Your experience will be dependent on the quality and management style of your direct manager. I've had the opportunity to work with several and it spans the range of experiences and your future success or longevity at Bose will partially be at their hand. A lean, flat organization is how they roll, not much room for growth unless someone leaves or the company undergoes a reorganization (happening now in 2015) or generates significant sales growth (which hasn't happened since the '80s). You'll be asked to learn and develop new skills in your current role as a way to keep you motivated and focused on the fact you haven't been able to get promoted. Work load and performance expectations also increase with each year in the same role. When the economic conditions change and fortunes/sales shift, the company has no hesitation to make sweeping changes they feel necessary for their survival. Be prepared to find new work if your department or position is suddenly eliminated. There's no guarantee of job security or public awareness of changes in this very, very private organization. And for those remaining will have to pick up the pieces, new processes will be developed (reinventing the work), workload doubles/triples, and the fear your role will next be eliminated will force you to not complain/draw attention and double your efforts to be productive contributor out of fear. Work life balance is non-existent amongst the field organization. So if you like to only work, enjoy reaction driven activity, then working in the Americas field sales organization in Bose is for you. Organizations, departments and divisions in Bose are like "silos", its hard to collaborate among business units and even harder to move into other divisions and departments. Despite being in the same company, promotions, advancement or lateral moves are very difficult outside of your immediate business unit or group. Company is challenged to generate growth when selling products with low margin. No growth, No opportunities!
