Pros: Flexible timings Job security Lots of projects Diverse technologies

Cons: Get ready to be screwed if your manager is not good.

Pros: Opportunities to move around within a global organization (they actively encourage technical staff to consider moving to China, India, or Africa). They encourage patent invention and intellectual IP.

Cons: They have lost their way. Senior management encourages a message of "client first." Yet they have slashed staffing to way beyond the ability to create, deliver, market, and train products of quality to their customers. Research and engineering employees who truly believe in doing a great job no longer have the ability to do so. IBM is aggressively moving towards cloud/big data technologies but is trying to do so with little investment. "Do more with less" is fine and sometimes a reality. But "do more with less" for years, with less benefits and no work-life balance, is not sustainable.

Pros: Innovative people, flexible work schedules, chances to work on cool technology, and depending on your location, the ability to have a "one stop shop" of software, hardware, and services guys all in the same company and room.

Cons: The sheer size of the organization makes each VP operate like its own company, making them fiercely protective of budget and people. This squashes chances for growth at a personal level. Smart and innovative people are leaving for other companies, and the remaining people are struggling to contain the work. Managers are even leaving now for other opportunities. Cost cutting has eliminated many perks and even cut retirement plans (see IBM's recent change in 401k match contributions). Overall morale is low.