Equal Experts Reviews

Pros

If you're a pragmatic contractor that loves crafting software then this is a fine organisation to be involved with. My experience has been overwhelmingly positive - I was placed at a client with other EE people and felt valued and respected from day one. EE take care to ensure you're delivering value to clients, not just a bum on a seat, and this really shows. The interview process at EE sets the bar higher... than most and you can tell in the calibre of people they hire - not just in technical know-how but in general attitude and professionalism. The EE network is a wonderful thing and long may it continue to grow!

Cons

They paid a bit less than some of the other consultancies engaged with the client but this is a minor grumble since the EE day rate is decent.

Advice to Management

Keep it up - the network is growing but by keeping your plans and strategy open it

Pros

A true values driven organisation that has progressive ways of working and attitudes to their people. Always seeking to learn, evolve and to do better. A world apart from the usual traditional IT consultancies and all the better for it . A focus on doing what's right for clients and their people above office politics and profits.

Cons

Some growing pains as they evolve.

Pros

Interesting and challenging projects, encourages a great work-life balance (depending a bit on the individual client's working practices), some really good people who are highly skilled and in the most part humble and open to ideas. Lots of autonomy to make decisions, try things

Cons

As others have commented, going through growing pains as the original lightweight processes and org structures are being scaled. But generally this is being done in a sensitive and mature way, and for the right reasons. Recent changes to strengthen the Exec team are starting to work well. Some projects struggle to apply the EE cultural values, often due in a large part to politics within the client's team.... Occasionally leads/EMs struggle to manage this type of client, but ultimately people get paid well to deal with these challenges. Permanent and contract staff are given a lot of autonomy, and in general the recruitment process selects great people ("grown-ups") who can make the most of this responsibility. If you can't, go somewhere else.

Advice to Management

Keep reinforcing the values, experiment a bit more with developing innovative internal processes and don't be afraid to try something and fail/learn.

Pros

- Great work-life balance. - Your opinion is actively sought and valued. - You have the opportunity to influence at all levels. - There is a real team feel - individuals respect and support each other. - Autonomy - you are trusted to do the right thing and to use your expertise.

Cons

Non that I can think of!

Advice to Management

Keep doing what you are doing.

Pros

* Highly autonomous * Lots of opportunity to positively impact how and where the business grows * Lots of interesting client engagements, with real and interesting challenges * Great leadership team who get it and create a culture that enables growth * Working with a first class team of capable and passionate associates * Great company profile so great to be able to blog and speak on behalf of a respected... company

Cons

Still young in many ways, but that's more of a Pro than a Con, as the leadership team work really hard to maintain the flexible culture whilst finding ways to embed foundations that enable continued long-term growth

Advice to Management

Evidently doing what's needed to grow

Pros

- The standard of hiring is really strong. They look for technically strong individuals with good work ethic and the right personality to work in a software development consultancy. - Because the vast majority of folks are contractors, the turnover is healthy. The teams scale up quickly and if someone doesn't work out, they leave at short notice. - The events are very good and well attended.

Cons

- The focus is on hiring people who are already experienced at what they do. Those contractors are not looking for any career progression, they generate the fees and so the employees are left behind. As an employee, more loyalty is expected but not much thought has been put into developing employees. - Oftentimes, associates (contractors) on-site will get opportunities to change their roles and increase their... responsibility yet the same opportunity to progress is not there for permanent staff. - There is a distinct lack of females at the higher echelons of the business and we have seen quite a few senior women leave the business recently. - Those who give constructive feedback about the status quo are not 'grown-up' and marginalised. - Lack of hierarchy and career progression means that ambitious people are all looking to be partners as that seems to be the only thing to aim for. It has created chaos and unhealthy politics. - Many partners are not visible to the business and it's unclear what they actually do and what results they are accountable for.

Advice to Management

Are you bringing everyone to the table? Or just the chosen few?

Pros

-Working around some really smart people who are very passionate about what they do -Incredibly Enabling environment, if you have an idea as long as you have the ability / drive you can make it happen - The clues in the name individuals and ideas are given the 'equal' respect no matter what the job title -Client focused approach, at all levels of the business employees seem dedicated to provide quality and value... to their clients

Cons

I enjoy going to work every day, Equal Experts employee people at experienced / senior level and they expect you to lead the way in your field. This is great but could be intimidating for some.

Advice to Management

Keep up the good stuff, some more staff nights out might be nice!

Pros

If you want to be surrounded by egoless, intelligent and collaborative colleagues, Equal Experts is perfect for you. The network is extremely helpful and friendly, and it's a place you'll be certain to form long lasting friendships.

Cons

Due to internal changes you sometimes feel like they don't really know what's going on with a lot of things themselves, but they are growing rapidly, so it's to be expected.

Advice to Management

Keep all the good work you're doing with restructuring EE. But don't let yourself get swallowed by process and become rigid! The ad-hoc and dynamic style of EE as a business is what keeps it personal and a great place to work.