Pros
You get out what you are willing to put in. Smith is hard work and takes a lot of dedication, but the owners and management are very loyal to those that make the effort. You will notice from other reviews that most CURRENT employees have an overall positive experience. Very laid back culture is nice, but don't confuse that with not working hard or being professional. Smith is the top Independent Distributor of semiconductors in the world, and you don't stay #1 by being lazy. But those willing to put in the time effort are rewarded nicely. Company is probably better than reviewed at giving opportunities to those that EARN and SEEK opportunities. I personally like that there is not a set structure or timeline for promotion or advancement. Opportunities are given based on results, not tenure. If I choose to just keep selling parts and making money, they will let me. But if I want to go a management route, then I have to step up and make it known. I have to show I am deserving based on my skills, not how long I have been here. I am fine with that, but others might not be. I like the market segment of technology as a sustainable career and long term outlook. Computers, mobile phones, and consumer electronics are not a dying business, but the future. Anyone that says otherwise, isn't paying attention to the world. Smith should be positioned to stay at the top, and I like working for a company that is the best at what they do.
Cons
For some, not having a clear path for promotion could be frustrating. Tenure is not as important as results, so they definitely don't reward you for just showing up. I don't have a problem with this, but you do hear belly-aching from some older employees that believe they get past by for younger people sometimes. Internal competition for accounts is tricky. The person sitting next to you may be your friend and co-worker, but they can also be your competition. Most are good at teamwork, but some are very protective of their accounts. It would be nice to get to travel more to visit customers and go to trade shows. I understand it is "inside sales", but maybe a budget should be set for each customer for marketing or business development purposes. Very little interaction with the ownership. Other reviews commented on lack of leadership or upper management, but the office managers and higher-ups at HQ seem to be around all the time. They don't exactly micro-manage, but they are very accessible. However, the owners have lots of other things on their plate, and not sure how much time they can dedicate to all that is going on at Smith. Smith can be a roller coaster of success and failures. Maybe that is just Sales in general, but the peaks and valleys can be difficult to manage. Have a great month and getting a big commission check is awesome, but having a slow month and not getting one can suck.
