Dead end for computer professionals - Senior Software Engineer BlackRock Employee Review

2.0
Aug 1, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Many smart, nice, "fire in the belly" folks remain in San Francisco, but the BGI days are long gone. Work-life balance is ok, but I was never a PAG analyst. Adequate health/vacation/401k benefits.

Cons

- Perl is considered strategic. cgi-bin is a plus. - Many critical C++ systems were written 10-15 years ago, and those developers are now the senior IT management cadre. Good luck attempting a critique of current systems. - Essentially impossible to add a column to a database table, so ad-hoc name-val structures are pressed into service in preference to relational schema evolution. - 1-3% annual salary increase - NYC management arguably inferior to the former SF/BGI management. - Lame Christmas parties, consisting of beer/wine/finger food, at the office, 4-6pm. The lack of humor is dispiriting.

Explore other reviews about BlackRock

5.0
Jun 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good team environment and interesting work

Cons

Long hours and slightly competitive

1
3.0
Feb 22, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

1. The executive leaders in the firm are doing a great job 2. Many people in the firm genuinely have a sense of pride working there 3. The (base) compensation is compatible with the market; bonus, however, is another story. 4. For the first ten years of my career in the firm, I made some great memories and made some great friends.

Cons

The culture of my organization started to shift away from a sensible approach and career nurturing to a hostile and confrontational one around 2 years ago. In several all-hands meetings, we were chastised for being "too nice" and were made clear that things would change. The anonymous feedback in the meetings was cut short or eliminated entirely because it didn’t paint a positive picture. In the last 2 years, 1. I was often asked and expected to answer, "Now.. what can you do for me?" in my 1:1 with my latest manager. 2. I was reminded more than once that English is my second language 3. I was reminded more than once by the manager that I should not speak during the meetings I was invited to because they weren’t in the right timing or not appropriate to the subject being discussed during the time There were many of these examples in the last two years with the firm that just seemed inconceivable; nevertheless, I had a great ride and met some genuine people that I consider friends even today.

2
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All