You CAN'T GROW in a company with 120,000 employees - Anonymous employee Caterpillar Employee Review

3.0
26 Apr 2011
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Lots of things to learn, especially for new Engineers - Good Work-Life balance - Great knowledge sharing - Vast learning opportunities, in different areas - Very helping co-workers - Great LAUNCH PAD for careers. Get the "CAT Stamp". - Once you get in, your job is pretty much secured no matter how much one screws up - Executive management is doing great things for the company

Cons

- with 120,000 employees, how much of a chance would a person stand to grow in the organization ? - Bucyrus acquisition will make personal growth up the ladder much much harder - More Politics will come into play over existing - Multiple layers will be added after the Bucyrus acquisition. Already, it seems that the company could easily let go of many layers and managers. - On an average, people are asked to stay in one position for 4 years. You will be drained out of enthusiam and energy by the time you are given promotion. - Most early promotions are based on politics and not real talent. - You need to "ASK" your manager/supervisor for promotion. - Immigration rules are changing in many departments. Talented and highly educated people are getting let go left and right. - Most of the middle level managers/ supervisors are not worthy of their positions.

Explore other reviews about Caterpillar

5.0
7 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great benefits Great WLB Great pay

Cons

Low mobility to move up within company

2.0
10 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good health insurance and benefits, good yearly bonuses. The pay is good.

Cons

They are enforcing returning to office by any means necessary. They have lost many high-quality producers who have refused to relocate or refuse to come in. Here's the kicker - they are requiring in-person attendance at the Chicago office and there aren't even enough desks for everyone. It would be a literal fire hazard if we all came into the Chicago office at the same time, M-F, during business hours. No one knows how or if they are going to actually enforce this. Cost of gas is insane, Joe doesn't care about the workers. Or the work for that matter. It's obvious this is a soft layoff, they have made a bunch of people quit. Their internal design agency is falling apart, lots of people have quit, not only because of return to office but because of the toxic politics, favoritism, and lack of direction and accountability. Mediocre workers are allowed to keep their jobs ONLY because of their ability to put their bodies in a chair and work in-person. The other relocation option HR gave besides Chicago was Peoria. No one wants to live in Peoria for any reason whatsoever, be for real.

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