Love/Hate Relationship - Software Developer General Motors (GM) Employee Review

3.0
24 May 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I want to preface everything I say here by saying that GM IT is very large and diverse. The experience that one person has isn't the experience that other people will have because it will defer from manager to manager. GM IT is still relatively new. A few years back they hired thousands of people all at once, and there were some real growing pains. It's getting better, but there's definitely still room to grow. Because GM is an old car manufacturer people assume that the IT environment here is very formal. It's not. It doesn't have the techy environment that you see from typical large software shops like Google. There is a bit of a balance. Very relaxed working environment. The work life balance here really can't be matched. Again this depends on the team you are on, but for the most part work life balance seems to be what people like about here the most. The health insurance is good. You get some money on your HSA card every year for a physical. They do pay a few thousand per year for education reimbursement. Which is nice if you decide to go to grad school.

Cons

I came in as a college hire. When the company hired all the people at once there was no real vetting process. It was as if they hired anyone that can turn on a computer. Over the years these people have stuck around. It can be really frustrating to work with these people. What makes this more frustrating is that the company has a lack of opportunities for raises and promotions. So it doesn't seem to matter if you work hard or if you spend all day chilling. You will be compensated the same and given the same raise. This may be a positive for people who just want to show up at work and collect a pay check. But it stops people from going out and being ambitious and excelling at work. Because the company doesn't promote or provide opportunities for upwards mobility all of the good talent tends to leave for companies that do give these opportunities. These people are either never replaced or replaced with college hires. As a company we really should be doing a better job of retaining the good talent and letting the bottom people go elsewhere. However it seems to be the opposite. So I'm not looking forward to what GM IT will look like in a few years. The last thing I will say. The salary isn't great. I would say it's at the bottom level of competitive. Like if a competitive salary in the area is between $x-$y then GM is paying you $x on the dot.

Explore other reviews about General Motors (GM)

5.0
6 July 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great work life balance and benefits. People leaders have been great in my experience. Good mentorship opportunities and career options.

Cons

Performance based culture has a direct impact on bonus and pay raises. Creates a competitive workplace environment. Great for high performers, but major downside for low performers. Career advancement is very competitive given the large company nature

2.0
4 July 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Benefits are decent……. IF you survive

Cons

Can name a few… 1. Poor leadership who hire their buddies and promote them into management level without any sense of technical or automotive knowledge 2. Lack of promotions or opportunities to move internally. If you are starting your career or mid way wanting growth. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE! YOU ARE A NUMBER! (Example, ask all the QA folks who got sacked while their managers got moved around into different roles and engineering manager roles? Not sure how that works but ok 3. Let’s talk about the business now. Leadership doesn’t care if you know or understand the business. This automotive industry is dying. They try to copy Tesla and Mary and leadership can not get the world Tesla out of their mouth. Let’s focus more on autonomy please and not trying to be like someone else…. 4. Stacking raking kills. I understand GM is a business and not a scalable one but that’s not because of the business… it’s because of the people leadership keeps deciding to keep and fire. Ffs get rid of Lowell Kercheville and Stacy Lynett. Both have done no good for either company and neither has their leaders under them. Mhmmm coincidence?

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