ExxonMobil reviews

-Scientists do very little science. Most of the scientists are mired in tons and tons of bureaucratic nonsense. It is very frustrating! Brilliant people with Ph.D.s are spending the bulk of their time filling out forms in a database, jockeying samples and working the financials with vendors. -Most research isn't research at all. It's mixology and filling out forms. Nothing is very new, certainly not "cutting edge." -Bureaucracy is debilitating. 95% of the work comprises filling out forms, getting approvals and fighting with a database in order to actually get something fairly simple accomplished. -Performance expectations are vague; the rating system is not fair and pits peers against each other. People on wildly different assignments, doing wildly different jobs are ranked against each other. -Forget doing any kind of team research. Researchers pretty much work alone which means there's no constant banter and exchange of ideas with respect to what research actually is going on. -Sections need to be broken down into smaller teams so people don't end up working in a vacuum. -Technical expertise is not rewarded. Very political. Corporate clone-hood rewarded as opposed to fresh ideas and innovative thinking. -Culture is extremely dominated by white guys. Females are subtlely marginalized, given projects which are less technical; given more administrative tasks etc.

I think the biggest problem facing this company is dealing with Gen X and Y work force who want the social comforts such as flexible work schedule, snacks, freedom, creativity, etc. The company is so old school in that it believes that compensation is every when it comes to a workplace, and so in my opinion, you will see a lot of people, especially younger employees exiting for jobs. It amazed me how so many people from 30 year vets to new hires complained so much about working for the company. Several managers would often joke with younger engineers to "get out now." The other older work force seemed "trapped" by the compensation and promise of a pension, or else they might leave too. Additionally, the management at the refinery was for the most part awful. Yes, they were smart, and understood all the risks to their decision making, but were often overly conservative, afraid to spend money, and conformed to what every other manager and person did. I won't go on too much, but here are the cons, which I believe outweigh the pros. -Conforming management-to move up, you have to be just like the last guy -No creativity or innovative approach -Management is completely out of tune with the plant -Top down approach to management decisions - Poor company morale -A very secretive and political ranking system that determines promotion and raises -Terrible about communicating your future moves and growth