I see so much animosity towards Oracle and I can't figure out why. It's a job like any other. There are layoffs but name one company of this size that doesn't have them. There are c-appy managers but do you really thing that's company-specific? Nearly every complaint I see is something that's common for any company. I worked at Dell for a while. Same issues. What it boils down to is that this is a job like any other and it'll be what you make of it. As simple as that.
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Oracle has gone through multiple generations ...
Yes, but Oracle took a wrong turn. Oracle has been based on buying other companies to get new tech for too many years. This adds a unique flavor to Oracle's type of decline.
When tech is purchased, this is what happens:
- All decent engineers from the company that was purchased immediately leave. Some might stay a bit for a bonus, but the good people always leave.
- The crappy engineers and management who are left see an opportunity for themselves. With the knowledgeable people out of the way, they can see a way to advancement working on the same-old same-old tech.
- Oracle engineers and management gear up for taking over the tech. They see an opportunity for advancement in taking over something new.
- Oracle engineers will poo-poo the new tech, guaranteed. This is part of the play book.
- Everyone involved figures there will be some layoffs somewhere, and each side attack each other's work.
- The new employees and the old employees develop a hatred for each other.
- They work to sabotage each other. Give the new-comers the wrong info. New-comers give the Oracle people misleading info, etc, etc, etc.
- Management becomes adept at how to sabotage anyone they do not want around for any reason, usually because they feel the other person is some kind of threat to them.
- Over the years, the best at sabotage, lies and corruption become the people who stay. They are running the show and have been for years now.
- The tighter the purse strings are drawn at Oracle, the nastier the rats become. They will NOT be the ones who are laid off. By this point, they have no skills. They know nothing except how to work the corruption at Oracle. They believe they cannot work anywhere else, which makes them even more and more desperate. They have big houses they have to pay for and families who think they ARE someone important. They will do anything to hold onto their jobs.
This is the story at Oracle. It will decline from here and the rats who have been carefully molded by the Oracle acquisition factory will be vicious.
Get out of Oracle, Get your resumes together and get out of the company.
Oracle has gone through multiple generations ...
Like any corporate entity, the first generation is very entrepreneurial. They establish the business, and start making a little money. The second generation lacks the fire of the first, but put programs in place to formalize the business. The third generation blows it all, not seeing the value of the procedures or the fire.
Larry founded the company, along with entrepreneurs. In generation 2, the accountants took over the company, and everything was pushed to spreadsheets. In generation 3, OCI took over.
I was at Oracle for a little over 20 years, and most of those years were terrific for me. I had zero incentive then to leave Oracle most of those years, as I worked with some of the best colleagues one could work with, was valued by my management and colleagues, and I was growing my technical skills. But the final 2 years for me were utterly miserable. By the time I left Oracle several years ago, it had gotten so bad that I absolutely hated coming in to work nearly each day.
I now work for a company that values my work, pays well, hires super qualified colleagues, offers generous bonuses and stock options, and provides real promotion opportunities. If you're unhappy at Oracle or even just on the fence, I can assure you that there are lots of other companies that will value your skills and would love to have you as an employee. Start looking now, don't wait until the floor drops out from under you at Oracle.
This is all true based on my experience working there for several years. This is not a good work environment - "in all aspects - nepotism, toxic environment, poor compensation, low morale, and more ongoing layoffs than any other company. Not to mention - the people they layoff are generally the good performers. They keep the lowlifes around because those people are protected by upper management. " The atmosphere is charged with politics and that is one of the big reasons the company is failing. They are no longer innovating and they can't attract good people. If you are a woman in tech, just please don't go there. It's almost a guarantee that you will be treated horribly and be paid less.
As an OCI sales guy I’ve achieved or exceeded target year on year. No I’m not the greatest sales guy ever. No I haven’t had oracle refine my selling skills to become a lean mean selling machine. No...instead after my first 12 months (which were seriously rough and towards the end of the FY had the axe man hovering) something clicked as to how to get stuff done and make target...
Yep, I picked up a skill only useful within Oracle...how to screw over my peers in the most creative ways for short term gain whilst wearing a smile to customers. Oracle is the only place I’ve worked that rewards this, super super toxic.
In the end I had to walk as the target on my back got too big and chickens were coming in to roost from every XLOB/ international peer that had a deal stolen.
Why does everyone instantly dislike Oracle? Because it saves time.
(This is a very old joke, usually traced to playwright Alanjay Lerner.)
Job as any other?
Sanitation engineer? Water purification plant operator? Morgue receptionist? Colonoscopy Technician?
Add in your own same as jobs.
Unless you work there, you really have no idea. I have worked at several tech companies and yes, they all have their quirks, but Oracle was the worst. By far. Nobody comes close. While I had a great manager and worked in a great organization, I knew I was the exception and not the rule. I felt like I was walking in a mine field some days. In terms of toxicity, Oracle comes in first, every other place I ever worked comes in a distant second. I would never go back for any amount of money.
Yes, all large tech companies s#ck in some way. Look at Amazon and their sweatshop jobs. IBM and their endless “resource actions” not to mention discrimination lawsuits. Everything being described here comes under the umbrella of corporate culture. The sum total of what makes a company attractive or not. Does the good outweigh the bad? What is the overall reputation?
So far Oracle was the worst for me. Just a den of vipers. Leaving was a relief.
Well, they do treat employees as if they were customers.
Not to mention - the people they layoff are generally the good performers. They keep the lowlifes around because those people are protected by upper management.
Agree, often the better people are those that are laid off. The managers need to keep their suck-ups around them for their own safety. The whole management structure is corrupt in this way. No one is held to account for anything, so long as they say nice things about the management above them.
I worked in a dozen companies in silicon valley. I have never seen anything like Oracle. The corruption there is on a scale that is beyond beyond.
People taking credit for things they didn't do. Lies being spread behind the backs of honest people who are doing real work. Dirty tricks played on different groups. Inventing fake requirements for development. Sabotaging demos given by people. Managers deliberately telling their own reports incorrect information to sc--w them up. Everyone I was working with was lying about something. So much to cover up and so many people to sc--w over. The better people don't have a chance there. Most of the incompetent management truly resent anyone that has any idea what they are doing. They are so incompetent they can only work with people they feel are d-mber than they are.
Sarcastic comments from support and marketing. Groups sabotaging work for other groups. Intense hatred between certain managers.
There was an email posted here that was part of a law suit against Oracle. Email from TK was amazingly true. TK talked about how he could not get the management in one area to respond to change a UI. As a former developer, I can see it very clearly. Incompetent management lying and making up excuses about why they can't change the UI. They can't give the problem to anyone competent so it can get done, then that person would have to be given credit, and they can't have that. And their suck-ups are so incompetent they can't do anything. The only way is to get someone to secretly do the work so they can give the credit to their suck-ups.
I am not kidding or exaggerating, this is truly how it works there. There is no normal chain where requirements are passed down and the best people work at getting them done. This just does not happen. I don't know about OCI, maybe it's better there, but the area I was in was all like this.
It is truly a company in its death throes. It is time for everyone to get out as soon as you can.
If you don't see it, then your head is in the sand. I've worked at many large tech companies and Oracle was by far the worst - in all aspects - nepotism, toxic environment, poor compensation, low morale, and more ongoing layoffs than any other company. Not to mention - the people they layoff are generally the good performers. They keep the lowlifes around because those people are protected by upper management. Need I say more?