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      First Solar

      Engaged Employer

      First Solar reviews

      3.7

      70% would recommend to a friend

      (683 total reviews)
      avatar

      Mark Widmar

      86% approve of CEO

      62% positive business outlook

      Ratings by demographic groups

      First Solar has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 683 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The First Solar 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

      683 reviews
      1.0
      Aug 4, 2014

      This was once a great place to work

      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      The early days saw great compensation and benefit packages. People enjoyed their work and you didn't mind the long hours and frequent travel. The work was interesting and exciting In the beginning. New plant, nice offices, casual work environment.

      Cons

      The company management deteriorated with each new CEO, and the people matter value disappeared quickly. The group I was in was poorly managed, favoritism, bullying, backstabbing, undermining was the every day norm. It became so miserable, that people dreaded coming into work. Add to that the ever looming threat of a layoff and you can imaging the atmosphere at FS. To be fair, not all groups were like that but then not everyone was so lucky. Only senior management have good compensation packages, the lower level folks were reduced or eliminated all together.

      2.0
      Jan 15, 2014

      9 Different Sales & Business Strategies - Will it Work?? (My hypothesis: I doubt it)

      Senior manager
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      1. FS technology and the right talent to drive energy efficiency up and cost out of the products. Raffi get's it, he's trusted, he needs more resources, but is ham-strung by HR. 2. The new executive leaders are now finally beginning to understand the business.

      Cons

      1. Accountability for sales or lack-of-accountability for sales has been FS's company performance anchor. 2. Too many Chief's, not enough Indians. It's easier to hire a VP (at $300k) than support staff (at $40k), therefore senior-level leaders wasting 35% their time doing low-skill, individual contributor-level tasks. 3. It's been two years of death-by-a-thousand cuts and there are too many positions which are "single-strung." In other words, when the employee terms (either by choice or RIF) so does their experience and the learning curve for many positions is 12 - 30 months. (see executive suggestion #1.)

      2.0
      Jan 9, 2014

      UNORGANIZED, FRAGMENTED

      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      Pay is good, benefits generous

      Cons

      Company is ran very poorly. Upper Management has no clue of some of the monetary abuses middle management gets away. Left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Quote un quote business trips that are in reality personal trips . I saw a lot of this going on and it disgust me how much it was abused. You get far in this company if you like to kiss butt.

      Viewing 16 - 18 of 683 Reviews
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      ReviewsFirst Solar reviews

      Glassdoor has 805 First Solar reviews submitted anonymously by First Solar employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if First Solar is right for you.