A once great firm still trying to find itself again - Anonymous employee Jacobs Employee Review

2.0
17 Jan 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

This is a global company so you can get the opportunity to work on projects literally anywhere in the world and applying some cutting edge designs. There are benefits but you need to dig around to find some such as the Jacobs staff discount available for new car purchases from particularly dealerships.

Cons

The travel policy changes depending on whatever deal Jacobs has forged with their global partners, e.g. a sudden change from Qantas as preferred to do not use and forcing all employees to use AMEX, in order to generate rewards for senior management, AMEX is not accepted widely in Australia so employees need to use their own cards to pay and then run the gauntlet to get reimbursed. The spot bonuses are a joke and only go to whoever the managers like not the real performers. Career advancement is even more linked to relationships that performance. They have an anual performance review where the managers make employees set stretch targets but even if you reach them there is no financial bonus... annual raises are again at the managements discretion (don't believe it is linked to the market). If you are technically minded and want to go far in your career go somewhere else, if you are great at sales then you'll probably love it. Unfortunately many of the managers now are there because they are good at refining budgets as opposed to great at managing people and projects , some don't even have any technical skills related to the teams they oversee so don't even understand what their teams are doing.

Explore other reviews about Jacobs

5.0
27 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Work life balance, compensation, access to managers, company culture

Cons

None, the company is fantastic

5.0
15 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great work-life balance, especially if you’re a hard worker and employer can see that.

Cons

Colleague competition, which tends to happen at larger firms

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