I've been hearing many horror stories in the past week or so and it'd be nice to see that things are not as bleak as they seem to be right now. I understand that there's always the fear of layoffs as is everywhere else, but outside of that do you like your job and the company culture?
22 replies (most recent on top)
If you like making A TON of money, more than you ever did so far at those phony self-proclaimed "friendly, respectful, and stable" companies, as a mere lvl4-5 engineer soldier, it's great. If you lost out on that, you're bitter and on this site bumping 3-4 year old threads just to vent about how bad it is for those NOT working there. lame.
Broadcom focuses more on execution vs experiment or science project
You mean human execution?
How many of you genuinely like working at Broadcom?
Not a single person I know likes working at Broadcom. It’s a joke question.
The only ones who tolerate it are detached VPs etc who rest and vest and perfect the art of not giving a F about anyone but themselves. They make trump look like mother Theresa.
It’s slightly better than painal in a prison.
Glad I left!
Please don't join . Stupid company not so great co workers or I would say not so technical or intelligent coworkers. People who stay there mostly won't get hired at other places. That's the reason they stick here. Not so great base pay and not great benefits
No. I'm young and fking bored. Surrounded by lazy boomers. Not enough innovation and just boring sht.
You can always accept an offer to some fantatic stable company that make virtualization products (uhmm, maybe...) or apply to the latest hype company extremely friendly corp just to find out that you need to search again.
Nothing is guaranteed anywhere and Broadcom lets it very clear. Once someone accepts that, they will be fine.
Farmers also do not have their crops guaranteed.
Their reputation and brand will scar you with customers and potential employers
This is the main reason to leave as soon a possible, try and get severance at the time of takeover. It's a game of loser wins. Those that stay pay a price long term.
Please realize that while Broadcom RSU’s seem really good, nothing is guaranteed (they will RIF you at anytime) and the culture sucks. Don’t think that you have to work for Broadcom in order to achieve the level of RSU’s, there are many companies that have the salary, RSU’s, and better culture.
On top of that, if you will be working in this industry longterm, get out of Broadcom as soon as you can. Their reputation and brand will scar you with customers and potential employers
If you can keep your soul in check while management decides things by the seat of their pants and you have to deal with all of the crises that they create due to poor planning or simultaneous opposing actions, you will do very well. Else expect mental or physical health issues.
1 day here is a month elsewhere.
I guess the main thing people love is TC. I have worked for various companies but it seems the pay in Broadcom is the best. Especially RSU and Bonus. Most of my base salary are deduced for additional tax because of RSU and Bonus.
Broadcom focuses more on execution vs experiment or science project. So, there is always a pressure to plan for what to do for each release. If you are the execution person, this is for you (like me)
People complains on promotion. The true is if you are below principal level, you can get promotion really fast because each BU has promotion quota and only very few principal engineer gets promoted to senior principal each year.
So if you are at high level, you will feel like you sit there to let other people to catch up and go pass you. It is very frustrating.
However, the company make sure that folks have to double or triple thinking before deciding to leave once they are at high level.
In general, what is your target in life … you can make decision. Especially how long you like to work before deciding you have enough money …. When going to a new company, it costs 4 years before you get max TC (fully vest of RSU).
To be frank, the environment is not great. Forcing us to come into the office during the pandemic shows you how much employees are cared for. It is like we work in a factory and basically punch a time clock. Badge reports are reviewed by the CEO directly. Micromanagement at a level that I haven’t seen since I worked the fryer at McDonald's when I was 15 years old. Management and HR could care less about you. There is a strong culture here but it is a culture of fear and boredom. Money is good, but many companies pay well. Anyone with talent wouldn’t stay here. If I were 20 years younger I would’ve been gone on Day #1. People aren’t happy here.
Simply put, Broadcom is OK. It’s not a great culture at all, but the money is what keeps me here. If you are looking to grow your career, this is NOT the place for you. Without sounding discriminatory, most people over 50 love it and anyone under 50 looking to growth their career and skill set don’t like it. Also, many people earning a lot of money quit because they are just bored and not growing.
