Coderific

Sales, not software, company posted on February 02, 2008

IBM is a sales company, not a software company. Don't expect to succeed there based only on your ability; expect to succeed or fail based on how non-technical management judges you. If you're a smooth, opportunistic weasel, you'll go far.

7 years old: OS/2 team posted on February 15, 2007

I worked on the OS/2 team in the 1990s. While some of upper-management's decisions weren't on the mark, lower management and the upper-ranked technical people went to bad for the lower-level coders much more often than not. What was then called the Software Group wasn't the place to be if you liked small, innovative projects, but it was a great place to learn all there was to know about running a large product like an operating system.

IBM has many more...

White shirts and a straight jacket posted by kato on January 04, 2007

IBM sounds like a nice and secure company to work at - and for the most part, it is. If you want to lay low, not rock the boat, and stay there forever, then this is the place.

You do get to do a lot of varied things - if you raise your hand and ask for it. you will be about the only one, as everyone else is asleep.

Work with mediocrity daily.. posted on November 27, 2006

I was there for 2 years. During previous jobs, while not always working with the most suited for particular projects (who is, considering the churn and differing reqs for projects?), I had always worked with unquestionably smart people, and enjoyed that environment.

Enter IBM in NC. They seemed so worried about being an Equal Opportunity poster child (they certainly are), they forgot to hire SKILLED people along the way. Not everyone is clueless, but a more...

Bleed Blue? No thanks posted on November 27, 2006

I had the opportunity to work with IBM in an engineering division other than Global Services. I came to understand that there's a reason why most of the people at IBM are either fresh out of college or have 20 years experience -- If you're fresh out of college you don't know any better; if you're in for the long haul you're one of the lucky ones who still qualifies for a pension when you retire. Why do so many leave? Fun, creativity, and bold new thinking have more...

almost like the government posted by kimbo305 on November 27, 2006

IBM has very stable working conditions -- if you're a lousy coder, you're not going to get fired. You might get laid off, eventually. But in the meantime, you can coast your way through your career.

Or, if you want to, you should be able to fight the good fight, and cut through poor engineering infrastructure and actually get work done. Chances are it's easier to stand out at IBM if you work at it. But it takes serious effort and committment to make things more...

Not for creative folks posted on November 27, 2006

It's a bit bureaucratic for those who wish to design, innovate, or learn -- which I ascribe to the immeasurable size of the corporation. Your mileage may vary as groups differ wildly. I was warned by a college advisor that it was a soul sucking place and I for the most part agree, if you really really like to think and plan on your own, this probably isn't the best place.

Like the blind man describing an elephant posted on October 29, 2006

Your experiences could be radically different depending on where you work. They are usually interested in trying to make things better for developers in the groups in which I worked, but were unable to retain young people; and have turned into a grey-hair dominated shop.

Most of their locations are in large suburban office-parks; which is not exactly conducive to attracting today's best and brightest. Benefits are not what they once were. Vacation still pretty more...

intern posted by mountain on October 13, 2006

I was an intern at the Rochester, MN site. Good pay, good working conditions, good co-workers overall. Things like your physical workspace or the management style will be completely different depending on who you work for. In my area, if you were full-time you could expect to share an office with one other person, but the site has its share of private offices and cube farms as well.

The development process was pretty laid back; managers tend to stick to more...