-First and foremost. This company's Buffalo office is a CALL CENTER. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Depending on the department you're in, this could be anything from a 5 call/day minimum, to your boss yelling at you for going to the bathroom, after being strapped to your chair for another 50 call day.
-Company likes to conduct layoffs, which they're extremely good at hiding from the rest of the company, and obviously from the public (and DOL)
-On the above, you'll notice an awful lot of things hinting they aren't doing as well as they'd like you to think. The place can't even install HEPA filters; there are huge black marks around all the air vents.
-Phones are Avaya antiques from 1980. Spend a little on technology please. Vendors come in and laugh at the place.
-If you don't drink, stay away. The place reeks of booze on Monday mornings. And Tuesday, and Wednesday...
-Some departments are badly understaffed, between layoffs, and people leaving. I worked in one that couldn't pay people enough to stay. Literally.
-If you're intelligent, and a smart worker, you may butt heads with a lot of the 'order monkeys' who work here. Be ready for a lot of frustration.
-If you're a realist, and don't like meetings where people spend hours throwing around buzz words ("pillars" was a big one when I left), stay far away. You'll spend more time reading up on buzz words than actually doing work.
-Some departments will give you a ridiculous amount of red tape. There are a few terrific bosses here, but a lot more who are solely interested in teaching you "how you should work at a job" and "things you do that you shouldn't do anymore."
-If you are the rare breed of person who is assertive (not aggressive), and will argue a point in a fair manner, don't bother. Be ready to be taken to "the room" to be scolded by someone who was in your exact spot 2 years prior. Trying to explain your reasoning results in more yelling and punishment.
-...and God forbid you ever get an item returned that you sold. You'll come home in tears.
