Used to be a solid company but got lost along the way...... - Anonymous employee FICO Employee Review

2.0
11 May 2012
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

* The employees are generally nice and helpful people. * The FICO name is still respected and good to have on your resume. * Overall friendly environment.

Cons

* Frequent layoffs and unreal attrition!! Many find a short-term career here and move onto better things. * Morale is low, as people are constantly afraid of getting laid off next time. Many employees are secretly seeking positions elsewhere and leaving before FICO can lay them off. * Extremely weak senior management * Unrealistic expectations are the norm, company-wide * Employee "motivation" is achieved via threats ("If you can't do it, we'll find somebody who can...") * No upward career progression possible if you are a Senior Manager or Director * Consistent layoffs of long-term, senior contributors still haunt company ... FICO does not value previous accomplishments or exemplary performance * Widespread executive arrogance - only they have the answers * Poor compensation practices - tiny or no salary increases year-after-year, even where performance ratings are High/Very High and bonus pool is fictitious * Bad compensation policy. Unorganized and short sighted management. Anyone who waves a dollar (promises revenue growth that is) at the CEO is taken into the executive team. * No long term thinking. No emphasis on the strong analytics that was the hallmark of Fair Isaac of the past. Only empasis on sales targets and earnings per share. The blame (and hence the layoffs) is passed on to the junior staff. * No bonus payout in years!!!! * Unrealistic expectations from some managers who don't believe in work/life balance. * Communication severely lacking in Finance and Accounting. * Employee morale is low and shows no signs of improving. San Diego salaries are low compared to the rest of the region. Company is so focused on sales that support functions are taken for granted.

Explore other reviews about FICO

5.0
6 Mar 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Salary, work life balance, people

Cons

Nothing much to say, all good

4.0
24 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

FICO is a great place to work as a software engineer. I had a very positive experience collaborating with smart, thoughtful teammates on technically interesting problems that have real-world impact at scale. The engineering culture values code quality, thoughtful design, and pragmatic decision-making over hype. Leadership was supportive, expectations were clear, and there was a strong emphasis on ownership and accountability. Overall, it’s an excellent environment for engineers who enjoy working on meaningful systems in a stable, well-run organization.

Cons

Slower pace of change compared to startups or high-growth tech companies, which can feel restrictive if you prefer rapid experimentation. Legacy systems and tech debt in parts of the organization that require patience and careful refactoring. Process-heavy at times, with multiple reviews or approvals slowing delivery. Less emphasis on cutting-edge frameworks—the focus is more on stability and correctness than chasing the newest tools.

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