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No job security - no loyalty

IT Applications Architect
Current Employee
Has worked at IBM for 20 years
October 21, 2019
2.0
Doesn't RecommendDoesn't Approve of CEO
Pros

Good breath of technology. Decent benefits.

Cons

IBM has ZERO loyalty to its employees, particularly in the US.

Work goes offshore -> fire US employee. Cheaper out-of-college resources available -> fire US employee.

Also, as documented in various lawsuits and industry articles, if you are over 40, there is a target on your head. You work hard and get good reviews throughout your career so that you reach a decent salary band. Great, right? Wrong. Because now you are too expensive for IBM to make a good profit margin, so you are a top candidate for one of the many Resource Actions. That's when there is an arbitrary order from the top for managers to cut a certain percentage of people above a certain band.

For the record, I'm still employed by IBM and managed to survive many rounds of cuts. But I have absolutely no illusions that my job is safe.

If you are young and need a relatively low starting salary, IBM is probably hiring across all fronts, so you can make a quick buck. But if you're interested in starting at a company where you can grow, look elsewhere.

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