Taro Logo

Growth But Annoying Stack Ranking

VP-Technology
Former Employee
Worked at Capital One for 20 years
March 10, 2023
McLean, Virginia
4.0
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEO
Pros

Pay is decent, as is work-life balance. During my time there (10+ years), the organization continued to improve and evolve. Generally speaking, toxic people aren't tolerated for long, although some can hide it better or longer than others. It's still a founder-led company with a very distinct culture. Talent level is high across the company. I would recommend.

Cons

The performance management process encourages stack ranking within organizations. If you're on a very high-performing team, you may be rated as average compared to your peers, even if you'd be a rock star on a different team. The projects you work on and how well liked you are are big factors in things like promotion.

If you're a brilliant jerk, expect a lot of coaching. If you're a brilliant jerk who can't be coached, expect to find the door within two years. If you can accept coaching, it's a good place to grow.

Advice to Management

Do better at teaching new folks culture. In my opinion, this slipped over my time there and it made a difference. Also, update that performance management system; make team goals part of how people are rated. Spend more time explaining why.

Additional Ratings

Work/Life Balance
5.0
Culture and Values
5.0
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
4.0
Career Opportunities
4.0
Compensation and Benefits
4.0
Senior Management
5.0

Was this helpful?

Capital One Interview Experiences