If you are one of the 3 in 10 offered a job from VMWare, you will learn quickly this place isn’t for everyone, the only thing keeping you here is the money. Not the work and surely not the leadership or the people. Money is king for me and why I stay. I’m also over 50 and just trying to make it to retirement. My BU performs, and while I am always at risk of being cut, my risk isn’t as great as my BU delivers. If/when that changes, I will be gone. I work a solid 40 hours a week from an office where I speak to no one, but I don’t mind. My commute isn’t terrible.
It is great for anyone who wants to keep busy and being told what to do even if boring tech. High performers continue to get those Rank 1 rewards if they ask their boss how to be better than everyone else. It is that simple. Put in the effort to have meaningful impact on the business and you are rewarded.
The strict culture is not for everyone especially younger people and your division has to produce big revenue to continue existing. You cannot skate by here with minimal effort and try to be under the radar. You have to produce more than your peers.
I love working for Broadcom, at least for now. Once the 4-yr grant wears off, i think i will be done, I have no career growth with +10 yrs stuck on the same level. i think i should say i'm in love with broadcom RSU, rather than Broadcom.
Might be a good gig if one is looking to just plod along for a few years or more into retirement. The longer you stay, the more your skill set erodes compared to the competitors and industry.
"Is this AVGO HR speaking, The previous acquisition have resulted in >70% RIF."
You are not wrong. I am talking about once Hock is done right sizing your BUs.
Base pay, RSUs, health benefits and bonuses will be better as you transition into Broadcom. But, after a year or so your soul will become bankrupt.
The fear of layoff is kinda exaggerated. Hock run a tight ship and he is in front of the curve. He approves all new hires. If it is that hard for a GM to hire people, you better think more carefully before you lay someone off.
Is this AVGO HR speaking, The previous acquisition have resulted in >70% RIF.
The fear of layoff is kinda exaggerated. Hock run a tight ship and he is in front of the curve. He approves all new hires. If it is that hard for a GM to hire people, you better think more carefully before you lay someone off.
As for the heading into recession. It's currently forecast for late 2023/2024 - so you've got time to move. If you wait then opportunities will likely diminish.
Culturally it's zero out of 10.
Salary will remain the same as you're now on - with no raises.
After significant redundancies they will rehire for a few roles, new employees will enter at higher salaries then you.
Work relationships will change for the worse, especially with your management.
RSU grants are significant, especially for management.
If you're indispensable to the business it might be worth it, or looking at retirement in a few years it might be worth taking the package, otherwise look elsewhere.
Assuming you're a VMware employee.
Be careful, there's a lot of emotion during an acquisition. Don't burn bridges nor respond to rumours, as an acquired employee would suggest to sit it out (especially if you have tenure).
Also consider the bigger picture e.g. macro financial conditions, we’re heading into a recession with many companies already having hiring freezes.
Broadcom may come across as brutal but they are also clear and transparent.
1 of 4 things will happen:
- Made redundant under VM package
- Transferred to Broadcom but with 3-6 months of full employment (runway). Also note generous transfer package on top of (typically) VMware redundancy package.
- Full time employment with Broadcom. Best advice…get into the Broadcom culture/mindset as quickly as possible (it’s easier), don’t fight it and leave expectations and comparisons with previous companies at home. You’ll be handsomely rewarded through RSUs. If it’s not for you, you can leave at a later date*
- Jump ship before 1-3 have been confirmed. Only people that this could sensibly apply to is the VMware employees that have recently joined, therefore a small redundancy package.
If you think you’re 1 or 2 you have time to polish your skills and prepare as well as leaving with a decent package.
3 the advice is easy, note, if you can adjust to this new world you are very well rewarded through RSUs.
4 Only people that this could sensibly apply to is the VMware employees that have recently joined, therefore a small redundancy package - maybe necessary to get ahead in local jobs market?