Helped company grow, then watched it implode - business is good, it's all mgmt (thumbs down)
Pros
I learned ALOT, I say it was almost like boot camp that in my recent jobs I was "conditioned" for all experiences, hurdles, processes, etc. For an example, when you're in war and bombs are constantly flying past your head, when you come home you pretty much feel like you can handle ANYthing. There is good and bad to that statement. I learned to maneuver through tough mgmt terrain. Which means, again, I feel that now I can handle ANY type of person because of the challenges I was able to overcome while working here. I did gain confidence in myself (referencing on the above) as came out of the fire like a phoenix. I did meet alot of people who were my peers and those relationships have lasted a lifetime. It's like when you're all fighting the same war, you carry that comradery for years to come. Those people helped me survive and get through it all. I had alot of accomplishments when I was there.....some the mgmt did contribute to and mostly it was me figuring out to navigate through the obstacles that they place in front of you. Key to working here is: figure out who the players are and then be smarter than them, without telling them. See, they want you to "contribute" your opinion, but then tell you those are terrible ideas but then months or years will pass and then all of a sudden your ideas are now their ideas and then it’s a WINNER. See, they only listen when it’s their idea, remember that. A great product with lots of R&D, a great customer base, but you will run out of runway for selling more, so that does limit the scope of profitability, implementations, etc for the company Top executive does have an ability to lead the company like a warrior. But the same sword that will lead the way, can also cut you.
Cons
Where do I begin……I came in when the company was young and was able to grow with it – not a con, just setting the terrain. They operate from a state of fear and this is why you see all these GLORIOUS reviews here because they make you write reviews in their favor. No joke. Same with the "Tampa Bay Best Places to Work" reviews, they made every employee write one and as you can tell, all in their favor. There should be ramifications with that from an industry standpoint because it’s not honest and when you threaten employees to give you good reviews, there must but 100 bad ones they're trying to hide. Time and time again peers in the IT industry would ask me and others if we would recommend this company to them for new employment, I have NEVER EVER nor will I EVER recommend ANY person I know to work here. In the beginning, it wasn't all like this, there were very minimal issues. You will fight for commissions, raises, promotions, etc that are rightfully yours. They will dispose of you the week after they praise you, then blame YOU so that no one thinks they’re the bad guy. Ask yourself, why would they offer ANYone outside of the company a $1000 employee referral? Because they can’t find anyone because they have ruined their reputation in the IT industry here locally. They are hiring super young, out-of-college, students now. Because they lack a business moral compass and have no experience to compare this company to. Against what every fictitious review here has said, it is VERY cliquey. If you are liked = you are safe. As soon as that changes, and it will often, you are a target and they will promote the bad attitude towards you across mgmt from the top down. You need to be a "YES" man in order to gain that safety. So for every brilliant idea you hear from the top, YES / head nods are required. Opinions are not wanted. Another thing, and it’s a MAJOR thing, you do not have an employee advocate as the executives and mgmt at this company is family. It’s a compete conflict of interest. They can be nice people, but I think business should stay business and family stay family, keep it separate. Lastly, you will lack a path of advancing in your career. They will make it "appear" that one exists but it never comes to fruition. Sitting my professional traumas aside, there is always one thing that stands true, a leopard never changes it’s spots. Ask around to people who work there or have worked there on Linkedin. Investigate this company yourself and come to your own conclusions. GOOD LUCK!
