Pros
MANY GOOD COWORKERS: There are some excellent engineers and IT systems analysts to work with: I have learned a lot from them when it comes to practical experience. Shop and manufacturing plant also have many good people who are respectful and cooperative. GOOD TRAINERS: Volvo also has some great trainers in areas that you are directly/indirectly involved with - this will enable you to enhance your experience and intellect. GOOD MANAGEMENT: Management has always been helpful, rational and improvement-oriented. PLEASANT INTERIORS: Beautiful, renovated interiors in the Tech Center. The elevator to the 2nd floor, Wellness Room, free Starbucks coffee, Vending Market, free gym services, etc. PLENTY OF EVENTS WITH GENEROUS FREEBIES: There are a lot of interesting events where you can learn about different technologies in the market or within Volvo: these events are accompanied by free, quality good, and different fun events based on what the show is about.
Cons
Some of the people are hard to work with, and ruin it for many, causing a lot of turnover within the business. ARROGANCE: They don’t want your inputs (no matter how good they are) and make you feel unwelcome and undervalued; BIAS: Everybody is bound to make a little mistake here due to the complexity of the job but those specific people I mentioned above will pick and choose whom they want to talk down to while the ones that they like simply get a pat on the back with sweet words to complement ‘it’s ok’ even if the former person may do an overall better job; DISHONESTY: Those same people will blame you and backstab you for the mistakes one of their inner circle of friends makes - in spite of the digital evidence and use that false evidence to show you are not worth it: it’s a tactic to encourage someone to leave - not good for retaining good, talented employees. Always correspond with emails (not word of mouth) and save your emails! DISORGANIZATION: Some items in the Volvo systems don’t update in real time and cause a lot of confusion. NOISY: The office is noisy with a lot of non-work related chatter, bad gossip (coworker bashing, sexist comments, cussing, etc). If you come from a more professional office space within a regulated industry, you will know what I’m talking about. BULLYING: If you do complain anonymously or in the open about crass people, they will try to make your life miserable by trying to ostracize you, gossip about you, etc. LACK OF FREEDOM: Your are not allowed to eat at your table and microwave access is too far from where a lot of people sit. It wasn’t this way before.