A good place for juniors
Arbeitsatmosphäre
The ambiance is quite pleasant. If you're working from the Netlight office, you'll find that everyone is exceptionally supportive and willing to offer valuable insights. However, if you're situated at the client's office, the atmosphere may vary depending on the client's environment.
Kommunikation
Communication has undergone some shifts with the significant growth of the Munich office. A few years ago, the communication structure appeared to be more horizontally oriented, whereas now it frequently flows from abvoe. This means that even if you hold a management position, information often comes from higher-ranking individuals, such as partners and board members. You are then tasked with conveying this information to your mentees, the individuals under your responsibility, while also representing the employer's perspective, as this is the expected approach.
Kollegenzusammenhalt
I truly appreciate the strong sense of camaraderie where people are always willing to support one another. Whether it's requesting a phone call, reaching out on Slack, or even scheduling time during meal breaks or evenings, there's an eagerness to lend a hand, and it typically happens without any competitive undertones. The sense of unity and helpfulness among Netlighters is what has made me stay with the company.
Work-Life-Balance
As you climb the management ladder, the work-life balance notably deteriorates. While there is a contractual obligation to dedicate 40 hours to the client, taking on a management role brings additional responsibilities. This includes mentoring a group of around 4-6 individuals, conducting interviews, coaching colleagues from different projects, participating in sales meetings, driving internal initiatives at Netlight, and engaging in business planning and strategy sessions for your projects. All of these tasks are technically in addition to your 40-hour workweek. The expectation is that you make it work and assess your "impact" at the client based on results rather than mere hours worked. This practice can be perceived as unethical and is not transparently communicated to the client. If you desire a standard 40-hour workweek, you must manage these Netlight-related responsibilities within your client-working hours, or else you'll find yourself realistically working closer to 50 hours per week or more.
Vorgesetztenverhalten
At Netlight, there isn't a traditional hierarchical structure with "bosses." Instead, mentors take on the role of guiding your career development within the company. However, these mentors typically lack formal training in mentorship. What's notable is that individuals advance to managerial positions rather quickly, typically within around 3.5 years, and start supervising others without prior training or extensive experience in this capacity. Many of them are still in their mid to late twenties and relatively junior in their roles.
Mentorship is largely learned on the job, and it's uncommon to collaborate with your mentees on projects. Consequently, your assessment of their progress is based on feedback from others and the information they share with you. Given that mentors are also juggling numerous additional responsibilities, they often have limited time to dedicate to mentoring and staying on top of things. Attempting to fulfill all these duties would result in excessive overtime for them.
Interessante Aufgaben
This dynamic has evolved over time, influenced by factors like the office's size, the impact of COVID, and the current economic downturn and netlights plans to growh from 2000 to 7000 people. As a result, projects have become considerably less appealing for senior professionals, offering limited opportunities for competence growth. The clients are major players in the industry, but the projects lack the intrigue found in either the domain or the technical challenges they present.
For junior engineers, there's still ample opportunity to benefit from the network and resources Netlight provides. However, as you advance to more senior roles, the availability of mentors and opportunities for learning diminishes. This is especially apparent in Munich, where the office's growth relies on securing major clients. Unfortunately, the number of startups or innovative companies in the region tends to decline over time, primarily due to the natural dynamics of growth and stability.
Gleichberechtigung
In my personal opinion, I believe that Netlight is doing exceptionally well in this regard. There is a strong emphasis on the advancement of females in their careers, with a focus on establishing female role models in management. This initiative serves as an inspiration for younger talents seeking mentors and leaders to look up to.
The work environment is highly liberal, and I find it to be one of the most welcoming places I have ever worked in. Additionally, the company prioritizes the needs of parents, offering services like a dedicated kita and counting parental leave as valuable time spent in your career. This approach ensures that individuals do not fall behind professionally while still being able to focus on their family responsibilities.
Umgang mit älteren Kollegen
At Netlight, the practice is to not hire senior professionals, primarily due to the challenge of "shaping" them to align with the Netlight culture. Career progression at Netlight predominantly revolves around one's comprehension of the company's values and the ability to convey them to junior colleagues. It requires time to fully grasp this dynamic, and, as a result, the investment in onboarding seniors with different mindsets who must assimilate the Netlight ethos is considered too high. It's somewhat unfortunate because I believe that Netlight could derive significant benefits from the fresh perspectives and experience that senior professionals from external backgrounds could bring.
Regarding age diversity, I can't provide much insight, as the workforce at Netlight remains predominantly youthful, with the oldest employees likely in their early to mid-forties.
Arbeitsbedingungen
The office is undeniably impressive, situated in a prestigious location at the heart of Munich, and it's something worth boasting about. Recruiters, salespeople, and partners find it a paradise and a wonderful place to work from. However, for consultants, it's a different story. There's minimal space for them to effectively carry out their work. The environment is often too noisy, and the workspaces lack the necessary amenities for optimal productivity.
The new office, in reality, isn't tailored for consultants, and it has been explicitly communicated that consultants should return to the client's office. This directive, however, presents challenges as clients have shifted towards remote or hybrid work arrangements, leaving Netlight consultants occupying empty offices at the client site, which is not a practical solution.
Umwelt-/Sozialbewusstsein
Considering the company's size, the sustainability initiatives are quite commendable. There's a strong focus on promoting plant-based diets, with a preference for vegetarian or even vegan food at company events. The "train first" policy is encouraged whenever feasible, reducing the reliance on air travel. Additionally, CO2 offsetting is provided as a benefit. However, it's worth noting that there's still a significant amount of air travel, particularly among the partners who are the largest contributors to CO2 emissions within the company.
Gehalt/Sozialleistungen
It really depends on how you position Netlight. If you view it as a body leasing company that provides engineers to clients, the compensation is quite lucrative, especially when you reach a managerial role. After about 4-5 years, it's possible to nearly double your income (starting at 60k), easily reaching around 110-115k, which I find impressive considering the work we do.
However, when you compare it to other consulting firms, especially in senior or managerial positions, there might be room for improvement. It really depends on who you're comparing yourself to. Personally, I believe the compensation is substantial.
Image
The perception of Netlight varies depending on who you ask. Within our client base, we enjoy a very positive image, and being assigned to one of our clients is seen as an esteemed opportunity, often met with a warm welcome. However, beyond our client landscape, we are relatively unknown. When you mention Netlight to those unfamiliar with the company, it's often met with little recognition. We're seen as just another consultancy, especially when compared to well-known names like McKinsey, Bain, or BCG. If you were to apply to a FAANG company or any other major tech firm, it's likely that people would have never heard of Netlight.
Karriere/Weiterbildung
The experience at Netlight is quite satisfying as a junior. However, as you progress into more senior roles, your responsibilities tend to shift towards management and involvement in projects that may not be as intellectually challenging. There's mostly the possibility of handling challenging situations, like firefighting, particularly when dealing with complex or demanding clients.