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It really depends on your department. Some people get to work on the really cool and fun stuff. The stuff that gets IBM so much respect on HN these days, most
by PakG1 15y ago
It really depends on your department. Some people get to work on the really cool and fun stuff. The stuff that gets IBM so much respect on HN these days, most people inside IBM never even touch. Then you have other areas, where there are internal applications that still rely on IE6 and have horrible interfaces (edit: and yes, Lotus Notes is really truly the application that should not be named :D).
You're right, hierarchy and bureaucracy are name of the game, but that's true in any big org. You're probably best off asking someone who's actually working in the department where you'd be applying. There are so many departments and each one has their own culture, processes, etc. Someone who complains or is happy about stuff in one department is most likely not reflective of another department.
For the record, my department isn't exactly great, but they're giving me the opportunity that I actually care about (an opportunity to live in China so I can learn Mandarin).
- redwood 15y agoThanks for the reply! China sounds like an awesome gig. I did some time in India with my last gig but China would have been the preferable option... at least for me. Anyway to be honest I sort of like the idea of honesty about being hierarchical. Sometimes SV's claims of flatness feel like propaganda and rub me the wrong way when they're not realistic. I can imagine what you mean about most people not being on the really cool stuff: I can see that IBM is keen to develop really awesome stuff that doesn't necessarily make money but which ensures IBM's brand is synonymous with innovation. Better than splattering coke and pepsi signs across the world's cities after all :) Cheers!