Good benefits crappy culture - Software Engineer Northwestern Mutual Employee Review

3.0
14 Aug 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Free lunch. Good 401k matching. Can work 9 to 5. Use about every software tool you can imagine

Cons

Hierarchical organization. Want to make your boss angry? Try talking to her boss without your boss permission. Want to do meaningless work which adds more red tape and adds no value and will be thrown away in less than a year? Want to do fake agile and throw around buzz words that don't really mean anything. Want to spend your time appeasing auditors and silly regulation from New York and California? Want to be ignored and have all your creative ideas shot down? This place has the money to purchase any software tool and innovation from somewhere else. There is no need for intelligent and eager people to come here. If you work here, get in line, stay in your box, don't rock the boat and do what you are told and don't complain. Don't expect your supervisor to appreciate your work because she probably works at a different campus and will give you a poor rating because she doesn't understand your work because she has 30 direct reports with 25 of them being foreign born.

Explore other reviews about Northwestern Mutual

5.0
4 Jul 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great culture, very rewarding and fulfilling career, providing amazing flexibility and recurring income with benefits as you grow your business.

Cons

Challenging to get the business off the ground in the first couple of years, just like they told me that it would be. Need to expect to put in 50+ hours per week in the beginning if you want to thrive but it's worth it.

5.0
17 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

This internship has allowed me to get real world experience from the very beginning. I've learned how to use LinkedIn Recruiter, make scheduling and screening phone calls, and gotten to shadow the Director of Recruitment during interviews. Compared to other internships that I applied for, Northwestern Mutual has allowed me to have far more exposure to what a real career in recruiting could look like. The office has a great energy and culture, and I am able to participate in fun team events, like going to the Cardinals baseball game. As for career growth, I really admire the emphasis that Northwestern Mutual places on growth and development. Through my time spent around this company, I've been personally and professionally challenged to grow. I've been given books to read, attended leadership meetings, and been given the opportunity to dive deep into my strengths. The management here has encouraged me to explore and shadow different roles to help me make an informed decision about what kind of careers I want to pursue after graduation. Overall, I can't recommend this company enough! They are truly focused on serving their clients well, and developing employees to reach their full potential.

Cons

None, I've had a great experience! This is an environment of growth, so it can require moments of being challenged and stretched to do things outside your comfort zone. I could see some people being uncomfortable with growth, so it's not the environment for everyone! But if you are willing to lean in, it will make such an impact on your life.

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