Good company but should be a great company - Metadata Specialist OCLC Employee Review

3.0
Sep 29, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

* One of the best benefit packages in the Columbus area (4 weeks vacation, company paid retirement plan, reasonable health care costs) * Supports a noble objective of supporting libraries * Flexible schedule depending on your department * Large amount for tuition reimbursement * Well-respected company in the Dublin community * Most employees are friendly and professional * It is possible to make good money without stepping into management * Beautiful campus and exercise facility

Cons

* Outdated product line and none of the newer products have been successful * OCLC has a tendency of recycling the same managers all over the company even if they are completely unqualified. The managers are generally inflexible, incapable of generating new ideas and unwilling to try anything different * There are very limited opportunities to move into management for anyone under 40 due to the "boys club" attitude * While there is no easy way to lay off employees, past layoffs were done in an unprofessional and heavy-handed manner * There are far too many Product Managers in the company. "Product Manager" seems to be code for a job that a director gives to their close friends but doesn't have any actual duties. In my particular area, there is a Product Manager who gets paid $70K to do shipping and receiving and seems to work less than 30 hours a week.

Explore other reviews about OCLC

5.0
Jul 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great team and work environment Interesting work day to day Working here feels meaningful

Cons

Compensation can be lower than average

2.0
Jun 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The benefits, particularly the thrift plan, are good for as long as they still exist. The employees are generally smart and caring people.

Cons

Upper management is neither good nor trustworthy. To go into details would most likely violate this website's TOS. Trust them not to tell you the truth, trust them to blame you if they can save themselves for another year. Any stories you've heard about a great place to work are based on old data. That company no longer exists. While layoffs have always been a threat, employees are constantly on edge now and having the CEO tell them if they want to stay on they shouldn't make trouble does not help, to say the least If you get hired here, understand that this cannot be a long term destination. Get your experience, have an exit plan, don't get comfortable and fade into mediocrity because that is your future, and that's if you are lucky. I just want to add that everything the other reviews say about the president is true. He absolutely did mock employee responses to an opinion survey at a town hall.

3
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