Not the best place to grow as a developer with tech stack being based on a proprietary programming language. The language in use is java based and used mainly in the insurance. It's difficult to learn, with limited documentation, and there was limited access to subject matter experts. There were required certifications I found to be difficult. The team had good people but the "scrum" structure was really just waterfall with upper management
Western National Insurance Response
2y
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We appreciate hearing that you value your co-workers and our CEO. We hear time and time again that the people and culture at our organization are the main reasons that we are a great place to work!
We are sorry to hear that you feel you were not able to grow within your position. We are constantly working to improve professional development opportunities for our employees. In 2022, we launched an in-house Learning and Development Team to assist with employee training and onboarding. We are pleased to share that they are actively working on fleshing out and refining our onboarding and training process for all employees in all departments. It is our hope that these efforts will be beneficial for many, including our IT Teams, as we know that our IT processes and procedures are unique to the insurance industry. We are always looking for areas in which we can improve. If you are willing to share more, please contact us directly at HRmail@wnins.com.
I feel that my leaders truly care about me, including my work/life balance and compensation/benefits. Being kind and helpful are core values at Western, and these values are regularly communicated and reinforced from every level of the company. I have also found that there is a lot of space to job-craft and get more involved with areas of interest.
Cons
I think the IT department is aspirational in terms of enterprise-level structure, process, and tooling. This period of transition might be an adjustment for people coming from big companies, but it also creates more job-crafting and leadership opportunities.
Western National Insurance Response
3y
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review! We are pleased to read your positive comments. We truly value candid feedback from our employees, and we are thankful to hear the many reasons that you enjoy working at Western National. It is with great pride that we recognize our employees and our culture as our greatest assets, and we are grateful for your positive feedback that reinforces that sentiment. We place a strong emphasis on professional development, and we are pleased to hear that you have been able to explore your passions throughout your four years here. We hope that continues for many years to come!
In the recent years, we have made significant steps to invest in our IT organization. While we have made considerable progress, we are still experiencing growing pains. Going forward, we aim to meet and exceed the expectations of our IT employees. We are always looking for feedback on areas in which we can improve. If you are willing, please contact us directly at HRmail@wnins.com.
Casual atmosphere, good benefits, management very approachable.
Cons
Pay a little below market.
Western National Insurance Response
3y
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We’re glad to hear you have had a positive experience working at Western National! We agree – it’s a great place to work!
We are always looking at our compensation package to adjust according to market trends. As you pointed out, we do offer a great benefits package, which, combined with yearly profit-sharing bonuses, and other cash incentives, fills out the total compensation package that employees receive for their work.