Barrick Goldstrike Reviews

Lack of advancement opportunities in some areas unless you're into the schmoozing, and bureaucratic brown-nosing. Too often I saw people from outside the company hired to fill upper positions, when lower individuals with the experience and skills were already present, and looking for advancement. I know of at least 4 instances in my time where the people brought in from outside were less experienced, or less knowledgeable than the individuals they were supposed to supervise, and the underlings had to train the supervisors to do their jobs. Some of those people brought in then did no work, little work, or bad work, and left, leaving the underlings to clean up, and get passed over again for yet another outside person to take over. Sometimes it worked out, but sometimes it didn't. There is also a lot of Corporate oversight, and micromanagement. Many driving targets dictated by corporate "you will budget for this, and you will do this" even if infrastructure, manpower, equipment etc isn't available. Dictates of target tons, grade, ounces, no matter what the ore body can support, or evidence of same in the modeling. Created a lot of additional stress, trying to "make the magic happen" and save the bottom line for other projects within the company.

Senior management was not willing to address the issues that existed within their own ranks. There was little understanding of the concept of "the right person for the right job." The hours were long with little recognition for accomplishments. Also do not count on career advancement unles you make the opportunities happen for yourself.