Pros
I've seen so many different descriptions of the place I work and frankly it's hard to recognize the place I come to every day in these comments. Without trying to reply to anonymous posts, I'm going to write to those of you who have spent a decade or more working in other places and want to know why coming to FordDirect is worth it. 1. You already deal with office politics in your current role. Guess what? FordDirect has office politics too. Sometimes people that shouldn't be promoted are promoted based on relationships. The horror! What impact does that have on you making at or above market wages, getting the best benefits in Detroit (including metrics that lead to actual bonuses), and working for one of the most stable segments in automotive (every Dealer has to sell cars)? None. You can stay at your current job and know where that's headed or you can come here, fill your time spent at work with, at worst, the same stuff you deal with now, and be more fulfilled financially and professionally. 2. Dianne Craig is one of the best CEOs in Detroit. Not only does she have tight relationships with Ford because she spent decades there but she didn't let it "corrupt" her. Does the CEO in your current company know your name and even pretend to care about you as a human being? Probably not. Dianne is an authentic, emotionally intelligent leader who rises above pressures to make sure we have a culture that she can be proud of. She is transparent and insists on regular communication and monthly Town Halls. That counts for something. Dianne alone is a reason to put FordDirect on your shortlist. 3. Recent changes have taken a lot of heat on Glassdoor, namely because people wanted to see their adversaries eliminated and many weren't. Why is this a "pro"? Because it shows that our company does not move with mob rule. Do you want to work at a place where enough people get frustrated with the changes you bring in and then try to eliminate you professionally and sometimes personally? Probably not. It may not be perfect here but there is an undercurrent of stability that many take for granted. 4. Final point. You may notice that we never have jobs available. It's not because this place is garbage or we're going through cuts. It's because no one ever leaves. Now why is that? Our attrition rate is likely one of the lowest in the area for full-time employees. Reading this site, you'd think FordDirect was an absolute nightmare with endless turnover. Our benefits and work/life balance make people really think twice about acting on their dissatisfaction and removing themselves. Most times they stay. That can be one of my cons because the poison continues to linger. But if you can rise above it, you will be happy you are here.
Cons
1. When I first started, criticized for my optimism. If you are looking for a new role, you know what "bad" looks like. You don't need to be reminded in your first week. Misery loves company. You have to be strong and resist it. 2. We are a small place that grew up pretty fast. There is overlap in some ways but if you are willing to find ways to make things better, you will be successful. Being a rational person who knows how to work others gets you far. 3. People who really need to leave and experience life in other companies never leave. They don't remember how things are out in the marketplace. There is a sense of entitlement / ingratitude that can be depressing if you let it affect you.