Emerging leader in competitive intelligence industry - Anonymous employee Cipher Systems Employee Review

5.0
30 Dec 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

During the course of 2014, Cipher’s new management team has taken the company in a positive direction. Over the past 12 months, there has been a significant improvement in terms of both the overall vibe and corporate culture, helped in large measure by a shared sense that the company is expanding its capabilities and offerings in a sustainable, deliberate, and logical fashion, and that all employees are stakeholders in that journey. Employees greatly appreciate the efforts taken by management to convey strategic vision and direction, and to shape a culture where all employees feel like they have a stake in the company's future -- as opposed to simply coming to work to "do their job". A motivated self-starter would thrive at Cipher. Work-life balance is a popular (and appreciated) aspect of the corporate culture, with flexible work hours and the potential (when feasible and appropriate) for working from home/remotely. Dress code is business casual, other than for client meetings. Employees sometimes bring their dog to work. Headquartered on the outskirts of Annapolis, Cipher’s location is ideal for employees in the southern MD-DC-northern VA area who prefer not having to deal with the stress of driving into (and parking in) DC. Parking is ample, and free.

Cons

Too many nearby, and excellent, restaurant choices for lunch! (Gained 10+ pounds during the first year at Cipher.)

Explore other reviews about Cipher Systems

5.0
25 June 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great coworkers and office perks.

Cons

Company needs to strategize better to keep business.

1.0
22 Dec 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nothing really to mention. Might be good commute if you live in Annapolis otherwise get ready for horrible ride to Annapolis.

Cons

If you haven't encountered favoritism in the workplace yet in your career, look no further than Cipher. Brand new upper management, slowly started bringing in (and they continue to trickle in) his buddies from his previous employer, those only are the cream of the crop according to new management, the Elite group if you will, regardless if they are skilled or not. Then there is the regular Cipher employees. If you are among those, prepare yourself to be invisible. It doesn't matter that you possess a solid skill set, if you're hard working, smart, and loyal to the company and its mission, your efforts will be brushed under the rug. If you are among the Elite and decide to leave the company however, management will fight for you to stay, they will negotiate with you for a higher salary all in an effort to make you reconsider. People have come and gone since I started this job, more left than came in. Not once did I hear management say anything other than "It was probably for the best" about a person's departure. What a superb statement to say to your existing employees, a real morale booster! I sat in one of those meetings and thought to myself "Is he going to say the same about me when I leave?" By the way, please disregard the reviews below. Management asked employees nicely to write "positive" reviews to enhance the image of the company.

3
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Cipher Systems Response
10y
Thank you for your feedback. We value all feedback and we continuously strive for improvement. The past year has definitely seen some changes as we continue to transition to what I believe is the next phase in our growth plan. Change is often hard, but these efforts are already resulting in opportunities for employees to grow, learn, and succeed. Communication, as we grow, is one of my highest priorities and I am always looking for ways to improve in this area. Additionally, we encourage all employees to leave honest reviews here on Glassdoor and other sites. This is a great way to get the true Cipher experience represented in an anonymous forum. This is also a great opportunity for us to improve, as well as an opportunity for our employees to share their authentic opinions and even help attract their future coworkers. If you would like to share more about your experience, please email info@cipher-sys.com so that we can set-up a time to talk. Our shared goal is to make Cipher the best we have ever worked, so I appreciate your feedback as it helps us continue to work towards that goal. I wish you nothing but the best in your future endeavors. Sincerely, Pete Grimm Managing Director
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