Good company culture, miserable at a team-level - Senior Systems Engineer CarMax Employee Review

3.0
Jun 8, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The overall company culture is very positive and healthy. The welcome process involves the CEO meeting each new person, which is very much appreciated. They match all employee monetary and time donation to non-profits. Also, the pay is fairly competitive for the market.

Cons

At a team level, there is a constant struggle to get work done in spite of endless meetings. After more than a year, Carmax is struggling to adapt to a telecommute model for infrastructure employees - despite making it their official policy that IT will remain remote indefinitely. They did not provide sufficient hardware (monitors, keyboard, mouse, headset) to do the job. The largest issue in my opinion is that they're forcing an AGILE work model to ongoing infrastructure work. It adds to the endless meetings and imposes arbitrary deadlines for operational work.

Explore other reviews about CarMax

5.0
May 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You are your own boss

Cons

Slow days can be demotivating.

4.0
Jun 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The perks of working at CarMax are quite extensive. Associates are offered an aggressive 401k program, Stock Purchasing Plan, in store discounts on sales and service, access to the CarMax Wholesale system, excellent healthcare, plenty of PTO, and at my location we are given as much OT as we want. My coworkers are generally good people, that I enjoy being able to work along side day in and day out. Management is very understanding in regards to calling out sick family emergencies, and schedule requests.

Cons

Despite doing the work of 5 people, and very politely asking for a raise management will not give me more than my 3% annual raise which is the single biggest let down. The bonus change of 2025 being labeled as "exciting" was straight corporate gaslighting unlike anything I've ever seen. Since the start of 2026, as of this review being written we have lost 7 associates largely due to pay, and I am soon to join those associates. Management from the store level up to corporate needs to understand that to retain their top performers they need to be compensated like a top performer. Some members of management are cliquey and moody which is very frustrating to deal with. Quality of Management varies wildly from store to store as well

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