Jacobs reviews

4.0

81% would recommend to a friend

(7,757 total reviews)
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Bob Pragada

90% approve of CEO

69% positive business outlook

Jacobs has an employee rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 7,757 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Jacobs employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Servicios de construcción, reparación y mantenimiento industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

8K reviews
1.0
Feb 6, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

9/80 work schedule, which means you get every other Friday off (not because you deserve it, but because you work 9hr days). Workload and work type is very light compared to other companies (particularly those in the non-DoD world). Matching 401K contributions. If you're looking for a place to "hunker down for a while" during the economic downturn, and you can get on a project at Tybrin that has funding for a year or so (or however long you're looking for a port in the storm), then there are worse places than Tybrin.

Cons

Process, Process, Process - Tybrin believes that process produces quality (and that people and their talent have nothing to do with results). All process does is ensure consistency of results, not quality. Incompetent management - their technical skills are stuck circa 2000 - 2001 and some even earlier (like 1996) and they have no interest in considering advice given by people who have a much more in-depth knowledge about current and emerging software engineering techniques, standards and tools; communication between upper management and employees is almost non-existent (the most recent layoff a good example thereof). Professional growth - if it's technical you desire, Tybrin's not for you. If you're looking for a management path, and you fit in with the management crowd (it's a personality contest - it's not about competence or skills) then you can cruise along at Tybrin (until you fall out of favor and/or there's a layoff). Oh - did I mention Process? They think CMMI level 3 means a convoluted process and chain of command are how things (should) get done in the real world. Pity they don't realize that just about everything they use to do their current jobs and live their lives at home comes from non-CMMI level 3 companies (and that the CMMI people/academics themselves don't even use CMMI processes to develop the (worthless) CMMI philosophy).

1.0
Feb 4, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible hours, 4 1/2 day workweek

Cons

Management ENCOURAGES an almost caste like system. The higher level managers watch out for their "men", and the lower levels are treated like lowly servants. Lower levels are obviously not worthy of anything more in their eyes There is no emphasis on career path, mentoring, or self improvement/education. In fact, management often communicates during review time that the lower levels are not eligible to receive higher performance ratings because those scores are reserved for management and above (most, if not all, of which are men). Furthermore, they approach your review with the viewpoint that it has to be low to encourage you to work harder and have room to grow. (Oh, and then that's their justification for why you get a miniscule raise... you don't deserve it because you didn't earn it!) In past jobs, my assessment reviewed the quality of my work for the past year, not my potential for the coming. It's a good ol' boy system in the worst way, and the floundering, near bankrupt companies that Jacobs acquires brings aboard poor quality management that if not eliminated or at least reigned in could lead to your demise. After all, there is a reason that their previous companies were tanking under their leadership. Morale is HORRIBLE and gets worse with each passing day. Everyone is just waiting for the economy to rebound so they can leave.

2.0
Feb 4, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Jacobs Engineering has some really talented people, that help me make it through my day. The wages are good. They have some managers that really know how to lead, but many others are sub-par.

Cons

You work from project to project. If there is not project to go to; you are released. Jacobs tends to hold onto sub-par managers and let go very talented individuals when project work is light. You must be billable. During light work times, they should retain their good employees for ideas. Jacobs assigned all managers to a Wage and Hour Course. This course identifies what the law and policy states, but the reality is far from policy. There is no overhead, so HR related issues, Performance Appraisals, training, defensive driving course, review or modification of work procedures, approval of time sheets all have to done on the Client's dime. These items do not take precedence over your design work and in most circumstances are done on your own time, which is an expectation.

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