Caterpillar reviews

4.0

78% would recommend to a friend

(7,309 total reviews)

Joe Creed

68% approve of CEO

74% positive business outlook

Caterpillar has an employee rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 7,309 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Caterpillar employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Manufacturing industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

7K reviews
1.0
Mar 27, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Caterpillar has a lot of opportunity but it is stuck in its philosophy of the 19/20th century thinking in its practices "Touting" industry leading standards which looks good on the outside to those external to the company but ran like a small business. Positions of responsibility are rewarded to "Yes" people who do not have the integrity nor fortitude to do what is right claiming "Values in Action" and the only thing they have going is tenure, a "Good-ole" guy or gal looking out for them and Black belt rating which is as good as kickstand for a cycle with no wheels.

Cons

Leadership tout the catchphrases of "Values, Integrity, Teamwork, Honor" as these things fill the halls on posters and boards but they don't practice it. If you are a ambitious, professional mid-careerist who came to the company looking to extend your career you are absolutely wasting your time. It is either the "CAT" way or you are viewed as a non-conformist not aligning yourself to their practices. It is degrading to see those who are the supposed tenured "Experts" tout their experience while living in nostalgia. I resigned after realizing that I am wasting my talent here only to receive various offers to do the same things from more "Forward" thinking organizations with with less headaches. Promotions are not about what you have done but more aligned to who you know and as long as you "Tow" the line, create nice Excel Pivot table or an occasional Power point, stay in our cube and not a threat to your boss you will be advanced.

1.0
Sep 12, 2013

Manager

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great Brand; Devoted Workforce; still some well meaning managers left.

Cons

Racist Company : Anti Minority. Advise all Chinese, African-American, Indians to look for employment elsewhere. There have been a few minorities promoted for window dressing purposes only. Too many outsider senior leaders who don't know the products and exhibit automotive industry's poor values and ethics.

3.0
Oct 5, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

good pay for midwest small town cost of living good training international exposure/travel

Cons

most employees have relatives also in management. Lots of sons with dad's as VP's, Department Heads,etc. . . also work at Cat. In other words, about 40% of the the employees working in Peoria have one ofrthe more of the following "qualifications": 1. Grew up on Peoria 2. wen to Bradley, UI, or ISU 3. One or both Parents work at Cat 4. Father/Mother is department head, VP or other influential manager. 5. Nepotism is prevelent if you look closely. Very abnormal for a fortune 200 Company that says it values Diversity. 6. International assignments largely are now being filled with candidates from local countries. 7. 65% of Peoria community has not traveled overseas, or even lived outside of Peoria their whole lives. 8. Chicago, and St. Louis are 3 hours away

Viewing 31 - 33 of 7,309 Reviews

Glassdoor has 10,036 Caterpillar reviews submitted anonymously by Caterpillar employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Caterpillar is right for you.