Turnover feels high, perhaps in part because of the friendships with those who leave. A few are asked to leave because of drama or low performance. Many left due to problems improved by the October 2015 organizational change. Some high performers get lured away by exciting offers from startups or companies like Google, NASA's JPL, and SpaceX. Direct Sales may have high attrition due to the long sales cycle for big deals.
Because of the turnover, workloads can be high. On the other hand, this can be an opportunity for those willing to step up to the plate.
Relatively low entry-level starting salary in some departments- you may need to prove yourself before you get rewarded. The money follows increased responsibilities in the form of bonuses (unless you're commissioned) and/or raises.
Some areas still lack structure- you may need to take initiative to figure things out and write the documentation.
Lack of transparency/communication from executives. They plan strategy, but the big picture doesn't reach the lower levels. You usually only know the part of the puzzle that involves you.
Some reviews mentioned difficulty in getting promoted. If you want to advance, here's some basic advice:
1. Learn basic politics and soft skills- It's a fact of corporate life (big corporations are worse: cutthroat and backstabby). Learn who's who: who can help you, who can hurt you, who has influence. Sit next to them at lunch, join the clubs they're in, get to know them, learn their perspective. Be friendly to everyone. Ask your boss what you need to do to advance. Make him/her look good to his/her boss. If you're a manager, make your team look good.
2. Get mentors and a sponsor- mentors are anyone who knows what you want to learn. They don't have to be "official" mentors. Get advice from successful peers and people who are where you want to be. A sponsor is someone high up (VP or up) who will give you opportunities or even groom you for succession.
3. Go the extra mile- you'll have to stand out to get a sponsor's attention and deliver to keep it (i.e., when your sponsor hands you the ball, don't drop it). Acting professionally (e.g., don't goof off) is just what's expected- you need to put in extra to stand out. If you're young and don't have family responsibilities, put work/life balance on hold to further your career. Take ownership of your work- stay later if that's what it takes to finish, actively follow up with people instead of passively waiting for them. Do more work to save other people work so it's easy for them to say yes. Don't just complain- propose a solution. Constantly add value- earn a hearing before expecting people to listen to your ideas. The money will eventually follow the responsibility.
4. Keep growing- if you're not learning, you're stagnating. Learn how the entire company works and how the departments fit together. Learn what other departments do and their perspectives, especially if you interact with them. If you want to advance, you also need to either be a technical expert or know how to manage people. Take courses, read books, listen to podcasts on leadership, your technical field, and the fields of those you interact with. Managing people takes practice, but learning about it can help.
