Mathworks will do lots of bragging when you interview. So let me just directly point to what's wrong with the company.
- Low starting salaries. They brag a lot during the interview process. Do not be frustrated if you do not get into Mathworks. Since there aren't that many big companies for Science and Engineering Graduates, Mathworks gets huge number of applications, and it rejects almost any applicant for no clear reason. I myself interviewed many people but hiring manager could find any stupid reason not to hire. One hiring manger said that he didn't want to hire this candidate because he was looking outside to window too many times during interview.
- You think feedback from your colleagues with whom you do 90% of your work will decide your rating and promotion. But that decision is made by your manager with whom you do 10% of your work and other Senior Management folks (old timers) who may not even have heard of you. So when you get frustrated after some reviews as to what you may be doing wrong, your manager makes stupid excuses. Manager asks quietly his favorite team member (whom he/she wants to promote) to make presentations, make personal communications, emails and what not to approach the big managers who make ratings and promotion decisions at the end of the year. They make sure that senior managers sit in these useless presentations that have nothing to do with the product.
- If you are smart and a graduate from schools like MIT or Standford, incompetent colleagues will leave no chance in taking some credit for some smart work you have done. Behind your back they will in fact try to take most credit for contributions you have done. They will also undermine your work at every occasion to make sure they are recognized.
- Only reason some really smart people are still working there is they are think management is giving them credits for their work. Another reason is that they are some of the few smart people who are verbose.
- You will definitely need to do lot of butt licking if you want a promotion.
- Developers are given a little bit more respect. Senior development Management knows that if these important people leave, they will have tough time to replace them. When a developer wants to leave, these managers scramble to make any concessions, pay raise, better position etc so that the developer stays no matter what. Quality Engineering Management doesn't have to do that.
- You will see many employees in the company that are visa holders. So if your green card is in the processing, especially if you are from India and China, they know you have no where to go. Even managers say it on your face that you are stuck here, and all you can do is smile and ignore it.
