Decent work culture but favoritism undermines meritocracy - Android Applications Developer General Motors (GM) Employee Review

2.0
21 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Decent day-to-day work culture within the team, especially when you land a good group Exposure to real, large-scale automotive software projects Reasonably stable contract work for the duration of the engagement

Cons

Favouritism over merit in hiring decisions. After 3 years of consistent delivery on the same project, I was put through the full new-hire interview gauntlet for a permanent role — same panel rounds a fresh external candidate would face. Fair enough in principle, but the outcome told a different story: the role went to a former team member who had been laid off in 2024 and hadn't worked since, who also happened to be the manager's personal contact. Three years of proven output counted for less than who you know. Interview process quality is inconsistent. One of my technical rounds was conducted by someone who appeared unfamiliar with Kotlin/Android development. They couldn't follow a standard Suzuko-style problem solution — which raises legitimate questions about whether evaluations are actually merit-based or just a formality. Managers speak poorly of departing contractors. After leaving, I heard through contacts that the manager was telling people I "wasn't good enough in interviews — how did he survive 3 years?" That kind of backstabbing after years of contribution is unprofessional and says more about the culture at the leadership level than it does about any individual. Underinvestment in engineers. The company is notably stingy when it comes to spending on its technical workforce — training, tools, growth opportunities. Not a place that actively develops its engineers. Equity is a stated value, not a practiced one. GM talks about equity and inclusion, but in practice, internal networks and manager relationships drive outcomes more than performance.

Explore other reviews about General Motors (GM)

5.0
30 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Work life balance is great

Cons

Decent but slow burn layoffs

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General Motors (GM) Response
2mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We would like to thank you for your continued contributions to GM and appreciate the feedback!
3.0
6 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

GM offers above-average benefits compared with many employers, including solid healthcare, retirement, and time-off options. Compensation is generally competitive and aligned with market value, especially for engineering and technical roles. The hybrid work schedule at the Tech Center is a positive, offering better flexibility than fully onsite roles while still allowing collaboration with teams in person.

Cons

GM’s current performance management culture can be a major morale killer. The stacked ranking approach and forced distribution create an environment where employees may feel they are competing against peers instead of being evaluated purely on performance. There also appears to be a cap on how many employees within a group can receive higher performance ratings. A manager may tell you throughout the year that you are exceeding expectations, but the final review can still come back as “meets expectations” because of calibration, quotas, or internal politics. Like many large corporations, it can be easy to feel like a small cog in a very large machine. Decision-making is often driven heavily by cost reduction, investor expectations, and headcount efficiency, sometimes at the expense of morale and long-term employee engagement. The “Workplace of Choice” messaging can feel disconnected from the actual employee experience, especially when performance ranking, headcount reduction, and workload expectations do not align with that message.

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