since my arrival her 6 years ago, but year to year, I've received ZERO base salary increase.  Internal managers (the folks who rate you annually) seem randomly selected (at best), and most have zero leadership skills.  Pushing too much infrastructure off-shore to folks who struggle with common business practices (and the English language.)