IBM

Constantly working with experienced, very talented engineers. Constantly working with bleeding-edge technology. Ability to work from the office or from home in a very flexible way. Numerous offices throughout the US, so transfer/relocation is easily doable.

Be careful: when interviewing college-level candidates, IBM will advertise a 'potential' bonus as part of your base salary, making it seem like you are being offered more.

IBM considers two factors when determining your yearly bonus:

• Was IBM profitable?
• Did IBM meet its own projected financial targets?

That way, when IBM does poorly, your bonus will be negatively affected by the first factor. When IBM does well, your bonus will be negatively affected by the second factor. Historically, IBM will always over-project its financials, so the second factor will always be in effect.

IBM's goal for salary is to be "competitive." So, given the industry's salary range for a particular position, their goal is to pay you at the 50% mark of that range. That is their 'goal,' which means you will typically get paid in the 40% (or lower) mark with small yearly increases to slowly move you towards that 50% mark.

Summary: IBM is definitely a company you would want to invest in, but not necessarily a company you'd want to work for.

Fresh, younger talent is going elsewhere. The majority of your professional employees have vested 15+ years, and once they're gone...