What do you guys think of EPAM or IT consulting industry in general?
I never been to IT consulting industry. How’s life being an IT consultant compare to being a regular full-timer at a company? More specifically, can anyone who works for EPAM give me more insight about this company? Asides from work culture, does IT consultant make more than a regular full time engineer in the long run?
It is much worse than an h1b bodyshop. It is an L1 bodyshop which basically means that you are not able to leave while you are on visa. No product, not even consultancy, just selling people from post soviet countries. You can guess how the company makes money and how are they amongst the fastest growing companies. (Hint: my salary was 5 digits in Seattle when I came here. I am a solid java engineer with 10 yoe who is also leading a team.)
Also, I see my manager twice per year. I should get a summarized feedback from every people from my team who actually write the feedback but usually it is "the feedback was great" what I get. Did I mention, I payed the fees of my green card?
Wow... they really lowballed on people with visa :( What about bonus? Do they have annual bonus?
When I wrote my salary was 5 digits when I came here, I actually meant TC. :) Bonus is usually 8k, no equity, no other kind of compensation.
Brah... so why do you work for them?
I'm not anymore. :)
There is no 100% match for 401k for 20k, sorry.
There are many people around you in EPAM with less base with 5-10+ yoe. So my congratulations for getting such offer here.
Hi guys, Personally I love epam and my account where I’m based. Your salary could depend on the location, that’s correct. Company gives you visa and after a year it helps you to get a green card, all they ask to stay for a while. Good projects, great colleagues with up to date knowledge :) Let me know if you have any questions!
What is your TC? ;)
I have started in Cali with 75k (L1), paid for GC from my pocket. EPAM is a good gateway to US. If you are ready to spend up to 5 years of your life for the GC - it makes sense to join EPAM
How have u survived with 75k?
That wasn't easy :) with family... But with extra efforts it's possible to have +20%after a couple of years
Everything highly depends on your project, EPAM manager. I was lucky to be exposed to the worst and best cases. You can lift your compensation up to the market standard if properly negotiated and you have a strategic place, but not on the regular basis.
Were you able to negotiate a competitive market salary?
U r comming from the market, your salary would match market (base, bonus, stock). It's more question what u like, consulting company allows selection of different projects/technologies and a room for travel for business if u like it
Exactly and if you like working on a different project without going to the rigorous interview process - you have a chance
That’s why I love EPAM. It’s far better than other consulting firms like Cognizant, Infosys etc.
There r 3 EPAM vendors on our project. From what I understand they work at EPAM to get a green card and can’t leave because of their visas bound to the employer (aka EPAM) I feel bad knowing that they basically work for food
EPAM recruiter hadreached out to me earlier. But I don't know what the company does.
I think it is an IT consulting firm, so u will be a full-timer for EPAM but a contractor to their client’s companies