IBM Senior Software Engineer reviews

3.9

81% would recommend to a friend

(2,153 total reviews)
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Arvind Krishna

74% approve of CEO

77% positive business outlook

Software Engineer/Senior Software Engineer employees have rated IBM with 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 2,153 company reviews on Glassdoor. This indicates that most Software Engineer/Senior Software Engineer professionals have a good working experience there. IBM is rated in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) by Software Engineer/Senior Software Engineer professionals compared to other employers within the Informationstechnologie industry (3.9 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews
3.0
Dec 5, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If you find a position right for you on a team that is in one of IBM's core businesses, you'll probably be happy. There are lots of good people in "Big Blue," some of which are extremely well connected in global terms, opening doors to potential opportunities. Strong work and leadership are likely to be recognized and leveraged and, in time, rewarded. Size and stability can raise security, which is especially useful for people with families or other long term responsibilities. There are a broad range of businesses and roles, lateral moves into areas of preference or growth are quite possible.

Cons

The company is a behemoth, and with large scale comes processes and cold impersonality - its unavoidable. The company had laudable policies re "people first" and compensation, much of that has gone away. If you're outside the mainstream business, you'll likely be struggling for resources and the attention of policy makers. Much of the internal technology si not competitive with what we find on the internet, and this is an unfortunate burden for the company. Opportunities are subject to the usual competition, do not go to IBM expecting to be a software architect without proving yourself for a decade or more of dues against a bunch of talented others.

4.0
Dec 3, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

IBM has long ago lost the concept of commitment being bi-directional. It expects more commitment from workers than it gives in return. That said, I think it is better than most companies. IBM does not shy away from dumping valuable employees but it probably does not pick that course as fast as many companies. I can only speak for one small part of the software side but I think IBM does try to encourage people to try new things and give them some time to come up to speed.

Cons

A very secretive place regarding job actions. People simply vanish and when someone does vanish the people who work nearby seldom ask questions.

2.0
Oct 21, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent place to develop skills. Good internal training programs. Reasonable work/life balance. Great place for a first or second job to develop skills and training, before obtaining competitive compensation elsewhere.

Cons

Uncompetitive salary. Poor raises and bonuses even for top performers. Lack of career advancement opportunity, promotions extraordinarily difficult to come by, even for top performers. Middle management has significantly lack of vision. Employees are treated (and referred to as:) interchangeable "resources" rather than individuals. Many employees are average at best..80/20 rule applies

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