PEAK6 reviews

3.2

40% would recommend to a friend

(232 total reviews)
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Jenny Just & Matthew Hulsizer

56% approve of CEO

39% positive business outlook

PEAK6 has an employee rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars, based on 232 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The PEAK6 employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Financial Services industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

232 reviews
2.0
Mar 8, 2016

Short lived career

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Decent location, well stocked kitchen, nice mid-level people to work with.

Cons

In full transparency I worked for OptionsHouse on the IT side for just over a year. I found this to be a tough review to write because from the folks I worked with at the mid-level management to individual contributor perspective, they actual had/have great talent. In fact, since I've left the firm, I've tried to poach a few as a testament to said talent. However there is no denying there is something fundamentally wrong with this place. The turnover is shockingly high and don't think this is all driven from people leaving on their own accord. More than a large handful of times, in my short year with the company, there would be firings/ layoffs, many times more than one person at a time. In fact it got so bad, on Fridays people would be looking over their shoulder for tap to go talk to a manager and HR person and then they were gone come Monday morning. Within the IT department I found the leadership very unwilling to introduce newer and efficient processes. One meeting in particular I tried to convince the testing lead of doing things a different, and what many in the industry consider more modern approach to software development and test, only to be asked before I could even start... 'why do you feel like we're so terrible at our jobs'. This is not the best way to start a meeting where you intend to collaborate, however I feel sums up my entire experience perfectly. Layer on top of that the rampant 'nepotism' 10,000lbs gorilla hanging over the place... At some point you get tired of beating your head against the wall and seek out a firm where you feel like they are willing to change and innovate fairly. All in all I would pass on this firm until there is enough evidence that things have truly changed for the better.

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PEAK6 Response
10y
I’m sorry to hear you were unhappy during your time at OptionsHouse. General Atlantic bought OptionsHouse almost two years ago, so I seems like its been a while since you worked at a PEAK6 company. We always try to be open to new ideas and new ways to do things, and am disppoitned this wasn’t your experience at OptionsHouse. I hope you found a rewarding position where you are happier now. If you have any thoughts you’d like to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly at bgoldberg@peak6.com. Thanks, Brad
1.0
Jun 25, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The best reason to work at PEAK6 is to use it as a place to start. Future employers view surviving PEAK6 as an accomplishment. It's a great place if you don't mind stepping on people to get what you want. That's not meant in a disparaging way, it's simply the truth. Some people thrive in this type of setting, others do not. If you're a quiet professional that does your job, this place is not for you. If you like making sure everyone knows what you're doing and you don't see anything wrong in taking credit for what others do, you will succeed here. The guy on the Scottrade commercial is a perfect example of management here. They have great benefits...if you're allowed to use them.

Cons

Get everything in writing. "Discretionary bonus" means exactly that. Don't listen to what anyone in management says or promises. If it isn't in writing it isn't going to happen. Even having it in writing doesn't guarantee it's going to happen. Trust no one. They also like to spend money on random experiments, like the retail businesses, while not recognizing that people's lives and careers are at stake. Definitely a 'let them eat cake' view of us employees by senior management. The feeling is that you're not needed, and you're not. Don't expect a kind word, ever.

1.0
Nov 3, 2012

horrible culture, have a problem with keeping employees

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

good benefits package, salaries are quite nice. best parties in the business

Cons

Everything else, horrible management, they still say they have an entrepreneurial spirit which basically means, direction will change constantly almost as if the company has horrible ADD, and they are incredibly cheap.

Viewing 220 - 222 of 232 Reviews

Glassdoor has 249 PEAK6 reviews submitted anonymously by PEAK6 employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if PEAK6 is right for you.