IBM FAQ

Pros

You get to switch project/products every 3 or 4 years, depending on what is trending. The projects loosely follow Agile methodologies. Saying you know Agile and GIT is a plus. Benefits are good, more options for medical insurances, IBM lags behind on onsite perks like free food, but it is trying to entice new blood to join, so there is a lot of new-hire benefits and events.

Cons

When there is layoffs, which comes every other year, it is more important to be in good terms with your management and being in the right product in the right work location. Else the layoffs come regardless of your skills. Below average salary once you've been in the company 5 years. Bad business decisions leads to layoffs. Agile methodologies means there is zero downtime between the product releases.

Pros

good benefits, WFH privilege, has card and dental and insurance

Cons

stagnant at certain towers, no team building in certain LOB

Advice to Management

look for more ways to be competitive with regards to salary and benefits. Also, promote band elevation in all LOB's

Pros

Working at IBM you're always (if you're in the right group) surrounded by smart people who can teach you a lot - about tech, running projects, and turning projects around. The WLB is also good, and direct management definitely seems to care about you as a person.

Cons

There is a culture of mediocrity (slow and steady would be the nicer way to put it), that seems leftover from the old days when 30 years at IBM guaranteed you a full pension. For the most part, managers seem surprised when you ask what it takes to get promoted quickly. It's hard to get straight answers, and frequently the manager who gave you advice winds up leaving by the time they suggested you get promoted.

Advice to Management

Make it crystal clear what is expected from each band level, and what a consultant has to do to get promoted. Transparency is helpful, so better yet publish standard salary ranges for each band too (ignoring outliers, like 15 YOE band 8's). If you want to keep top performers around, you need to compensate them properly, and make the career growth path visible.

Pros

flexible work time, ever changing, ever learning, excellent manager training creating some of the best 1st line managers out there, forefront of office technology, near unlimited potential to change careers and still remain with IBM, top COVID-19 response and care, medicare, life insurance, lots of discounts, impactful employee appreciation, mental healthcare, above average well being programs, embraced working from home, supports parents with more flexible time and healthcare, benefits extend to family and household members (no need to be married to enroll partner into benefits), top of the line teaming events and efforts, LGBTX inclusion, open support for racial and gender equality, openness about social justice, volunteering by employees is encouraged and supported, comprehensive personal growth goals and education paths.

Cons

lower than average salary for expert professionals, budget issues,

Advice to Management

keep it clean, open and transparent :)

Pros

Many perks and benefits including health insurance

Cons

Micromanagement, time consuming for every release.

Advice to Management

Care more about your workers and your workers will do more for you.