No chance of advancement. Ever. - Computer Services Specialist II Fermilab Employee Review

1.0
7 Jan 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Casual work environment. When there was funding, the work was interesting. Looks good on a resume - if you want to work here, don't plan to stay long. I'd recommend 2 years, max (if it remains open that long).

Cons

Questionable future - US Department of Energy funding has decreased over the past several years. Annual layoffs are now the norm. Lots of fiefdoms and horrible internal politics. Once you're labeled, it is VERY HARD to advance professionally. Upper management (i.e., the CIO) spends more time on re-orgs and seating arrangements than following through on major projects, several of which have failed miserably, and yet she still remains. In the "real world" an underperforming CIO would get ousted for this sort of poor performance. The average employee age is over 57. Many, many people are biding their time until retirement and are viciously clinging to their jobs. That is to say, these people only have their own best interest in mind and won't exert any effort to help another person grow professionally. Performance reviews are a joke. Sexual, racial, and other types of discrimination is not unheard of.

Explore other reviews about Fermilab

5.0
11 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

best working environment I have ever worked

Cons

There are no cons for this.

2.0
30 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

It is a place with strong potential, good technical infrastructure, and a beautiful natural setting. It offers a diverse mix of people and professions, and it typically provides more stability and flexibility than industry, along with a fair salary.

Cons

Professionals outside the physics discipline are often not given full recognition as subject-matter experts in their own fields and are frequently overridden by individuals in senior or privileged positions. In many cases, decisions are driven more by influence, convenience, or personal preference than by operational needs or technical best practices. As a result, non-physicist professionals may be relegated to routine or less desirable tasks, while higher-visibility projects and decision-making responsibilities are concentrated elsewhere. Basicaly non-physicist professionals are hired to support or maintain systems that were implemented without sufficient planning or domain expertise, leaving significant room for improvement. This dynamic can lead to underutilization of specialized talent, reduced efficiency, operational challenges, frustration among staff, and, over time, burnout. Definitively not a good place to work for non-physicist professionals. NOTE: The actual CEO is Norbert Holtkamp

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