IBM

Good company history.

I previously worked at IBM 15 years ago and loved it, but IBM today is 100% different and is just a consulting company.

Good pay.

Good technology, such as Watson.

No job opportunities for developers unless IBM wins contracts.

Too many layers and too much management.

My manager was spread way too thin and did not listen, as they probably did not have the time to listen because they always had to rush through conversations. It was a horrible situation.

The management I had was too busy with too many eggs in their basket to listen. I am a very senior developer and was constantly interrupted and barreled over when providing input and feedback on development that I was an expert in. I chalk this up to the manager having very little time to talk with each employee or team, as they were spread too thinly. Also, I never once won a contract bid on while I was there, and very few members on the team knew much about mobile.

Also, I was slated to start out on one large contract which I was given the impression IBM already had, but IBM had just bid on it. So, I waited the first month to find out IBM lost it. The rest of my tenure (9 months in 2015) was spent trying to find other jobs, many of which had nothing to do with iOS mobile development.

Through my own initiative, I created an iOS AR app prototype for a FEMA customer, but FEMA turned out to have no money. And also, the manager indicated, "We don't normally do these types of iOS prototype efforts." So, I was damned from both sides, as I couldn't find jobs because IBM had none and was winning none. I took the initiative to create a prototype to try and create some work, and the customer had no money, and the manager said we don't normally do this. Just an awkward, horrible experience, and I had previously worked at IBM 15 years ago and loved it. IBM has changed to nothing more than a consulting company, and developers should stay away. There are too many managers and layers getting in the way, and even average developers would get frustrated.

Also, I was told by my manager about an IBM and Apple initiative which our IX iOS mobile group should be very active in, but it turns out only IBM developers in CA work with Apple. Another lie and stretch of the truth. A lot of buzzwords and talk and no action.