My first feeling after being laid off? RELIEF!
Pros
- Nice cubicles - My manager at least tried to give me a productive work experience - I made some good friends and contacts, but the company does not have a right to claim credit for this.
Cons
- Terrible company with terrible leadership - Old, outdated technology - Crappy compensation. Raises and bonuses are at worst nonexistent, and at best insulting - Vicious political system - This company truly does deserve a 1-star rating on everything listed below: Career Opportunities, Compensation, Work/Life balance, Senior Management, and their laughable 'Culture & Values' - As stated in the title.... The day I was laid off from this company was the best day I ever had with them. Although I had some good career moments while working, I'd never felt utter joy like how I did when I was laid off. I didn't think layoffs were supposed to feel this good but as soon as the CEO said 'You are all experiencing workforce reduction,' I immediately felt 20 lbs lighter. We were let go by around noon, so I got a nice half day back to myself. Their layoff/career placement program was also a joke. My boss also called everyone else in our department to a 3 hour meeting while employees were being laid off, so I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to my coworkers/friends. As karma would have it, my boss got the boot himself a few months later. - This is a warning to recent graduates..... This company preys on fresh college graduates who have no work experience and just don't know any better about corporate America. I should've realized this when they offered me a HIGHER salary than my initial offer, but I just couldn't have known better while so young and inexperienced. They will also force you to do development in a proprietary language that is ancient and full of errors/inconsistencies. I believe part of this is to deprive you of skills that are transferrable to other jobs so that you are forced to stay working at ARGO for longer. I remember very clearly the desperation I felt in trying to find a job as soon as I finished college. I gave in to pressure from my parents, mentors, and career counselors to take the first job that came close to my salary requirements. This turned out to be a very fatal mistake on my part. I suppose you could frame it as a positive that I was able to survive at such a vicious company for so long, but this is not the way to harden yourself and to become stronger as a person. Look up 'bonded labor,' and you will start to understand ARGO's recruiting process. They will lure you in with promises of developing software for large banks, and will do their darndest to trap you there. Furthermore, there is a good chance that working here will sour your opinion of working overall. A paycheck is not worth your soul, so don't make this mistake. There are also (quite credible) rumors that the movie 'Office Space' was based on this company. Don't be unlucky enough to find out for real.
