First, let me say that there are definitely worse companies to work for, but below is a list of things I wish I knew before joining Concur.
- Leadership & culture: Terrible middle management likely due to nepotism which seems to run rampant. Since the SAP acquisition, most of the top level leaders who helped build and maintain the original culture have left. This has caused organizational and operational chaos all over. There is no top down communication. Prepare to operate in extreme ambiguity.
- Strategic direction: Concur can't tell its right foot from its left right now. Their organizational and product strategy hasn't kept pace with the rapid growth of their SMB group. They are losing major ground to smaller competitors and can't move quickly due to internal struggles between business units.
- Advancement: If you aren't an original pre-ipo Concurian or a close friend or family member, your chances for advancement are severely limited. Pick a position you are comfortable being in indefinitely. Many managers have only been with Concur or been there so long that they have no idea how other organizations operate. They reject best practices and outside ideas. They live in a cave but think they are on the cutting edge. In fact, if you disagree with them...just don't disagree with them because they know better than you, period.
- Pay and benefits: Extremely sub-par in both areas. Not competitive which makes it difficult to bring in outstanding talent.
