Pros
I wanted to write a review because I’m so utterly appalled at everything I’ve been reading on this site. Believe me or not, I really don’t care, but I want to make a few things clear right off the bat.
I am NOT a manager at the company.
I was not forced to write this review. No one at the company even suggested I should.
This is my complete and honest opinion of my experience at NetBrain over the past 3 and a half years.
First of all, NetBrain isn’t a perfect company. Not even close. In fact, I would have given the company 4 stars instead of 5 if I thought that its current rating was an accurate reflection of what it’s like to work here. Since it isn’t, I chose to give it an extra star to make up for all of the reviews that are so blatantly an excuse for disgruntled ex-employees to take out all of their vitriol and anger on an otherwise better-than-average company.
In my opinion, all these 1-star reviews that say things like “stay away” and “worst company ever” are no different than an ex-partner going behind your back and saying all kinds of nasty, untrue things about you just because they’re hurt. They blow the worst parts of the relationship out of proportion and completely forget about all the good.
Obviously, since I haven’t been fired from the company, you should take that into consideration when reading my review. But no more and no less than you should consider how/why ex-employees left and how that will affect their reviews.
In almost 4 years at NetBrain I have never once felt belittled, devalued, or unappreciated by anyone in management. That being said, I do think they have to work on their communication with their employees and also find new and better ways of praising and rewarding employees who go above and beyond what’s expected. Annual reviews are consistent and always well organized. But although I’ve been praised in private during these reviews, I think it would also be a nice touch for the company to find a way to praise hard workers in a more public setting as well.
My starting salary wasn’t anything spectacular, but I’m now making more than I ever expected when I was first hired on. As far as work/life balance goes, I also have enough time off to spend my extra money on fun trips with my family. There have been times where management needed me to stay late or come in at the last-minute, but these instances were far fewer than the weeks where I worked as expected and spent my weekends relaxing at home.
I like my colleagues well enough. I get along better with some than others. I’m sure there are people in the office who see everyone as extended family, and I’m sure there are others who would rather work in a window-less room completely alone. I’d say I (and most of my coworkers) are somewhere in between. We don’t have issues with anyone, but we also aren’t trying to be everyone’s best friend.
I think what shocked me the most about all of the negative reviews on here now that I’m actually writing mine out is how much they’ve blown a fairly average company experience out of proportion. I would bet my entire life’s savings that there are FFAAARRR more companies to work for that are worse than NetBrain than there are companies that are better.
When it comes down to it, it’s a great job that I’m good at. I know what to expect. I’m treated with respect. It’s close to where I live and I make enough for my family to live a comfortable life.
Cons
I’ve said everything I need to say.
