Q&A With Tools4ever Inc. Employees

Not really growing. They are in a reactive market position.

They are actually slowing down in growth due to the constant delays in software releases. Poor version management as well as buggy releases. The customer cannot be your beta testers. Because they have turned down VC funding, it's evident that they have no real innovative software or vision. Their per user software licensing also impedes market penetration. They just can't think ahead or adapt to the changing IAM space.

There is no real growth. If anything they are retrenching due to organizational failures in the New York office. Lead division managers have done so much to cover their rear ends revenue and employee satisfaction has suffered. The cream usually rises to the top but in this case, the managers are ONLY thinking about saving their jobs while blaming others for their failures.

They like him as a person but he isn't really a visionary mind.

Most people think he is clueless to the US market. The Dutch market is vastly different in the US market. The CEO wants to naively dictate to the US market but considering the software and company vision is aimed at low hanging education business no real innovation will ever take place.

The Dutch CEO seems aloof and disconnected with industry trends or market needs. He is comfortable with the low hanging fruit. The software is way off target and probably will be obsolete soon. The CEO is also incredibly likable. I think the CEO could hire a new CEO or COO to take over operations and let him focus on development.

The work-life balance is fair.

It's a fair balance.

The balance is average. I think the more work you put in the more get you get out and more flexibility allowed.

T4E is very ametuer in how they interview and treat candidates. Other places are deliberate, mindful and thoughtful. T4E is where the D students ended up in management.

Other places were respectful, thoughtful and professional.

They ask stock interview questions you can find on the web. There is not really a setting for a good honest conversation.

They ask stock questions. No conversation or discussion. Just do a search on the web and you'll be fine. They do not really get to know you.

Its every man for himself. The manager wants to make friends but doesnt have much backbone.

Upbeat in overall demeanor but confused, and often utterly inept, in execution

Some are great workers some are losers.

standard benefits, vacation policy is outdated and draconian

Bare minimum. Benefits are sparse an not competitive in comparison to many other software companies.

Just don’t go. Trust me. It’s a dead end company with an obsolete software stack.

Canned internet questions

You have to fight, kick and scratch to get a raise. It happens but you really have to make your case without pissing off management. I have seen cases where employees were not getting raises then threatened to leave. Suddenly they offer a huge pay increase. An employee should be valued and shouldn't have to threaten to leave to get a raise. When I left, I was offered a whole bunch of money and tuition reimbursement to stay but it was too late the damage was done.

Not common. They do not promote or transfer people. Where you get hired is where you stay. Good luck!

It was fine, work-life balance was like any other job.

Not very rewarding unless you think getting a PO is a reward. No high fives, no pats on the back, no verbal encouragement. They do very little as far as motivation, coaching or team building. They might buy lunches here and there for the whole office and try to pass that off as team building or motivation.

They haven't had layoffs but they don't mind making your life miserable until you quit so they don't have to worry about state unemployment issues.

I dreaded dealing with division management every day. They are childish, vindictive and suffer from group think. They have their yes men and golden boy so it is often a political nightmare. Lots of backstabbing and spreading false rumors. If you love the stress of reality shows then this place is for you.

Tools4ever is very hesitant to take feedback or new ideas. The management feels it is a knock against them. If they do take your ideas or feedback, it can either get used against you somehow or the manager will take credit for the good outcomes and never acknowledge your contribution.

Fake it until you make it. They love industry buzz words and self-confidence. The management is truly blind and if you seem halfway talented with decent credentials you will get hired.

I was always under threat that I would get fired, accused of lying or get chewed out because their precious engineers made a mistake during implementation. Management has no respect for the sales organization or has an understanding of project management. If they were agile in practice things might be better for them.

Leaving was the best part. There was no career path. I was making great money but the management drove me away. It is said that people don't leave bad companies, they leave bad managers. That's exactly what I did.

Because they react to market pressures 5 years too late, they are not innovative at all. They copy other companies products and look to gather low hanging fruit with a sub-par and cheap software. I do not see them keeping up within the space of Identity and Access Management. They just do not have the programmers or vision to compete.

The pace is slow and borning.

I was challenged by clients and by upper management daily to perform or deliver results. However, I often challenged myself to go harder than others in the office. There is a tone of complacency so out of the box thinkers get ridiculed.

It's a very lame and unorganized interview process. They just ask stock questions they pulled from the web. The management does not know how to have an in-depth conversation or discussion. It's easy to fool or trick them due to their lack of intellect and evaluation techniques.

People who are driven, self-starters and have a long-term goal in mind do well. You will only go so far at Tools4ever due to the territorial and immature division manager. Because he has a very insecure ego and low confidence, he will play games and jerk you around a little. However, if you are starting your career in technology in sales or entry level system engineer it's a decent place to begin. Learn the ropes then move on because it is a very abrupt dead end at Tool4ever.