Job Title: IT Consultant
Location: Atlanta, GA
Submitted on: 04-May-04
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Norfolk Southern Corporation is a rather unique working environment.
Company is a rare type of legal monopoly ( primary source of business
revenue comes from ownership and operation of a major regional freight
railroad, Norfolk Southern Railway Company ).
Company headquarters are in Norfolk, VA and IT headquarters are in
Atlanta, GA.
As is the case with most monopolies, company's source of revenue is very
solid and cost-cutting pressure is minimal. Expenses grow every year and
to keep profit margins steady, costs are passed through to the customers.
This results in a very unusual culture: virtually no pressure to improve
efficiency or to keep costs down. Company runs long projects with
artificially-created deadlines. Resources ( people ) are assigned to
projects with little regard for their expertise and ability to execute.
Most of assignments/promotions are done on seniority basis (not success
or performance).
Pressure to produce is minimal, and as long as projects meets with
estimates ( even if original estimates are overly-inflated ), they are
considered a success if the primary business requirements are met.
Company has a long-standing policy of "treating employees well", which
has two sides to it. On the positive side, it's an EXTREMELY stable
working environment, with great benefits ( including many not offered in
any other industry, such as "railroad retirement" plan - anyone who stays
with the company 25+ years is virtually guaranteed a very decent
retirement benefit for the rest of their life( as percentage of their
salary ). Employees or even contractors are virtually never laid-off for
performance or financial reasons. Many, even in IT, have been with the
company 10, 15 or even 20+ years.
On the negative side, as little pressure is put on people to perform,
there are many unqualified people holding jobs throughout the company,
both in management and in lower-level jobs. Many projects are in disarray
and little improvement is being made.
Corporate culture is highly conservative ( imagine a 160-year-old
company, that's always done business the same way ). Dress code, if
business-casual, MEANS business-casual. People wearing jeans on a
non-designated jean day are frequently reprimanded and sent home ( unpaid
day of absence ).
Hours are not flexible, as a rule, although mid- and low- level managers
are allowed to make exceptions within their teams ( and within some
boundaries ).
Environment is not extremely diverse ( once again, imagine a 160-year-old
company, with majority of employees hired throughout the South, who have
been with the company 20+ years ). A person has to be a fit with regards
to personality to be hired, actual skills and experience are secondary in
the hiring process, as long as basic requirements are met.
Company's IT offices ( in Atlanta, GA ) are located downtown, in two
locations, both are very old buildings, with terrible, old amenities. One
of the buildings has a parking lot, the other one does not ( have to park
across the street and pay either $8 each time or $70 monthly access fee
). For that reason, some employees choose public transportation as the
means of getting to work.
Security is strict, access cards and other internal security requirements
are treated very seriously. Company's position as part of nation's core
infrastructure and primary target of terrorist attacks mandates high
security measures. Company has its own police department ( with
jurisdiction exceeding what standard police have - such as rights to
cross state lines in pursuit of suspects, etc ). Parking or other
violations within company's territory can become a serious business -
everyone has to be on their best behavior.
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