IBM reviews

3.9

78% would recommend to a friend

(107,291 total reviews)
avatar

Arvind Krishna

77% approve of CEO

68% positive business outlook

IBM has an employee rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 107,291 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The IBM employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Information Technology industry (3.9 stars).

Reviews by job title

107K reviews
1.0
Oct 15, 2014

Dying company, but great interviewers

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Had three 30 minute interviews back to back. All of them were great, wanted to know what my goals were and how the knowledge culture at IBM is so powerful. I actually felt like they cared about me as a candidate. NOTE - YOUR EXPERIENCE MAY DIFFER.

Cons

Go read the 36+ pages of 1 star glassdoor company reviews. From what I've read: 75% of employees don't get raises, regardless of performance (normal distribution model). They're cutting 65% of the US workforce from 2010 to 2015. US senior management is scavenging the carcass. 60 hour workweeks, 40 hour pay.

2.0
Apr 16, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

This is a great company for one to start their career, but don't make the mistake on hanging out too long. IBM is a sales organization, which just happens to be in technology. It used to be run by sales people with an ethos of work hard, play hard. But that's been gone for a decade +. The bean counters have taken over the top offices and have slowly taken away all the things that made this company fun to be a part of. If you're on commission, expect a 1% salary increase about once every 3 years, so negotiate well on your way in the door. My recommendation for anyone starting here is to learn all you can in 2-3 years, then leave and go to a competitor - you'll see the same business from another angle and become a very well rounded IT professional.

Cons

Like any sales organization, whatever you achieved in the past, is the past, and there is a new quarter ahead. If you're hitting your quota early, they will increase it and say that you'll appreciate the challenge. There is management by intimidation, but retribution seems rare. The last few months have been a particularly heartbreaking time - 4 rounds of layoffs in the last 6 months, because the share price is much more important than the people who've made this company great for our customers. Commission statements are delivered via random number generator, where it's nearly impossible to determine if you're getting paid on your accounts, or those of someone else. If you have a commission dispute, IBM outsourced that aspect of the business to South America years ago, and they have little time, or sympathy to help resolve money issues for people whom they feel are paid too much. Tuition reimbursement is a thing of the past - better to hire from outside than foster organic development. At conferences when the company hosts a party, they'll let in the customers, but not the IBMers who brought the customers. Sometimes a little awkward. With regards to compensation IBM consistently pays at the low end of the scale. And the benefits get more expensive and cover less each year.

4.0
Apr 9, 2014

It's not the employer it used to be

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good salary Decent work life balance Competative benefits

Cons

Continued workforce reductions Too much of the bonus money goes to top management Lack of rewards for the regular employees

Viewing 367 - 369 of 107,291 Reviews

Glassdoor has 131,751 IBM reviews submitted anonymously by IBM employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if IBM is right for you.