CDW Reviews

Pros

CDW is Genuine - CDW may have 10k employees but when you get sincere, thoughtful emails from the CEO Chris Leahy, about solidarity standing against AAPI hate, standing up for LGBT rights, acknowledging coworker hardships and effects of COVID. Whether it's standing up for employee rights, recognizing employee contributions, or providing financial rewards, I see that CDW truly cares. CDW Strives to do and be better - CDW is constantly innovating, acquiring companies to broaden and improve their offerings, being introspective about new capabilities, and encouraging employees to achieve goals that further the company's mission.

Cons

Hard-working culture - Work/life balance can suffer at the expense of serving its customers Territorial sales reps - Some reps want so badly to provide a customer a solution, due dilligence and measured approach sometimes fall by the wayside

Pros

CDW treats everyone with respect. The company clearly values the employees who maintain the business and they show this in a variety of ways. This is reflected in a regular bonus structure and occasionally surprise fiscal incentives, but it goes so far beyond that. As a CDW employee I was proactively sent face-masks and hand sanitizer at the beginning of the pandemic, as was every other CDW employee. I am often alerted of dangerous situations in the city I reside due to our Global Security Operations Center. These are but a few examples, but the company clearly cares for my success, as well as the safety of me and my family. It is very easy to feel appreciated and to take great pride in working for such a company.

Cons

While this may sound cliché, I do not really have any cons. You could say “we work hard at CDW” which is true, but I do not view this as a con. My one and only con was quickly dismissed and shows the caliber of our character as a company. We do NOT get a lot of holidays in any given calendar year. I believed this to be a con until I learned that we do not have many holidays because our warehouses do not have many holidays. Since our warehouses are such an instrumental part of our founding/offerings, it’s only right that the company as a whole show their solidarity by maintaining the same holiday schedule.

Pros

-CDW ServiceNow Solutions (formerly Aptris) has some great people working there. -Management for Dev team encourages professional development -Team overall tries to be very supportive and do what they can to make this a good place to work -Remote work and no travel for Developers

Cons

-Cheap on Salary, PTO, Holidays (day after Thanksgiving is a work day). In my initial interview I was asked what pay I expected, and they said my range was okay. When it came time for the offer, they offered 20k less and it was non-negotiable and completely under market rate. PTO was also non-negotiable, and is so low its illegal in some civilized countries. -It's a Professional Services job no matter what way you slice it, and I was sold on minimal customer interaction, which ended up being false. -Many of my coworkers were working 60+hr weeks, not very attractive for climbing the ladder if you value your life outside of work

Pros

CDW sells everything, so you can approach customers with a consultative approach, instead of a pure sales approach. It's about the customer needs on their timeline. Not some Mfg's product and their sales goals

Cons

Conservative East coast company that can be slow to adapt and feels union'ish. 15-20+ year veterans have zero incentive to do more than the absolute min.

Pros

Fully remote, with great developers and consultants. Some teams are amazing.

Cons

Corporate culture is aspirational, not actualized. Some project leads and managers will not communicate directly, so listen closely and trust your gut. Find the team you fit in with and stick with them. The culture of "early confrontation" leads to bullying by toxic high performers who cover their mistakes by blaming junior employees. When the company was Aptris, the office was filled with religious propaganda. Not for everyone.

Pros

From outside looking in, it’s a successful company. Leadership seemed to be doing a good job with stock holders on ROI

Cons

A culture of long term employees resent new employees and bullying is the trend. They would play preemptive strikes, Monday morning quarterback to intimidate . This is how they hold the company hostage for job security

Pros

Free food from vendors during lunch and learns

Cons

As a salesperson expect to be asked to make minimum 60 cold calls a day like a telemarketing firm. In Canada you will be working for 32.5k base, unlimited commission. However you will have little to no support from your managers in making sales. 50% of the 18 sales reps hired at the same time as me ended up quitting within 6 months and 90% leaving within 2 years. The academy or training managers would tap your desk to encourage you to make cold calls and even force the headset onto your head or shake your chair. They often take you into 1:1s during training where they tell new employees they "will not make it" unless they work overtime for no pay. The hours are 8am to 5pm but you will be asked why you are leaving at 5pm during training. In Canada you must swipe in everyday at 8am and ensure you are not late, there is no honor system. Your lunch hour is taken by vendor lunch and learns, where you listen to endless sales pitches from vendors who pay CDW to be there and take up your lunch hour. I highly recommend you avoid this company unless you need 1 to 1.5 years of experience before moving on.