Otak reviews

3.3

55% would recommend to a friend

(70 total reviews)

Nico Vanderhorst

Not enough data to show CEO approval

41% positive business outlook

Otak has an employee rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars, based on 70 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Otak employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

70 reviews
3.0
Jan 12, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

* People are friendly and easy-going * The culture is budding into a fun place to work with meaningful connections and friendships * Work seems to be flowing in faster than Otak can hire people * Benefits are decent: your basic health, dental, flex spending account & pre-tax account for childcare, AD&D, basic life, short- & long-term disability, 401k with small match, AND they provide alternative medicine coverage including naturopathic, chiropractic, acupuncture and massage. :-) * Occasional bonuses

Cons

* Mentorship and clear direction is seriously lacking * They are green-washed; they compost and print double-sided, but they do not make sustainable design practices a priority at all - they are a slave to the client and the status quo. The company doesn't stand for anything aside from making money - which isn't a value, it's just what makes it a business. Sustainability, stewardship, community quality of life and social justice are an afterthought that they might try to throw in at the end if there is extra money and the client doesn't mind. * Managers do not appear to know what they want and therefore are very poor at communicating these needs to the employees they "manage" * Salaries are seriously below the industry average and don't seem to be going up any time soon * They say they are a "family" company but they will work people until they burn out if you don't set really clear boundaries. * The engineering side is very white-middle-aged-male heavy. No woman in upper management positions. Very few minorities as well. If you don't think like them, you may feel like you are the problem, not the lacking mentorship and management skills of the project managers. It's subtle and mild-mannered but very demoralizing. You can ask for help or to establish a different interpersonal/management dynamic, but ultimately they will probably expect you to conform to their style or figure it out on your own.

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Otak Response
8y
Wow--such great specific suggestions on how we can become even better! We do have a fun, collaborative work environment and we're glad you appreciate that. Thank you for taking the time to share your honest feedback and think through these suggestions. As you know, we're hiring as fast as we can but not fast enough. The good news is that we're investing in hiring experts in these areas and putting standard processes, teams, and procedures into place so we can reach the next level and become an even better company! Your feedback about diversity is helpful. We're working on a diversity initiative to boost our numbers of women and people of color, especially in leadership positions. Please let HR know if you have any specific suggestions. If you have more thoughts about management training or salaries, please talk to HR. Thank you! --Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, Senior Communications Manager at Otak
5.0
May 24, 2016

Planner

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Work environment and the people make this a wonderful place along with the wide variety of project types.

Cons

I would say that sometimes salaries are not where they should be.

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Otak Response
8y
We are so glad you love working here! Otak's strong collaborative culture and our people are some of the best things about this company. Thanks for your feedback on salary levels. Salary is just one piece of the overall compensation package, and we've made it a priority to provide excellent benefits to our employees, including extra time off when employees volunteer in their communities. Your feedback is an excellent reminder that we need to make sure we are compensating our employees well. Please talk to your manager or HR about any specific concerns you have. Thanks for your review! --Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, Senior Communications Manager, Otak
2.0
Feb 10, 2016

Architecture and Urban planning

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Engineers and architects work under one roof although the collaboration is minimal.

Cons

-Average designs that only meet the needs of profit driven clients. -Unethical practices and not a healthy environment to work in. -The business development team is disengaged from the architecture team; no culture, no values.

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Otak Response
8y
Thanks for your honest feedback. One of the best attributes of Otak is its multidisciplinary approach to everything we do. Engineers and architects work side by side, both in their workspaces and on projects. In the past couple of years, we've invested heavily in building a transparent, fun work environment where everyone is valued. And now we have a new marketing & BD manager who's heavily engaged with the consulting staff. We're sorry you didn't have a more positive experience working here, but we still appreciate your feedback! --Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, Senior Communications Manager at Otak
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Glassdoor has 74 Otak reviews submitted anonymously by Otak employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Otak is right for you.